36C24720Q0388-003.pdf

Boiler Plant Chemical Water Treatment – Statement of Work 1

534-20-3-5088-0025

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

STATEMENT OF WORK

BOILER PLANTS

Chemical Water Treatment Supplies and Services 23 Mar 20

Introduction:

1. The chemical water treatment contractor shall provide all supplies and technical advisory services for proper chemical treatment of boiler plant water and steam/chiller plant water to achieve specified results.

2. VAMC boiler plant employees will be responsible for continuous feeding of chemicals and performing water tests with oversight by the contractor.

3. In addition, the contractor shall verify (monthly) the proper operation of non-chemical water treatment systems which serve the boiler plant including:

feedwater deaerator, water softener, and continuous blowdown.

4. The goals are safety, reliability and longevity of the steam and condensate piping and equipment in the boiler plant, in the steam distribution system, chiller plant, cooling towers and chillwater loop, and in the various buildings of the VA facility.

Chemical Water Treatment Contractor Qualifications:

1. The contractor shall have been in business at least five years providing chemical treatment of boiler plant and steam distribution systems similar in design and annual steam production rates to that of the VA facility. Unless the contractor has already provided proven service to Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center (RHJVAMC), provide a list of at least five customers like RHJVAMC who have utilized the services for boiler/chiller plant chemical treatment for at least three years.

2. Unless the water treatment specialist already has provided proven service to

RHJVAMC, the contractor will provide one (1) water treatment specialist who has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or the physical sciences from an accredited college or university shall be assigned to this contract. The water treatment specialist must have at least five years successful experience with boiler/chiller water treatment programs and shall furnish references from at least three customers who utilize boiler water treatment programs.

3. The water treatment specialist assigned must be located within 150 miles of the site to enable reasonable response times to a request for site visits.

Boiler Plant Chemical Water Treatment – Statement of Work 2

4. The contractor must operate (or continuously maintain a contract with) a state certified laboratory to perform complete scientific analyses of water chemistry, deposits, metallic materials affected by corrosion and provide recommendations for correction of problems related to the chemical and mechanical water treatment program. A Professional Chemist shall supervise the laboratory.

Chemicals and Testing Supplies:

1. Provide all chemicals, test kits to include water testing electronic devices, test reagents, corrosion coupons, and instructional materials as necessary to comply with all contract requirements. Deliver to the boiler plant supervisor or his/her designate.

2. Chelant-based chemicals are not permitted.

3. All chemicals utilized must conform to FDA guidelines: CFR 21, 173.310, BOILER WATER ADDITIVES PERMITTED IN PLANTS WHERE STEAM

CONTACTS FOOD. In addition, the chemicals shall conform to all local, state, and federal government regulations on water pollution and have appropriate EPA registration. The VAMC utilizes boiler steam for humidification.

4. Furnish on site chemical storage containers with secondary containment. Provide bulk delivery service which delivers the chemicals directly into the on-site storage containers with no assistance necessary from VA employees other than to provide access.

5. All existing chemicals, which are suitable for the contract program, will be utilized prior to the use of any new chemicals.

6. Submit SDS sheets for all chemicals utilized during the performance of services under this contract. The SDS sheets will accompany delivery of the chemicals.

7. All chemical containers shall be labeled with complete information on contents and shall be returnable. Containers with missing labels shall be removed from the site. All containers remain the property of the contractor and must be immediately removed from; the site when they are no longer needed at the site.

Performance Requirements:

1. Total hardness in feedwater shall be less than one part per million (ppm). Advise VA personnel on proper softener monitoring and operation.

2. Dissolved oxygen in the feedwater shall be 7 parts per billion (ppb) maximum with oxygen scavenger treatment temporarily suspended. If it exceeds 12 ppb, provide recommendation to boiler plant supervisor that deaerator must be inspected and repaired.

Boiler Plant Chemical Water Treatment – Statement of Work 3

3. Prevent embrittlement of boiler pressure vessels.

4. Condition the boiler sludge to obtain effective bottom blowoff.

5. Boiler residual of sodium sulfite, 30-60 ppm.

6. Boiler phosphate (if used) residual, 20-40 ppm, other chemicals as suggested by manufacturer.

7. Total dissolved solids (TDS) in boilers as high as possible, but not to exceed 4000 ppm.

8. Total alkalinity in boilers 800 ppm maximum (1/5 x solids TDS).

9. Maximum suspended solids in boilers 350 ppm, maximum silica 250 ppm.

10. Boiler polymer dispersant residual as recommended by supplier.

11. There shall be no “pitting” corrosion.

12. There shall be no scale and deposit formation in the boilers.

13. Moisture content of the steam shall not exceed one percent. Perform condensate conductivity tests at a steam trap near the boiler steam outlet (at a point with no amines) to evaluate the moisture content of the steam. If necessary, utilize an antifoam agent to limit solids carryover in the steam from the boilers and to control boiler priming, foaming, and misting.

14. Control boiler water chemistry to minimize blowdown and thus improve efficiency.

15. Provide steam amine treatment to provide condensate pH of 8.0 – 8.5 at each condensate receiver throughout the facility and in the condensate storage tank in the boiler plant. Feed the amines into the boilers instead of the steam header in order to achieve even dispersal throughout the distribution system.

16. Control corrosion rates. Steel corrosion rates shall be less than 2.0 mils per year.

Copper corrosion rates shall be less than 0.2 mils per year.

17. Establish layer of magnetic iron oxide (black or dark gray in color) on all steel surfaces as a corrosion barrier.

18. If dry layup of a boiler is desired by the contractor, contractor shall provide equipment necessary to place the boiler in dry layup.

Boiler Plant Chemical Water Treatment – Statement of Work 4

19. Chiller plant testing will include the following at a minimum:

a. makeup water conductivity, calcium, total alkalinity, pH, and chloride

b. tower water conductivity, calcium, total alkalinity, pH, chloride and polymer as provided by contractor.

VAMC Feedwater - Typical Test Results for the Past Two Calendar Years:

2017 2018 Hardness 0 0 Iron 0.07 0.2 Conductivity 40 35.9 DA Oxygen 0 0 % Condensate Return

80 75

VAMC Typical Make-Up Water Analysis:

pH 7.70 Alkalinity 50.00 Hardness 48 Conductivity 193 Suspended solids None Silica 7

On-Site Services:

1. Provide complete written instructions, supplemented by oral instructions and demonstrations, to boiler plant personnel for their performance of routine water tests and for feeding the chemicals into the systems. The instructions shall cover all aspects of safe chemical handling and safe and accurate testing, and proper chemical feed quantities and methods to suit the plant operating parameters and water treatment performance requirements.

2. Provide three two-hour training sessions within two months of the start of a new contract. The first session shall be within one week of the start of the contract.

Provide one two-hour training session every six months after the new contract has been in force for six months.

3. As a minimum, perform the following tests per paragraph 4, provide complete written reports with all test results and recommendations, and review reports with plant supervisor:

a. Condensate return systems: pH, hardness, dissolved iron and copper, total dissolved solids (conductivity), amine. Condensate conductivity at a steam

Boiler Plant Chemical Water Treatment – Statement of Work 5 trap near the boiler steam outlet. Test the condensate for pH at representative samples of condensate receivers throughout the facility at least twice per year. Vary the sample sites every year.

b. Make-up water including soft water, pH, alkalinity, hardness, total dissolved solids, suspended solids, and silica.

c. Boiler feedwater: Dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, hardness, total dissolved solids, suspended solids, and silica. Feedwater dissolved oxygen shall be tested twice per year with oxygen scavenger chemical treatment temporarily suspended so that feedwater deaerator performance can be evaluated.

d. Boiler water: Total dissolved solids, suspended solids, sulfite, phosphate, and alkalinity.

e. Continuous blowdown systems: Check calibration and settings monthly.

f. Chemical feed systems: Advise plant supervisor on adjustments to maintain proper chemical dosage and feed rates and blowdown rates.

g. Chiller plant makeup and tower water per VA specifications.

4. Unless contractor has a proven track record with RHJVAMC, visit the plant weekly until water treatment specialist and the Boiler Plant Supervisor agree that water sample results are stabilized. After chemical stabilization, visit the plant monthly, perform tests necessary for boiler and chiller plants, and review daily logs of tests performed by boiler plant personnel. Discuss the test results with the plant supervisor. Provide recommendations on treatment methods and consult on boiler plant and steam and condensate distribution systems problems as requested.

Send water samples to the laboratory as necessary to resolve problems and questions. Make additional visits at the request of the plant supervisor to handle problems.

5. Conduct waterside inspection of boilers, feedwater deaerator and condensate storage tank at least once per year. Through the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR), coordinate the boiler and feedwater deaerator inspection to coincide with the inspection by the Qualified Professional Inspector (boiler inspector). VA personnel will prepare equipment for inspection.

6. Provide recommendations on wet and dry boiler lay-up procedures, including monitoring, of boilers not in service.

7. Provide recommendations on proper operation of continuous boiler blowdown systems and boiler bottom blowoff procedures.

8. Test corrosion coupons from condensate lines once per year and provide report.

Contractor personnel will install, remove and deliver the coupons to the water treatment specialist.

9. Any deficiencies or problems noted with VA test results or with the water treatment specialist’s test results are to be reported immediately to the plant

Boiler Plant Chemical Water Treatment – Statement of Work 6 supervisor. If problems are found, corrective actions must be recommended immediately, chemicals as necessary provided, and tests performed as necessary to confirm that desired results are achieved.

Administrative Requirements:

1. All on site work is to be coordinated with the boiler plant supervisor at least seven

(7) days prior to performance of services.

2. All work to be performed during the normal working hours of the boiler plant supervisor, Monday through Friday, 07:00 to 15:30 local time, excluding National Holidays.

3. Situations requiring more frequent analysis and/or special testing other than the specified requirements may arise. Do not perform any extra cost work without written authorization from the CO. A separate purchase order will be issued to cover the costs associated with these extra tests upon request and justification from the contractor.

4. Provide information on the normal time delivery time for chemicals. Provide method for emergency chemical deliveries.

5. A laboratory certified by the State shall perform laboratory work.

6. A written report of each analysis and inspection shall be submitted immediately upon completion of each analysis and/or inspection to include a summary report of treatment recommendations based on the analysis report. Each report will be submitted in duplicate to the boiler plant supervisor and to the COTR.

7. Provide emergency response, including a site visit if requested, within 4 hours of request, 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Maintain a toll-free (800) telephone number and e-mail for 24-hour access.

8. Respond to routine communications within 48 hours with a visit as necessary.

9. Failure to achieve required performance goals will be justification for termination of contract.

10. VAMC internal inspection of each boiler by the boiler plant supervisor and the boiler contractor was performed in February 2020. A visual and written record of the condition of each of the boilers is available to the contractor. Upon termination of the contract, a similar inspection will be conducted. Any deterioration in the boiler conditions attributable to the contractor’s program shall be corrected by the contractor at no additional cost to VA.