36C24424Q0908 0003_1.pdf

Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation

*= Required Field Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation

SUBJECT* Facilities Maintenance | Electrical | Maintenance/Inspection Testing Electrical Power Distribution System | 460

GENERAL INFORMATION

CONTRACTING OFFICE’S ZIP CODE* 15215

SOLICITATION NUMBER* 36C24424Q0908

RESPONSE DATE/TIME/ZONE 09-03-2024 12PM EASTERN TIME, NEW YORK, USA

ARCHIVE 60 DAYS AFTER THE RESPONSE DATE

RECOVERY ACT FUNDS N

SET-ASIDE SDVOSBC

PRODUCT SERVICE CODE* J061

NAICS CODE* 238210

CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS Department of Veterans Affairs

Network Contracting Office 4

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contracting Officer Loretta Payne loretta.payne@va.gov

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

ADDRESS Wilmington VA Medical Center

1601 Kirkwood Hwy Wilmington DE

POSTAL CODE 19805

COUNTRY USA

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CODE 7. ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

CODE

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER 3. EFFECTIVE DATE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED

PAGE OF PAGES

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED

BPA NO. 1. CONTRACT ID CODE

FACILITY CODE CODE

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

E. IMPORTANT:

is extended,

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

(REV. 11/2016)

is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office. is not, A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

15C. DATE SIGNED

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER

Contractor

16C. DATE SIGNED

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

STANDARD FORM 30 PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

(Type or print) (Type or print)

(Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code)

(If other than Item 6)

(Specify type of modification and authority)

(such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(If required)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(X)

CHECK

ONE

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

1 8

36C244-24-AP-3851

36C244

Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 4 Services 2 1010 Delafield Road Pittsburgh PA 15215

36C244

Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 4 Services 2 1010 Delafield Road Pittsburgh PA 15215

To all Offerors/Bidders

36C24424Q0908

X

X

X 1

The purpose of this amendment is to:

1. Answer questions and statements from vendors.

2. Extend the due date for quotes from 08/29/2024 to 09/03/2024 at 12PM.

See Attached for all questions, answers and one statement by the Contracting Officer.

All quote submissions must contain a signed copy of the amendment.

Loretta Payne

1. Q. Is Item 0001AA is expected to use the regular hourly rate, A. The type of rate used is to be determined by the contractor.

Review Section ‘5. Scheduling’ in the Statement of Work’.

2. Q. Is Item 0001AB should use the overtime rate, and

A. See question number 1.

3. Q. Is Item 0001AC should use the weekend rate for the entirety of the job?

A. See question number 1.

4. Q. Would you like to incorporate power factor testing in the assessment of Oil-filled transformers?

A. No, not required. Oil sampling needs to be tested.

5. Q. Will testing be limited to just the supplied nameplates, or are there additional items to be included?

A. All equipment to be tested as indicated on site walk through held 8/14/24 and as listed on the previous Electrical Testing Equipment Nameplates attachment.

6. Q. Will the infrared scanning be limited to the nameplate items provided, or will it encompass the entire low-voltage electrical equipment?

A. Infrared scanning of all equipment listed on the previous Electrical Testing Equipment Nameplates attachment.

7. Q. Will there be an onsite power supply available for the primary injection test set? Our test equipment requires a minimum of 150 amps at 240 or 208 volts.

A. All test equipment, supplies, and materials to be provided by awarded contractor. 120/208 V receptacles available.

8. Q. What is the scheduled timeframe for testing the facility?

Is it spread throughout the year, or is it a more condensed period?

A. Testing to occur within 4-day timeframe during one time of the year, as coordinated and scheduled in advance with the VA.

9. Q. Does the battery bank require a load test, or is it only necessary to perform an annual test?

A. Load and annual testing required.

10. Q. Are we doing full transformer testing or just oil sampling?

A. See question number 4.

11. Q. Can we just secondary inject the (15) Low voltage Circuit

Breakers listed in the equipment nameplate section?

A. No secondary injection tests in electrical subpanels.

12. Q. Section III Pricing: you have it broken down into 5 different sections and are asking for Hours and Hourly unit pricing. The Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance are all performed at the same time so its not possible to break them out into separate pricing. In past VA contracts we have just submitted lump sum pricing. Can we have this revised to just lump sum? Or can we get some clarifications as to what you are looking for each section?

A. Provide the lump sum in ‘0001’ and include the hourly rates.

Breakdown the price and insert the cost for each section.

13. Q. Section III pricing: Why is this listed as POP begin: 9/9/24 to POP End: 9/8/25? It is our understanding this is just a one and done project that should last no more than 4 days.

A. The totality of the contract is estimated for only a few days.

The extra time is only given for unforeseen circumstances that may arise during the execution of services related to the contract. Once all tasks are completed, the contract will then be closed.

14. Q. The solicitation refers to NETA specs – are we doing primary or secondary?

A. Primary and Secondary.

15. Q. ETM transformers included (a prior quote only oil sampling was included)?

16. Q. Will IR scan include only equipment listed?

A. See question number 6.

17. Q. Please confirm whether Attachment 1 has a complete equipment list.

A. See question number 5.

18. Q. Will the VA supply 480V, 1P, 100A for the primary injection test set?

This is required for all circuit breakers where secondary injection is not possible.

A. See question number 7.

19. Q. Please confirm all outage work will be performed on a weeknight or Saturday (overtime) and Sundays are excluded (double time).

A. All outage work to be performed on a weekend, as coordinated and scheduled in advance with the VA.

20. Q. Can the VA please provide a one-line drawing of the facility and the previous test reports?

A. See Single Lines_Combined_30x42.pdf from Amendment 0001. Previous test reports may be reviewed onsite post-award.

21. Q. We recommend adding testing of switchgear batteries to the scope of work. Would the VA like to include them?

A. Battery bank in Building #20 shall be included.

22. Q. STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES lists cables, but no scope of work is listed in IV. TYPE OF TESTS. Please confirm cables are excluded from the scope of work.

A. Cables shall be included in Infrared Scan.

23. Q. Please add a section for Option Years and hourly rates in B. #

PRICE/COST SCHEDULE.

A. This contract does not extend beyond one year.

24. Q. We recommend following NETA maintenance intervals for option years: infrared scan, oil samples for transformers, ATS maintenance, and relay testing is performed annually, and full testing of all equipment every three (3) years.

A. See answer number 23.

25. Q. Is there a key that goes along with it? I see numbers and letters on each page, but not sure what they relate to?

A. Regarding attached Single Lines_Combined_30x42.pdf from

Amendment 0001. All boxed red numbers & letters refer to campus building labels (i.e. Building 1…, CA – Clinical Addition, PG – Parking Garage).

26. Q. Is all of the gear in the one line included or just the ones marked with outlines/numbers/letters?

A. See question number 5.

27. Q. Are we only drawing oil samples from the oil fill transformers?

28. Q. Can all the work be completed in one day (i.e., on a weekend day)?

A. Yes, as coordinated and scheduled in advance with the VA.

29. This is a two-part statement from a vendor.

1. This qualification statement limits competition to a single entity that should be construed as the equivalent of a sole source contract. There is not a compelling reason to so severely restrict competition as other testing certification organizations exist such as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) and test equipment manufacturers such as Megger through their AVO Training Institute. Furthermore, the companies producing the required electrical test equipment are further excluded by this limited qualification requirement.

2. The requirement does not does not (sic) recognize equivalent experience or higher qualifications such as those possessed by an electrical engineer or registered Professional Engineer.

The following is the response from the Contracting Officer

The decision to use the InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA) certification is based on the technical judgement of individuals most familiar with conditions at the Wilmington Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC).

Also, the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Directive 1028, Facility Electrical Power Systems dated February 24, 2020, states “The InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA) provides guidance which is considered best practice for the maintenance of electrical equipment;

these practices should be followed to the extent possible”. Directive 1028 sets the minimum standards for the VAMC.

Market research and expressed interest from the Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOSB) community about the solicitation, has determined that there are sufficient certified technicians employed by SDVOSBs that possess the NETA certification. Per Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.502-2(a) Total small business set-asides, “…Each acquisition of supplies or services that has an anticipated dollar value above the micro-purchase threshold, but not over the simplified acquisition threshold, shall be set aside for small business unless the contracting officer determines there is not a reasonable expectation of obtaining offers from two or more responsible small business concerns that are competitive in terms of fair market prices, quality, and delivery”. There exists a reasonable expectation that the rule of two will be accomplished with this solicitation.

It is beneficial for the Lebanon VAMC to require this certification due NETA setting the national standards for electrical testing, and it also means their electrical technicians are obligated to review and have direct access to the latest regulatory standards set by the organization.

It is noted the ‘Electrical Power Testing Level II Selected General References’ for Level II NICET certification references: 1. ANSI/NETA ATS: Acceptance Testing Specifications for Electrical Power Equipment and Systems, InterNational Electrical Testing Association. **2009 edition ending 4/24/16; 2013 edition beginning 4/25/16** and 2. ANSI/NETA MTS:

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