Replace Electrical Main Feeders and Switchgear RFI Responses.pdf

Replacing Electrical Main Feeders and Switchgear Solicitation # 36C24924R0080

RFI Responses

1. For the required technical proposal (Factor 3), can we provide CPARS reports in lieu of past performance questionnaires? Due to the short turnaround time, and the deadline on Labor Day, we’re requesting the ability to utilize CPARS reports to satisfy this requirement.

Answer: We prefer a past performance report sent directly to the Contract Specialist robert.glenn2@va.gov but will accept CPARS reports.

2. In the technical proposal, Factor 1 requires two examples for experience, where Factor 3 is seeking three past performances; Can the Government clarify whether two past performance questionnaires can be provided, or are three necessary?

Answer: Follow the solicitation requirements as stated. The projects submitted for Factor 1 can be the same projects submitted for Factor 3.

3. Specification Section 01 35 26, Article 1.9.A states that there must be one full-time SSHO on site for each shift (with no other duties). Specification Section 01 45 00, Article 3.2.B.1 states, “Include a CQC System Manager that reports to the project Superintendent”. Can the Government please confirm if the contractor is required to have three full time staff members on site (Superintendent, SSHO, & CQC), or if two full time personnel can be provided to satisfy these roles and responsible.

Answer: The Superintendent, CQC System Manager, and SSHO are three separate individuals, however, the Superintendent and CQC may have collateral duties. Therefore, these three individuals are required on-site while work is being performed.

4. How stringent is the 240-calendar day completion timeline going to be? I think we will be at the mercy of the extent of repairs/refurbishment for each item.

Answer: The Contractor will be expected to finalize work under this contract within 240 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed, to include closeout documentation. The Government cannot schedule electrical outages during warm months.

5. Can you elaborate on the NETA requirements. Do we need an appropriate NETA certified equipment testing organization to physically perform all the NETA testing, or just to inspect it?

Answer: All switchgear inspection and testing must be performed per NETA requirements by an experienced third-party company (E-001, GC-001); the testing technician must be NETA or NICET certified. Cleaning and refurbishment of the breakers is not required to be performed by a NETA or NICET technician, as long as the final inspection and testing is done by the third-party NETA or NICET technician.

6. Scheduled downtime. How long can the gear be down at one time? Do we need to coordinate downtime with scheduled generator operation? Possible to shut it down Friday evening, and bring it back up Sunday?

Answer: The spare breaker must be installed immediately after removing the breaker that is to be tested/certified. Normal power should be restored to the medical center promptly. Outages will need to be coordinated with generator operation. For switchgear-level testing, longer outages will be required. All scheduling must be coordinated through the COR.

7. As it pertains to the load side feeder testing. Any idea the length of the feeders, to assist with testing quotation?

Answer: Please see the two attached one-line diagrams titled “Electrical One-line 13.8kV” and “ELECDIS1 – March 2024 Update”, to supplement Section 26 05 13.

8. Vendor has requested a picture of the nameplate for gear and breaker.

Answer: Refer to the Appendix.

9. In regard to phasing / spare circuit breaker / breaker testing & (potential) refurb – There are 10 breakers in the base bid, 6 breakers in the alternate – how many breakers can be tested per outage? Are we looking at one breaker swap out per outage, or can more be done pending no refurb / failed results during testing?

Answer: Testing and recertification may only be performed on one breaker at a time. Multiple breakers may be tested during an outage, however, all outages must be scheduled with the COR.

Therefore, if there is time to pull another breaker during an outage, but this has not been scheduled, it will not be permitted.

10. In regard to the breaker repair / refurbishment, is the VA / government open to providing replacement breakers for the existing GE Magneblast given these breakers are obsolete / no longer manufactured and repair parts are limited. Maybe as an alternate #2 to include original scope and all replacement breakers? (10 and 6 for base bid and alternate #1)

Answer: VA will not provide replacement breakers.

11. In regard to the safety requirements, bullet point #3 – states all testing technicians shall be NETA certified. Is NICET certifications acceptable in place of NETA?

Answer: NICET certification of the same level is acceptable.

12. In regard to the mention of “existing schneider electric metering system” – Is this system housed locally / on premise or web based? What is the existing license information and software version of the PME metering monitoring system?

Answer: The existing metering head-end server is located physically on Robley Rex VA property. Existing software version is out-of-date and will need to be replaced, along with the license.

13. In regard to the SEL-751 relays for main, tie, feeders – Is there a specific part number of SEL-751 that is desired? If not, is there a function / feature sheet that can be used to select the proper model of the SEL-751 relays? (Multiple models with different functions, features.)

Answer: The basis of design SEL relay compact model numbers are located in Section 26 13 13, paragraph 2.1. Relay functions must match what is indicated in the drawings (E-603).

14. There is a mention of deficiencies in the existing switchgear, can the most recent breaker / SWGR / relay test reports be supplied by the VA / government? Would these documents state any existing deficiencies?

Answer: See the following commentary for the most recent circuit breaker testing: Breakers in the 13.8kV switchgear were consistently failing on insulation resistance. This is due to the age of the breakers.

The comprehensive switchgear maintenance report will be provided to the awarded contractor.

15. In regard to the desired metering of the MV Breakers – Does the VA / government want a separate individual meter on each breaker for metering activities? (So looking at an SEL-751 relay and a meter?) Or is the desire to have the SEL-751 perform the protective functions and meter?

Answer: Separate meters for each feeder are not required. Use the metering functions of new multi-function relays. Refer to sheet E-603 for relay requirements.

16. If individual meter required, what model / kind? Tying into the SE Advanced Metering there are PM5000s, PM8000s, or ION9000s. Different levels of information available depending on desired output.

Answer: Refer to Question 15.

17. For the spare circuit breaker, can the VA / government provide a picture of the nameplate of one of the existing breakers? To acquire one as a spare we want to make sure the control voltages match, wiring schematics are on the nameplate and that allows us to verify the spare is wired correctly / the same as the existing.

Answer: Refer to the Appendix.

18. For the battery system, can you supply size needed?

Answer: The battery charger must be sized to meet the requirements outlined in the contract specification and drawings.

19. Please supply existing power system model in current EasyPower, SKM, or ETAP model format.

This will be needed to meet section 26 05 73.

Answer: Section 26 05 73 contemplates the contractor creating their own model “from the closest upstream protective device on both utilities through the medium voltage fuses on each step-down distribution transformer”. Since the energized, partial-discharge cable testing requires opening each transformer and upstream switching device, required data can be collected at that time.

20. Attachment 2 – Drawings Title states “Option 4: Repair Switchgear”. What were Options 1 -3?

Has a decision been made on Options 1-3? If so, please advise what decisions were made.

Information on options considered and/or still considering will be helpful.

Answer: “Option 4” is an annotation on the design documentation. This was the approved direction for this project, and no other options are under consideration.

21. Vendor has requested more info on the following:

PLEASE PROVIDE:

a. Nameplates on breakers (main, tie, and feeder).

b. Nameplates on switchgear lineup.

c. Nameplate on battery, charger, and controls.

d. Part #’s for new meters, GPS clock, antenna, network cabinet OR specs on what we need to supply.

Answer: Refer to the Appendix for current equipment information (nameplates for circuit breakers and from the interior). Contractor provided equipment is to be reviewed and accepted through the official submittal process. Battery charger and battery data is not being provided since the contractor is responsible for providing a system to meet new VA requirements. Part numbers for the basis of design SEL relays, GPS clock, antenna and networking equipment is provided in Section 26 13 13.

22. If a new breaker is required, then provide the actual size of the existing GE Magne-blast breakers as newer equipment has a larger footprint.

Answer: The contract documents contemplate using refurbished GE Magne-blast breakers in cases where a breaker may be irreparable. At the contractor’s option and the VA COR’s approval, a new vacuum bottle breaker with a GE Magne-blast retrofit adapter is also acceptable.

23. SPEC for ATS (PT selector relay) Needed.

Answer: The PT Selector Relay, referenced on E-601, is simply a multi-pole, double-throw relay to switch the voltage reference between the utility feeders for multi-function relay metering functions. The coil should be rated 125-Volt DC operation (with an internal or external back- EMF diode), and the contacts should be rated for at least 250 Volts AC.

24. Will any negative be in any buildings be needed per ICRA of the hospital?

Answer: Negative pressure will not be needed in the hospital or other buildings.

25. Is this a lowest price or best value contract?

Answer: Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA). The lowest submitted price will be reviewed for technical acceptability and if found technically acceptable in relation to the evaluation criteria (eval factors), an award will be made. If the low offeror is NOT found to be technically acceptable, the next low offeror will be reviewed to technically acceptability, and so on.

26. Will the government post pictures of the sub-station?

Answer: No

27. What will be the contractor’s responsibility in the event one of the cables fails during testing?

Answer: Since Section 23 05 11 specifies the cable testing method as energized, online, non-invasive analysis by partial-discharge signatures, to help mitigate the risk of the cable failing during testing.

28. What is the contractor’s responsibility if a breaker is found to be beyond repair/refurbishment?

Answer: Contractor will need to submit a proposal to retrofit a new breaker into the existing cabinet. Proposal should include material and labor costs, along with equipment specification and product data.

29. Can the VA supply pictures of the following areas?

a. Switchgear nameplates, including main, tie, and feeder breaker nameplates

b. Each door in lineup

c. Battery charger and array

d. Area for installation of new batteries

e. nameplate pictures of ratings / details of existing batteries and chargers

f. switchgear doors

Answer: Refer to Question 21.

30. Can the VA supply a copy of the most recent short circuit / AF study?

Answer: Refer to Question 19.

31. Is VA willing to consider supplying all reconditioned breakers as an alternative to on-site repairs?

This would have the advantage of one outage.

Answer: Supplying eleven (11) reconditioned breakers at one time is preferred by the VA, provided those breakers have been third-party inspected and tested in accordance with the contract documents.

32. Can the VA supply more details of the existing Schneider Electric referenced on Sheet 9 General Note A of the provided drawing package?

Answer: There are currently two utility meters, PowerLogic Circuit Monitor (CM4000T). Refer to sheet E-600 for existing topology.

33. Does the VA have a grounding truck available or, is it the responsibility of the contract to provide/supply refer to Drawing E-002?

Answer: The grounding truck must be provided by the contractor.

34. What will be the timeline for reconditioning of each breaker? Can breakers be removed from VA site for refurbishment - refer to drawings GC-001 and E-001?

Answer: There is no specified timeline to test and recertify a breaker, provided a refurbished spare has been installed and is fully operational. Circuit breakers may be removed from the VA site for refurbishment.

35. Should the contractor include in or proposals pricing for an Arc-Flash study for the main sub-station or is there an up-to-date coordination arc flash study available?

Answer: Include Arc-Flash study pricing in the proposal. Refer to specification section 26 05 73 for study requirements.

36. Should the contractor include in or proposals pricing to trace the circuitry or is there a site drawing available that identifies the cable routes of each circuit?

Answer: Refer to Question 7 and Question 19.

37. The wage decision provided with this solicitation is for Residential building opposed to Commercial. There is a significant wage difference with electricians which will be the majority of the workers on-site. Would you kindly confirm if the Wage Decision provided "KY20240012 06/14/2024" is the correct WD assigned to this solicitation?

Answer: The correct WD is KY20230093 - Modification 5 - 07-05-2024. Please see attached.

Appendix

Main Breakers

Feeder Breakers

Feeder

Main - Clifton Main - Hilcrest

Tie Breaker

Interior Nameplate

END SOLICITATION RFI RESPONSES

Battery Area