Questions and Responses - Cooling Tower 2 7.07.2022.pdf

36C24622B0028 – Replace Cooling Tower #2

Questions & Responses

1. Is this project sales tax exempt? If the project is sales tax exempt will the government/VA provide a sales tax exemption certificate?

No, this project is not tax exempt

2. Can VA release sign in sheet?

The sign-in sheet will be posted in Amendment 0001

3. Can the SSHO positions required be fulfilled by the qualified superintendent?

Superintendent can serve as Superintendent, SSHO and Quality Control Manager dependent on their resume and qualifications. A separate person shall act as CSP. A Certified Safety Professional (CSP) shall randomly conduct monthly site safety inspection. This person can be a corporate safety professional or independently contracted.

4. Will VA be responsible for any Commissioning needed on this project?

Charlotte Engineers will be responsible for commissioning of HVAC systems.

5. Who is the owner’s preferred controls vendor? Is the owner’s preferred controls vendor also the controls systems integrator? Please provide the contact information for both of the above, as the website contact information from the on-site panels is returning an error/unavailable message.

Computrols is the brand, Automated System Integrators Inc. of Seymour, TN is the manufacturer’s representative and also the integrators.

Phone number: (865) 579-2562.

6. Spec section 23 09 23 provides items likely existing on-site, do these need to be replaced as new and if so, which items are expected to be provided new from the controls vendor of the section and the controls system integrator?

Provide all new components to provide functioning DDC controls integration.

7. For the purposes of determining time needed for coordination between trades and prime contractor and subcontractor responsibilities, please provide the sequence of operations described in drawing MP100.

Cooling Tower Sequence of Operations

1. The cooling tower and associated valves shall be connected to, and controlled from, the existing ASI building automation system.

2. The sequence of operation for the new cooling tower, CT-2 shall match CT-1 sequences for on/off sequencing, inlet/outlet valve control, fan speed control, etc.

3. CT-1 and CT-2 shall be set up as alternate control sequence. If either tower is started and a fault is detected, the tower shall be disabled, inlet/outlet valves shall close, the second tower shall be enabled and its associated inlet/outlet valves will be opened.

8. The one-line electrical drawing referenced in drawing ES002 shows new conduit and wires from Switchgear MSA to MCC – NMCC. Does the existing conduit and wire need to be removed or abandon in place?

Existing conduit and wire shall be demolished.

9. Will work in the switchgear require Eddy testing or is such performed by the VA at regular intervals for the facility. If required, please provide as-bults or recent Eddy test/survey.

If testing is needed, the VA will conduct the testing done.

10. Please provide the torque requirements for the switchgear and MCC, as requirements from the manufacturer is unique to the specific aperture or wires to device. Will megger testing of feeders and line side of new equipment be required?

Testing requirements to be provided per specifications.

11. The demo of existing mech piping between towers 1 and 2, does not show the removal of sections to install Tee’s for new piping installation. The pipe sizes are the same, so necessarily excludes the use of hot taps and/or saddle welds and does not appear to provide enough space for separate Tee’s to be installed. Alterations appear to be needed to comply with ASME standards, should such be anticipated in the proposal (with proposed alteration) or should the proposal be based off the plans and specs alone, with knowledge a change order can be anticipated?

The contract drawings are not shop drawings and show the intent of piping connections but not necessarily the exact fitting to be used. If tees are required in lieu of saddle taps they should be provided as part of the base bid.

12. The existing steel plate embedded in the concrete appears to be below the surface of the concrete sufficiently enough to be a cost consideration. It appears shims were added to cooling tower #1 to accommodate the subsurface plate (and/or to level the tower). Should such alterations be necessarily included by the contractor?

These alterations should be included by the contractor.

13. It appears from resultant site visit observations that cooling tower #2 may be out of level.

Has the concrete been verified as level, or will leveling be required with steel shims or additional concrete work to comply with manufacturer’s tolerances for level of the new tower?

Steel shims can be used to level the unit.

14. Will the new cooling tower need to be level with the existing cooling tower #1 to allow for future redundancy through a balance line or other adaptation requiring the same water levels?

The new CT-2 needs to be level with existing CT-1.

15. A balance line is installed through the concrete wall in cooling tower #1 but is not shown on the plans for the new cooling tower #2. Will a balance line need to be installed? Has the engineer confirmed the suitability of going through the concrete wall with a balance line?

Will the balance line need to be installed in a location other than through the concrete structure? Will the potential balance line need to have a cleanout tee and isolation valve?

Will the balance line need to have an isolation valve at each cell before a cleanout?

The tower specified as the basis of design includes a connection between the sump of cell 1 and cell 2. If another manufacturer is provided, either an internal sump connection between cells or an external balancing line shall be provided.

16. If a balance line is required as asked in RFI 011 above, does the Government want the balance line to connect to tower #1? If so, what size should the balance line be?

An internal sump connection provided by the tower manufacturer is preferred.

However, if balance line is needed, it shall be 12” diameter.

17. Manufacturer’s recommendations (and startup protocol affecting warranty) require cleaning of the strainers, suction diffusers and water prior to startup. Will the VA be responsible for cleaning the strainers, diffusers and water of the VA equipment, or is such within the scope of work for the contractor to perform? If within the contractor’s scope, please provide number type model and quantity of strainers, pumps with diffusers, and valves for isolation which need to be cleaned and operated for these procedures. Please also provide the water quality contact or subcontractor contact for the condenser water system and chemicals used on the system for the chiller plant condenser water.

VA will be responsible for cleaning VA equipment. Water quality contact will be provided to the contractor that is awarded the construction contract.

18. If a tower other than the basis of design as noted in the cooling tower schedule is provided, will the VA’s design engineer confirm alterations from a contractor’s cut-sheet/submittal/design, or will the contractor need to endeavor an engineer for this purpose.

If the contractor needs to provide engineering, please provide as-builts and prints for the cooling tower structure (as-is/existing).

The structural support frame has been designed in consideration of the basis of design tower as well as the two alternative manufacturers listed. It is anticipated that if any one of these three manufacturers’ towers are selected, minimal engineering changes would be required. It is anticipated that all electrical requirements between the three manufacturers will be the same.

19. The existing cooling tower #1 only has a ladder and access platform but does not have a safety cage or guardrails. What is required within the scope of this solicitation? (OSHA regulations on cooling towers are in the process of change)

CT-1 is not in scope. CT-2 ladder and access platform will conform to current OSHA guidance.

20. Does the cooling tower ladder, access platform, safety cage and guardrails need to be provided from the manufacturer, or will an OSHA compliant ladder, access platform, safety cage and guardrails be acceptable?

These items shall be provided by the cooling tower manufacturer per the schedule.

21. It does not appear the towers (as-existing) have lightning protection visible. Has the facility locations of the towers been evaluated for the sphere of influence to the towers? Will lightning protection be required?

The existing adjacent building is provided with lighting protection and this equipment is lower elevation than that building. Existing lighting protection is not provided on the cooling tower equipment.

22. Where will contractor laydown / storage areas be permitted?

Once project is awarded the COR will coordinate with Superintendent for staging and parking somewhere on site.

23. Will there be temporary power available for the contractor’s trailer and operations (for which the contractor will be responsible for paying for all connections/disconnects)?

Once project is awarded, Superintendent may coordinate with COR for potential temporary power.

24. General Note 2.3 on Drawing Sheet SS001 states that the structural steel fabricator should be

AISC certified. Considering the simple and straight forward design for these cooling towers and the limitations this would have on the bid, can the AISC certification requirement for the fabricator be waived? (Structural steel fabricator will still meet all other requirements and can provide past performance qualifications as outlined elsewhere).

Steel Fabricator must be AISC certified.

25. General Notes on Drawing Sheet SS001 do NOT state that the steel erector/installer has to be

AISC certified; please confirm the AISC certification is not required for the steel erector/installer.

There is not a need for the erector to be certified.

26. Specification Section 01 45 00, Article 3.2.B.1 states that the CQC System Manager should report to the project Superintendent; however, we believe it unnecessary to have two separate individuals on site for the CQC and Superintendent roles on such a project as this. Please confirm if the Site Superintendent can fulfill the role of CQC Manger, so long as they can successfully fulfill the requirements and duties of both positions?

See question #3. Superintendent can serve as Superintendent, SSHO and Quality Control Manager dependent on their resume and qualifications. A separate person shall act as CSP. A Certified Safety Professional (CSP) shall randomly conduct monthly site safety inspection. This person can be a corporate safety professional or independently contracted.

27. Specifications for this project include a 31 20 00 specification for Earthwork, much of which seems to refer to work that should not be included as a part of this project/contract. Please confirm that the only applicable work for this specification section is related to the concrete footings required for piping supports?

Refer to drawings and specification. Work required if applicable to specific site conditions.

28. Can the Superintendent be shared across multiple projects, or should they be dedicated full-time to this project and this project only?

This project requires a full time Superintendent and cannot be shared with other projects.

29. Can the Superintendent fulfil multiple roles?

• If so, can they also fulfil the Quality Control role?

• What about the SSHO role?

See Question #3 and Question #26. Superintendent can serve as Superintendent, SSHO and Quality Control Manager dependent on their resume and qualifications. A separate person shall act as CSP. A Certified Safety Professional (CSP) shall randomly conduct monthly site safety inspection. This person can be a corporate safety professional or independently contracted.

30. Will the VA provide a spot for the Prime Contractor to set up a temp office?

• Or should contractors include monies for a temp office, utilities, etc.? (We ask this because we know the VA has very little spare real estate).

• Will staging and/ or parking be an issue for this project?

VA cannot guarantee office space for this project. Staging and parking is always an issue. Once project is awarded the COR will coordinate with Superintendent for staging and parking somewhere on site.

31. Does the VA anticipate this project will require off hours work? If so, what trades or scopes will be required to perform off hours work?

VA does not anticipate off hours work unless requested by Contractor or required by Contractor for special operations such as Crane Lift or Equipment Delivery.

32. Often projects like this one require the continuation of utility services (Power, Cooling, Heating, etc.) during the construction timeline. Do you foresee the need to provide a continuation of utility during this outage?

There shall be no interruption to existing utilities services during construction.