Attachment XI - RFI Questions and Answers.docx

Requests for Information (RFI) Questions and Answers

1) Presently, Page 8, subparagraph E of the Work Requirements section and Page 9, subparagraphs A and D of the Qualification of Key Personnel section, under the above-referenced solicitation, states:

E. Provide a qualified and experienced NETA-certified technician to supervise all work.

A. The contractor shall provide NETA certified technician to supervise all the work described above.

D. The contractor shall have a dedicated NETA-certified technician on-site, overseeing day-to-day operations throughout the duration of the project.

There are a couple of issues with this limited qualification statement:

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 recognize equivalent experience or higher qualifications such as those possessed by an electrical engineer or registered Professional Engineer.

ANSWER: Please refer to the scope of work revised in November 2024.

2) 1. This is Firm-fixed price, and we need an exact total count of devices. Based on the on SLD , Panel & Location and Master List (from Eagle Contractor) provided, we only have data for Bldg 1, a little of Bldg’s19.21.22 (but maybe not 100%). This doesn’t provide enough information to accurately count all devices, making it difficult to determine a suitable price. (period: 240days after award) That’s why I inquired about the job walk.

2. Also, the solicitation repeatedly references the facility single-lines however the only documentation provided are Arc Flash Study related. Those are not electrical single-lines and do not provide the same information.

3. Is the solicitation requiring us to provide single-line drawings from scratch? Update drawings that I overlooked? Or are we required to update the existing Arc Flash Study?

ANSWER:

1. Please refer to the scope of work revised in November 2024.

2. The most updated electrical single-line drawings available are attached to the scope of work revised in November 2024.

3. Please refer to the scope of work revised in November 2024. The contractor is not required to update the existing Arc Flash Study.

3) 1. The testing involves two locations: (buildings 1, 5, T6, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23) located on the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center campus, and buildings 42 and 43 on the Cold Spring Road facility. No drawings or equipment lists were provided to allow for a quote for buildings 42 and 43. Could you please advise how many CBs are to be tested in the buildings located on the Cold Spring Road facility?

If you have drawings or previous test reports that would also be helpful.

2. Please confirm that only the following tests will be necessary: Infrared scan, manual test on CBs of 225AF and smaller, electrical test on CBs larger than 225AF, and cleaning of switchgears, switchboards, distribution panels, and motor control centers.

3. Could you provide a previous test report?

ANSWER:

1. Please refer to the scope of work revised in November 2024.

Panel lists, drawings, or previous test reports are not available for buildings 42 and 43 on the Cold Spring Road facility.

3. Please refer to the scope of work revised in November 2024 for the complete list of requirements.

3. The requested information has not been found.

4) 1. Would it be safe to say that each “building” would likely be a separate outage?

2. Do you have rough counts of the equipment in the Cold Springs Road buildings?

3. I have a question about breakers less than 225 Amps. The scope of work reads “7. All molded case circuit breakers (including frames size 225A or less) must be tested to determine if contacts open and reclose when the breaker is manually tripped and restored”. You are expecting just visual/mechanical inspection on these – no electrical tests –correct?

4. Is transformer testing expected?

ANSWER:

1. Multiple outages will be needed for building 1. One or more outages will be needed for other buildings depending on the services/areas/other buildings they affect. Outages for different buildings may be scheduled for the same or different days depending on the services/areas/other buildings they affect. The contractor shall develop a schedule of proposed electrical shutdowns and submit it to the VA COR for review and approval (please refer to the scope of work for details).

2. Please refer to the scope of work revised in November 2024.

3. Please refer to the scope of work revised in November 2024 for the complete list of requirements.

4. Transformer testing is not included in the scope of work for this contract.

5) 1. The scope of work states: “A. The contractor shall inspect, test, maintain, calibrate, clean electrical equipment (including, but not limited to switchgears, switchboards, distribution panels, motor control centers, and all related components) and document all performed work, in compliance with VHA Directive 1028”.

The wording of “all related components” is extremely vague and is highly subjective. Is it the intention of this paragraph to include the above listed examples or can the statement be further defined. This would help to ensure prospective contractors are bidding on the same equipment list and can avoid misunderstandings.

2. Is the scope of work intended to test circuit breakers in the switchgears, switchboards and distribution panels and all circuit breakers rated above 225 amps throughout the facility or is the intention to follow statement 8j(6)(c) on page 17 of VHA Directive 1028 as worded (and interpreted by other VA’s across the country) to mean testing and inspection of all circuit breakers rated 250 amps and above in the switchgears, switchboards and distribution panels?

3. Is the intent of statement A.10 simply to ensure the lightning protection system, having been previously certified, continues to meet the inspection guidelines of UL 96A or is it to have the system “certified” by the UL Field Engineering Team?

ANSWER: Please refer to the scope of work revised in November 2024.