Pre Bid Question Response Memo.pdf

Department of Memorandum Veterans Affairs

Date: September 15, 2022

From: Melvin J. Lee Jr. , Healthcare Engineer, COR

Subj: 652-19-104: Expand Steam Distribution System, Pre-Bid Question & Response

To: Keith Norman, Contracting Officer NCO6

The questions below were provided to the government in response to the pre bid solicitation for the Expand Steam Distribution System:

• Referring to Section 019100/1.2, please confirm the Commissioning Agent and commissioning services required for this project will be contracted directly by the VA and not the Contractor.

The Commissioning agent will not be secured by the contractor.

• Referring to Section 013526, please confirm if the VA will allow the prime Contractor’s Site

Superintendent to act as both the QCM and SSHO if they satisfy the requirements?

No

• Please confirm if there are seasonal requirements for equipment upgrades, i.e., will outages at equipment scheduled for replacement in service during heating season be required to be replaced during the cooling season, or is this up to the contractor’s option. Such phasing requirements will impact considerations towards types and durations for temporary services for interruptions to service.

Yes, the system outages for steam/etc. will be dependent/required scheduled based upon cooling season demands of the hospital and are not up to the contractor to decide. During the summer months is the most opportune time of the year based on the facility low heating load demand.

Inquiring as to whether we can re-use previous PPQ’s from recently submitted solicitations? Previous HVAMC solicitations require Technical Proposals and PPQ’s we have recently submitted meet the criteria. We are attempting to avoid having to disturb our clients with the same repeated request.

If it applies then yes

Can previously submitted PPQ’s be included within the submission of the proposal in lieu of the reference emailing the PPQ to the contracting officer?

Yes

• Can you please confirm the email address for the Contracting Specialist? The RFP has

Vangie.Miller@va.gov listed.

Keith.Norman2@va.gov is the correct POC for Contracting Officer 757-315-3958

• Corporate Experience currently describes rating specific to the Contractor’s ability to demonstrate experience in facility upgrades to meet ADA requirements and not the Steam Distribution System requirements included under this project. Please advise if evaluation criteria will remain and be evaluated as stated, or if this section will be revised to align with the scope of work under this RFP.

The evaluation Criteria should meet the standards of the Steam Distribution Project and the work that is associated with the Steam project mailto:Vangie.Miller@va.gov mailto:Keith.Norman2@va.gov

• Please confirm that the government will appoint a Commissioning Agent per spec section 01 91 00.

• Can the SSHO and Project Superintendent perform dual roles?

No, the intent of the VA specification is to have two separate personnel handle those roles not a single individual.

• Is it the government's intent for the Quality Control Manager to be a stand-alone role?

• We assume that the new DA/surge tanks and associated pumps will be compliant with the VHA Boiler and Associated Plant Safety Device Testing Manual – 5th Edition. We did not see this in the specification package. If it is required, please incorporate this document into contract documents.

Yes, this manual does apply and is listed in several spec sections. Most notably, in subpart 1.8.F of spec section "23 05 10 - Common Work Results for Boiler Plant and Steam Generation" it is stated that "No boiler, system, or piece of equipment will be accepted for beneficial use until ALL safety devices have been tested and passed in accordance with the VHA Boiler Plant Safety Devices Testing Manual."

• The solicitation states: "Offers shall be submitted via email to the Contracting Specialist, Vangie Miller, at Vangie.Miller@va.gov prior to the due date and time identified in the solicitation." However, Mr. Keith Norman is listed as the POC on the SF 1442. Please advise if we are to submit our proposal via email to Mr. Norman or Ms. Miller.

Mr. Norman is the POC and not Mrs. Miller.

• Per specification section 23 07 11, please confirm that the DA/surge tanks will require chamfered block to fit the curvature of the new tanks.

Yes, DA tank shall be insulated with 3" thick calcium silicate insulation with glass cloth jacket, as an assembly of chamfered block to fit the curvature of the tank.

• Will the government require Multi-Vista for this project?

Use of photo documentation is not required per 01 00 00 section 1.31.

• Will the government require Submittal Exchange for this project?

Yes a system for transmitting/recording required project submissions/RFI’s/etc. (submittal exchange/procore/etc.) between the VA/AE/etc. is required acquired/used for this project.

• Will the government require coordinated drawings for this project?

• Will the government require X-ray weld inspections for this project?

• Please confirm that the proprietary 23 09 23 BAS contractor is Johnson Controls.

The selection of a personnel familiar/capable of working with BACnet and performing the controls programing denoted in section 23 09 23 is required obtained by the bidder.

• As it relates to 23 09 11, will the new controls/transmitters/alarms/etc. for the new DA and surge be required to fully integrate into the existing Hays Cleveland boiler plant master and SCADA?

Yes the integration of compatible controls/transmitters/alarms/etc. Into the existing boiler control system noted in the plans is required

• Will all new inverter rated motors be required to have shaft-grounding apparatus?

Yes, per spec section "23 05 12 - General Motor Requirements for HVAC", subpart 2.1.M.5, "Motors utilized with variable frequency drives shall be rated 'inverter-duty' per NEMA MG 1, Part 31, mailto:Vangie.Miller@va.gov

Definite-Purpose Inverter-Fed Polyphase Motors. Provide motor shaft grounding apparatus that will protect bearings from damage from stray currents."

• Please confirm that NEMA 4 enclosures will be required for VFDs and other electrical cabinets, and that end devices will be required.

Yes, per spec section "23 05 12 - General Motor Requirements for HVAC", subpart 2.1.M.5, "Motors utilized with variable frequency drives shall be rated 'inverter-duty' per NEMA MG 1, Part 31, Definite-Purpose Inverter-Fed Polyphase Motors. Provide motor shaft grounding apparatus that will protect bearings from damage from stray currents."

• Please confirm that electrical rigid conduit will be required for power wiring and controls.

• The last two pages of the Solicitation list out the “Statement of Bid Items” for the subject project, which feature 5 “Add Alternates”. However, “Attachment A – Base Proposal Item Price Breakdown” and the SF 1442, only feature space available for pricing out the Base Bid. Please advise how the Government would like the Offerors to provide pricing for these Add Alternates, or please provide a revised Attachment A or Price/Cost Schedule.

Utilize the forms provided and complete the forms per their directions.

• Please also confirm the VA boiler plant safety standards allows the deaerator overflow to be drained directly into the condensate storage tank.

Yes, this is the current setup and is allowable for packaged deaerator and condensate return storage tank units.

• Drawing M-501, Note-1 / This combo type DA/Condensate Tank, will the Condensate Tank be required to be rated as a pressure vessel? Normally the DA Tank would have the ASME stamp. The Condensate Tank is vented to atmosphere and therefore wouldn’t require the ASME rating.

The entire DA/Condensate Storage tank assembly shall be rated as a pressure vessel per specification section "23 50 11 - Boiler Plant Mechanical Equipment" subpart 2.1.D.1.a. Please see attached the equipment drawings and installation details for further information.

• In addition, please confirm a “duo tank” (deaerator and condensate return storage tank) as detailed on 6/M-502 is allowed per the VA CFM TIL and VA Boiler Plant design guidelines.

See drawing

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Keith Norman, Contracting Officer NCO6, 757-315- 3958.

V/R

Melvin J. Lee Jr Healthcare Engineer