36C25521Q0086.docx

Marion, Illinois VA Medical Center October, 2020

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Z1NB

Biannual Boiler Plant Safety Inspection | MRN 66048 36C25521Q0086 12-09-2020

11:59 PM

CENTRAL TIME, CHICAGO, USA

N 811310 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office (NCO) 15 3450 S 4th Street Trafficway Leavenworth KS 66048 Department of Veterans Affairs Marion VA Medical Center 2401 West Main Street Marion IL 62959-1188 susan.miller99@va.gov

This Sources Sought Notice is for planning purposes only and shall not be considered as an invitation for bid, request for quotation, request for proposal, or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. Your response to this Sources Sought Notice will be treated as information only. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses to this announcement or the Government use of such information. This request does not constitute a solicitation for proposals or the authority to enter into negotiations to award a contract. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this effort.

The information provided may be used by the Department of Veterans Affairs in developing its acquisition approach, statement of work/statement of objectives and performance specifications. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this Sources Sought Notice or to otherwise pay for the information submitted in response to this Sources Sought Notice.

The purpose of this sources sought announcement is for market research to make appropriate acquisition decisions and to gain knowledge of potential qualified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses, Veteran Owned Small Businesses, 8(a), HUBZone and other Small Businesses interested and capable of providing the services described below.

Documentation of technical expertise must be presented in sufficient detail for the Government to determine that your company possesses the necessary functional area expertise and experience to compete for this acquisition. Responses to this notice shall include the following: (a) company name (b) address (c) point of contact (d) phone, fax, and email (e) DUNS number (f) Cage Code (g) Tax ID Number (h) Type of small business, e.g. Services Disabled Veteran Owned small Business, Veteran-owned small business, 8(a), HUBZone, Women Owned Small Business, Small disadvantaged business, or Small Business HUBZone business and (i) must provide a capability statement that addresses the organizations qualifications and ability to perform as a contractor for the work described below.

Important information: The Government is not obligated to nor will it pay for or reimburse any costs associated with responding to this sources sought synopsis request. This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. The Government will in no way be bound to this information if any solicitation is issued. Currently a total set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) and Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) are being sought based on the Veterans Administration requirement with Public Law 109-461, Vets First Contracting Program. However, if response by SDVOSB or VOSB firms proves inadequate, an alternate set-aside or full and open competitive solicitation may result. No sub-contracting opportunity is anticipated. The North American Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 811310 (Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance) with PSC Code Z1NB (Maintenance of Heating and Cooling Plants). Notice to potential offerors: All offerors who provide goods or services to the United States Federal Government must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM located on the web at www.sam.gov). Additionally, all Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses or Veteran Owned Businesses who respond to a solicitation on this project must be registered with the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Veterans Enterprise VetBiz Registry located at http://vip.vetbiz.gov. All interested Offerors should submit information by e-mail: to susan.miller99@va.gov. All information submissions should be received no later than 11:59 pm CST on December 9, 2020. After review of the responses to this announcement, the Government intends to proceed with the acquisition and a subsequent solicitation will be published.

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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTERS

BOILER PLANTS

STATEMENT OF WORK

Boiler Plant Safety Device Testing and Boiler Combustion Tuning

1. Introduction:

A. Most Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) have a central boiler plant to provide steam for heating and air conditioning, domestic hot water, kitchens and sterilization. Some medical centers have laundries that utilize steam.

B. Boiler plant safety, reliability, efficiency and equipment longevity are paramount concerns of VAMC management. Malfunctioning burners or controls can cause catastrophic events resulting in injuries and death and massive property damage. Inaccurate or inadequate data management and monitoring systems can fail to warn of unsafe or inefficient plant conditions.

C. Performance. Regular inspections, testing and calibration by expert technicians are an essential part of a program to address these concerns.

D. This “Statement of Work” describes the requirements for the testing and adjustment of boiler plant safety devices per the VHA Boiler Plant Safety Device Testing Manual, 5th Edition by qualified technicians. This “Statement of Work” also covers the testing and combustion tuning of the three boilers.

E. The contractor shall conduct one preliminary site visit prior to testing visitations in order to evaluate the boiler plant and site conditions.

F. Four separate documents will be provided with this statement of work.

1) Descriptions of the boiler plant equipment and devices.

2) A list of all boiler safety devices to be tested.

3) A separate document lists the facilities where the work will be required, lists the boilers and equipment at the facility, and provides a schedule for the work.

4) A copy of the VHA Boiler Plant Safety Device Testing Manual, 5th edition.

G. The annual Fiscal year schedule of visits for the boiler plant is as follows…

a. November, Annual and Semi-Annual safety device testing of boilers #1, #2, and #3 and equipment listed and required by the VHA Boiler Safety Device Testing Manual, 5th edition. Combustion tuning of all 3 boilers on both natural gas and fuel oil firing.

b. May, Semi-Annual safety device testing of boilers #1, #2, and #3 and equipment listed and required by the VHA Boiler Safety Device Testing Manual, 5th edition. Combustion tuning of all 3 boilers on both natural gas and fuel oil firing.

2. Technician Qualifications:

A. Technicians shall have completed at least a one-year trade school and have five years successful experience in this field. The experience shall be largely with institutional and industrial boiler plants similar in design to the VAMC plant. The VAMC facility manager/engineer may define and accept equivalent qualifications.

B. Technicians shall demonstrate familiarity with and ready access to the current versions of the following references:

NFPA 85, Boiler and Combustion Systems Hazards Code.

VHA Boiler Plant Safety Device Testing Manual, 5th Edition.

VHA Directive 1810, Boiler and Boiler Plant Operations.

C. Technicians shall be equipped with portable electronic flue gas analyzers and other test instruments necessary for the required tests and calibrations. At facilities with programmable digital controls, the technicians must be capable of programming the controls and have the appropriate hardware and software for this.

3. Boiler Plant Safety Device Testing and Combustion Tuning Requirements:

A. Technicians shall provide all tools and labor necessary to perform inspection, testing, calibrating, and adjustments of boiler plant safety devices and boiler plant controls as specified below. This shall be done every six months in accordance with a schedule provided by VAMC. VAMC may extend the schedule for burners in limited service.

B. Boiler Plant Safety Devices shall be tested per BEI requirements and combustion tuning as listed below shall be calibrated every six months.

C. Provide at least two weeks notice to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) prior to performing the work. Work cannot be scheduled during heavy steam load periods. Only one boiler at a time can be out of service for the testing and calibration procedures. Work must be conducted when the COR or his/her designate is available on site to monitor the work.

D. VAMC will comply with any other requirements of the test personnel that are considered reasonable by VAMC and have been presented in writing at least two weeks prior to the scheduled testing. Boiler Plant operators will be present to assist with the testing.

E. The inspections, testing and calibrations shall comply with:

1) The recommendations and requirements of VHA Boiler Plant Safety Devices Testing Manual, 5th Edition. A copy of the Boiler Plant Test Manual will be provided with the Request for proposals.

2) The written recommendations of the equipment manufacturers.

3) The requirements and recommendations of NFPA 85 Boiler and Combustion Systems Hazards Code including applicable appendices.

F. A summary of the work is as follows:

1) Conduct a preliminary site visit inspection and review of all boiler plant equipment, boiler plant safety devices and contract requirements. Make recommendations to correct any discrepancies and conform to the requirements of the VHA Boiler Plant Safety Devices Testing Manual, 5th Edition.

2) Initial safety device testing and combustion tuning to be performed as soon as possible.

3) Review records that show combustion performance (flue gas oxygen and carbon monoxide).

4) Review boiler plant log sheets and alarm and trouble reports.

5) Review records that show boiler plant safety device testing results.

6) Perform overall visual inspection of systems. Verify that systems comply with referenced codes and VAMC requirements stated in this contract.

7) Test and record the operation and set points of all burner/boiler safety interlock devices. Refer to list below. Verify that the set points and operating points are within approximately 20% of normal operating parameters or parameters listed in the VHA Boiler Plant Safety Devices Testing Manual, 5th Edition. Make adjustments as necessary and record the new settings. The operation of a device must result in burner shutdown and/or proper alarm operation.

8) Operate burner(s) on each fuel from low fire to high fire and back to low fire in 10% increments and record combustion performance (flue gas oxygen, carbon monoxide, NOx where applicable), fuel train pressures, atomizing train pressures, burner pressures, stack temperatures, boiler steam output.

9) Compare the combustion performance data with VAMC requirements (see below) and previous readings. If necessary, make adjustments to the fuel flow and combustion air controllers, control valves and dampers to obtain the required performance. Record the new performance data.

10) Immediately inform COR of any recommended repairs or modifications.

G. All of interlocks and safety devices to be inspected and tested on each boiler/burner/equipment, are contained in the VHA Boiler Plant Safety Devices Testing Manual, 5th Edition, along with testing procedures.

H. Required burner performance (natural gas and fuel oil):

1) Turndown (ratio of maximum and minimum firing rates): 10/1 (Refer to original burner specification).

2) Achieve, but do not exceed, boiler maximum steam flow output rating. Measure fuel input at minimum and maximum firing rates.

3) Maximum carbon monoxide: 200 parts per million (ppm)

4) Maximum NOx: _____ (Refer to original burner specification).

5) Flue gas oxygen: 2.5 – 4.2% (Up to 5.2% at loads below 40% of maximum steam output; no upper limit at minimum firing rate; oxygen can be one percentage point higher on oil firing on single-point positioning systems).

6) Flue gas oxygen (low excess air burners): 1.0 – 2.0% (Up to 2.5% at loads below 40% of maximum steam output; no upper limit at minimum firing rate; oxygen can be one percentage point higher on oil firing on single point positioning systems).

7) No visible smoke, except on heavy oil fuel maximum opacity is 20%. Comply with local emissions regulations.

8) Flames shall be stable with no pulsations, shall be retained near burner, no blowoff or flashbacks, no constant flame impingement on refractory or water walls.

9) Editor’s Note: Copies of the applicable emissions regulations must be available in the boiler plant office.

4. Report Requirements:

A. Provide complete written report of the Boiler Plant Safety Device Testing fully describing all tests performed, all findings, and recommendations. The report shall have two sections the first section will be in a table form that with four columns:

a. The first column labeled “FUNCTION” did the device pass or fail.

b. The second column labeled “Device” list the device number and description in accordance with the VHA Boiler Plant Safety Devices Testing Manual, 5th Edition.

c. The third labeled “Deficiencies-Recommendations”

d. The fourth column labeled “corrective actions” list any corrective actions taken during the inspection.

The next section shall be in paragraph/bulleted form and list each device individually in accordance to the VHA Boiler Plant Safety Devices Testing Manual, 5th Edition. Plus the section must reference the correct Master Specification and Standard Detail for that device. See sample below.

5.1. Condensate Storage Tank High Water Alarm

Purpose: High water level may be an indication of condensate transfer pump failure that could lead to low water condition in the feedwater deaerator and in the boilers. There may be a failure of make-up water controls.

Recommended set point: 4 inches below overflow level and 2/3 of tank height.

Potential hazards due to failure of high-water alarm: Feedwater deaerator running dry and, consequently, boiler feed pumps running dry will cause overheating and damage to pumps and potential for plant shut down. Failure of make-up water controls (in open position) could lead to significant cost from waste of water and condensate from the tank overflow if this occurs over a long time period.

Recommended type of device: Conductivity probe type switch. Float type switches have high failure rate in this application where they are exposed to flash steam that causes seals to harden and prevent float movement.

VA Master Specification section: 23 50 11 (old 15625).

www.va.gov/facmgt/standard/ VA Standard Detail: SD232111-05.pdf www.va.gov/facmgt/standard/ Failure rate of float types: 48% (BEI study of VA boiler plants).

Make and Model: Mercoid Float Did it function properly: No Category & Action Time Limit: Upon Failure or Within 5 Years Comments: Float type switches are not allowed for high water alarms. The VA recommended switch type is a conductivity probe type switch. Install the VA recommended switch and set to alarm at 2/3 of the tank height. There are valves that can isolate this alarm. These valves must be made lockable only in the operating position.

B. Furnish report within one week of each facility inspection in “Microsoft Word” format by email to the COR and to the VA Headquarters office designated. Provide hard copies of testing results data sheets to the COR within one week of visit.

C. All safety-related deficiencies shall be immediately reported to the COR, Boiler Plant Supervisor and/or Chief Engineer during the inspection visit.

D. Required Combustion Tuning and Burner Performance Report (natural gas and fuel oil):

1) Turndown (ratio of maximum and minimum firing rates): 10/1 (Refer to original burner specification).

2) Achieve, but do not exceed, boiler maximum steam flow output rating. Measure fuel input at minimum and maximum firing rates.

3) Maximum carbon monoxide: 200 parts per million (ppm)

4) Maximum NOx: _____ (Refer to original burner specification).

5) Flue gas oxygen: 2.5 – 4.2% (Up to 5.2% at loads below 40% of maximum steam output; no upper limit at minimum firing rate; oxygen can be one percentage point higher on oil firing on single-point positioning systems).

6) Flue gas oxygen (low excess air burners): 1.0 – 2.0% (Up to 2.5% at loads below 40% of maximum steam output; no upper limit at minimum firing rate; oxygen can be one percentage point higher on oil firing on single point positioning systems).

7) No visible smoke, except on heavy oil fuel maximum opacity is 20%. Comply with local emissions regulations.

5. Hours of Operations Business hours for the VAMC follow:

· Administrative hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. ‐ 4:30 p.m.

· National Holidays: The 10 holidays observed by the Federal Government are:

· New Year’s Day

· Martin Luther King’s Birthday

· Presidents Day

· Memorial Day

· Independence Day

· Labor Day

· Columbus Day

· Veterans Day

· Thanksgiving

· Christmas

· Any other day specifically declared by the President of the United States to be a national Holiday.

· Off‐Duty hours: Friday through Monday, 4:30 p.m. ‐ 8:00 a.m.; Monday through Thursday, 4:30 pm – 8:00 am.

Identification, Parking, Smoking, and VA Regulations

1. Contractor’s personnel shall wear visible identification at all times while on the premises of the VA. Identification shall include, as a minimum, the employee’s name, position, and the contractor’s trade name.

1. It is the responsibility of the contractor to park in the appropriate designated parking areas.

Information on parking is available from VA Police Service. VA will not invalidate or make reimbursement for parking violations of the contractor under any conditions.

1. Possession of weapons is prohibited. Enclosed containers, including tool kits, shall be subject to search. Violations of VA regulations may result in citation answerable in the United States (Federal) District Court, not local district, state, or municipal court.

1. Smoking is prohibited inside all VA buildings.

1. Possession of weapons is prohibited. Enclosed containers, including tool kits, shall be subject to search. Violations of VA regulations may result in citation answerable in the United States (Federal) District Court, not a local district, state or municipal court.

1. Facility security requirements. Upon arrival at the VA Medical Center all contractor personnel are required to report to the VA Medical Center Police for a temporary ID and check in. This check‐in process is mandatory. When the service is completed all contractor personnel are required to check out with VA Medical Center Police.

VHA CFM3A

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