Questions and Answers Solicitation 36C24424Q0601 Critical Water Testing Pittsburgh VAMC.docx

Questions and Answers Solicitation 36C24424Q0601 Critical Water Testing Pittsburgh VAMC

1. Could you tell me what the number of tests (108) for Line item 0004 (Retesting) is for?

Answer: Retesting is at the discretion of the designated program official and will be based on repeat positives for bacteria.

2. It is my understanding that the silica compound (SiO2) is the normal state in which Silicon exists at standard temperatures and pressures. Due to this, we assume that all Silicon present in a sample exists as silica, (SiO2), and thus we are able to calculate its volume within a sample. The compound this solicitation is requesting, Silicate or SiO4, is not the natural form of Silicon, so we cannot make the same assumptions and we are thus not able to calculate its volume within a sample. That is however, unless the sample matrix (aka the type of water) is known to hold Silicon only as Silicate (SiO4) compounds.

Since some samples will be pulled from Medivator's, I thought it may be possible that the above is true about this water. In other words, I thought it may be correct to assume that all Silicon held by this water is in fact in the form of Silicate (SiO4). If that is a true statement, we can calculate a volume for this parameter. If it is not, would it be acceptable to report results as either pure Silicon, or as Silica (SiO2)?

Answer: The required testing is for “silicates” not silicon. We have not done nor are we requiring the type of silicates be specified, just the amount of silicates present in the samples.

3. There are several lines in the charts provided describing sampling locations that have two collection points, one for Hot and one for Cold water. Also, for every sampling location involving a Medivator, it is followed by two numbers, Medivator #22 and #23 for example. Are we to interpret this as Medivator #22 and Medivator #23, both of which we are to collect samples from? These samples are not accounted for in the quantities stated in the price sheet. All the price sheet accounts for are three monthly sampling locations for critical water, fifteen quarterly sampling locations for utility water, and eighteen quarterly sampling locations for ionic water testing.

Answer: The collection at the point of use, in this case that would be the sinks require hot and cold collection. Each Medicator has 2 bays, each back has a number such as #22 or #23. We only required to have one collection from the medivator. We list the numbers on the results so we are clear which location the testing was collected from.