Boiler Inspection and Tuning Questions.docx
DOCX document 15 KB Posted
- Attached to
- J045--Boiler Inspection and Tuning Butler VAMC
- Solicitation number
- 36C24422Q0138
About this file
This document is a combined synopsis and solicitation for boiler inspection and tuning services at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Butler, Pennsylvania. The solicitation seeks quotes for inspection and tuning of eleven boilers located at the facility. Quotes are due by 10:00 AM on December 9, 2021. The period of performance will begin as described in the attached statement of work. The solicitation is set aside for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and has a NAICS code of 238220 for plumbing, heating, and air conditioning contractors with a size standard of $16.5 million. The contracting office is the Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 4 located in Pittsburgh. Questions regarding the solicitation are due by December 6, 2021 and must be sent in writing to the named contracting officer.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| 36C24422Q0138 0001_1.docx | DOCX document | |
| WD Butler 2015-4235 REV 17 DTD 10-20-2021.pdf | ||
| 36C24422Q0138_1.docx | DOCX document |
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We are very interested in this opportunity and will have quite a few RFI. Additionally, this is a very standard boiler contract with equipment which should not have manufacture specific requirements. In other words, the equipment does not warrant manufacture specific certification any more than any equipment in any contract requiring certification from that company. VA owns all of this equipment and as such owns access codes to have any vendor work on the equipment. This seems to be a case of a manufacturer trying to restrict who works on their equipment, but we would like to challenge a few of these requirements as being overly restrictive and we offer our past performance on nearly identical equipment, although possibly a different brand name, as substitute for restrictive language. We ask that language be changed to add “or equivalent past performance” in lieu of the following certifications which are only issue by manufacturers to their chosen vendors which they may get a portion of that money:
Thank you for your opinion, however the person in charge and responsible for the safety and operation of this equipment requires technicians to be properly trained and familiar with the equipment before turning over for tuning and inspections. VA retains the right to determine technical acceptance .
• Manufacturer certificate: Weishaubt Burner – Could you please elaborate on why vendor must have Weishaubt Burner specific factory training if the vendor has experience working on similar equipment at other VA facilities? Does VA own this equipment and thus own the access codes?
Tuning and other issues arise during on-site inspections that require familiarity with components, unique characteristics, wear of components, assembly, and sequences of operation. Equipment familiarity and Manufacturer Support for Factory authorized service technicians has been critical to sustained operations and expedited parts availability.
• Manufacturer certificate: Fireye Nexus control systems - Could you please elaborate on why vendor must have Fireye Nexus control systems specific factory training if the vendor has experience working on similar equipment at other VA facilities? Does VA own this equipment and thus own the access codes?
Tuning and other issues arise during on-site inspections that require familiarity with components, unique characteristics, assembly, and sequences of operation. Equipment familiarity and Manufacturer Support for Factory authorized service technicians has been critical to sustained operations and expedited parts availability.
• Manufacturer certificate: RBI-Futera hydronic boilers - Could you please elaborate on why vendor must have RBI-Futera hydronic boilers specific factory training if the vendor has experience working on similar equipment at other VA facilities? Does VA own this equipment and thus own the access codes?
Tuning and other issues arise during on-site inspections that require familiarity with components, unique characteristics, wear of components, assembly, and sequences of operation. Equipment familiarity and Manufacturer Support for Factory authorized service technicians has been critical to sustained operations and expedited parts availability.
• ASME certification – Is AMSE certification a separate requirement than being a licensed National Board Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspector?
(a) boiler inspector who has a valid commission from the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NB).(b) A boiler inspector who has qualified by passing a written examination under the laws, rules and regulations of a jurisdiction of a state.(c) A boiler inspector who is regularly employed as a boiler inspector by a jurisdiction which has adopted and administers one or more sections of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code as a legal requirement, and has a representative serving as a member of the ASME Conference Committee.(d) A boiler inspector who is regularly employed by an insurance company which has been licensed or registered by the appropriate authority of a State of the United States to write boiler or pressure vessel insurance.
• Section J. Onsite service - Are these 3 – 8 hour onsite service technician days separate(additional) from the time which will be onsite performing testing and tuning per the SOW?
Yes they are at the COR’s discretion
| • | Section H. VA Equipment Calibration: Could you elaborate on what is expected from vendor for this equipment calibration? Is vendor expected to be licensed to calibrate this equipment onsite or is the equipment to be sent out to manufacturers for calibration? Is that expense the responsibility of vendor? Sent out as required, expense the responsibility of vendor? |
| • | For all 11 boilers could you list the make and models and manufacturer year? |
| • | Have all 11 boilers been successfully tuned in the past 2 years on both fuel sources to 100%? Are there any known issues which will prevent or significantly delay tuning? Yes they have been tuned within the past 2 years. No known issues. |
| • | Is this contract for 1 service visit per year or 2 semi-annual service visits per year as specified by VHA 1810? One tuning and safety device test per boiler annually, due to N+1 redundancy requirements multiple visits and a VA approved phasing plan will be required. Boiler 4 is tuned in the summer, Boiler 1 and 3 will be tuned during winter months. Boiler 1 and 3 cannot be off-line concurrently. |
| • | Is there any equipment in the plant which will need repaired prior or otherwise delay the progress of the vendor completing testing and tuning? This cannot be ruled out as a potential issue |
| • | For every aspect of this contract, does the VA pay for replacement parts? Yes so long as agency agrees the deficiency is not a result of a lack of technical experience by the contractor |
| • | Is emergency support billed separately? If so, how do we account for that on our bid? |
CO to clarify to vendor (not the COR), COR note: so long as emergency services are included in the contract, the reference allows us direct sourcing in an emergency without competing or being rejected as out of scope.
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