Questions and Answers.docx

Questions and Answers

1. Is there going to be a scheduled site visit for this project? Yes, See Amendment 0001

2. Do you know what the engineer's estimate is for this project? Not applicable to the solicitation.

3. Can you please confirm if this is for an air-cooled or water-cooled chiller? Air Cooled

4. Will the EMS control contractor work for integration of the new chiller need to be included in the contractor’s price?

The VA will have our contractor who services our BAS integrate the unit into our system

5. Will additional glycol need to be included in the bid and if so what quantity should be added in gallons and concentration?

There is no glycol. This is a back up chiller that switches over from the chiller plant which doesn’t run glycol.

6. Is there an estimated time of completion that you are looking at? The reason that I am asking is that manufactures have extensive build times for ordered equipment but it is sometimes possible to secure a machine that is scheduled for production but not yet sold.(Will an earlier lead time help to secure the bid) I cannot say whether that will help secure the bid. We would like to have the unit replaced as soon as possible.

7. Is there a target efficiency minimum required?

The same as the one being removed.

8. Is it required to drain the existing unit on site or can it be done off site?

Draining the residual chilled water can be done on site. Because it is a self-contained unit the refrigerant can be removed IAW regulations off site if that is easier.

9. Water conditions – Entering and Leaving water temperature requirements (54F / 44F?)

Our chiller plant provides 42F water so the Leaving water temp must be 42F or lower.

10. This is an air-cooled chiller that I assume will be required to run year-round (In the winter) and therefore will/probably requires Glycol in the water to prevent freezing during ambient conditions below 32F, What type (I would assume Propylene Glycol) and what concentration ( I would suggest 35-40% PG) is currently being used or will be used. I would not recommend using fresh water as it will freeze if you experience loss of power for an extended amount of time during freezing ambient conditions (Murphy’s Law).

Because this is a back up chiller that cross connects with our Chiller Plant there is no glycol. We will use a heat trace and sensor connected to our BAS in order to prevent freezing, as well as draining the unit in the winter when it will not be needed.

11. Is the chiller being replaced a Nominal 250-ton machine or are you looking for 250 actual tons of capacity based on the design operating conditions? High percentage Glycol solution will derate the chiller performance.

There is no glycol in the system. The unit being replaced is a back up to the chiller plant and is cross connected making the use of glycol impossible. Manufacturers calculate the nominal tonnage differently. 250 tons of capacity is what we are looking for.

12. What is expected in the bid package?

Quote, Signed SF1449, signed amendment, and signed 852.219-76

13. Can the Superintendent be shared across multiple projects, or should they only be dedicated full-time to this project? The superintendent can be shared, as long as both jobs meet requirements

14. Can the Superintendent fulfill multiple roles? yes

15. If so, can they also fulfill the Quality Control role? Yes, if they are qualified

16. Can they also fulfill the SSHO role? What is SSHO?

17. Can the chiller be disconnected, drained, and swapped during regular hours, or does it have to be done during off hours? The disconnection and draining of the chiller can be done during regular hours. When the unit gets lifted for change out, it would probably be better to do it off hours because the lift plane will involve making sure no one is in any of the rooms below, as well as the lifting location will not be as encumbered with other various entities while you are trying to swap out units.

18. Please confirm a temp chiller is not required. We will need another RFI question/answer period if required, as this opens many new questions. a temporary chiller is not required

19. Does the VA anticipate this project will require off-hours work? Not necessarily, but as stated previously, the actual swap would be better planned for off hours

20. If so, what trades or scopes will be required to perform off-hour work? Up to the contractor to determine

21. Can the VA provide a copy of the Site Visit Attendance Sheet? no

22. Please confirm the VA will handle all aspects of the controls integration. The VA will handle the control integration into our BAS system

23. If no to the above, please provide a responsibility matrix showing who is responsible for what.

24. Is temp power available for contractors to connect to? There is some power available at the unit. There are a few 120 v outlets that can be accessed

25. If yes, where are the locations where it is available? Next to the unit, inside the room from which the unit is accessed

26. If available, will contractors need to set a meter to monitor usage? The contractors do not need to monitor power usage

27. Is space available for an 8’ x 40’ temp/storage ground-level office near the temp power source? Not at this time, The VA currently has a project to build a tower on the south end of the campus and space is limited. We will work to find space for equipment and materials once awarded

28. Where will the laydown area be for the 8’ x 40’ temp office, tools, materials, and vehicles?

See question 17

29. Could the facility provide the model, serial, and pictures of the equipment and equipment tags? See pictures below

30. Comprehensive responses to all outstanding RFIs. –Provided in the last email.

31. Detailed project plans. The VA does not have any drawings for this unit its files.

32. Complete technical specifications. The SOW attached to the solicitation includes questions and answers on sam.gov. This is a 1 for 1 swap of the existing unit, the specifications needed are in the scope of work

33. A clearly defined scope of work. In SOW attached to the solicitation. The VA is pretty specific in its goal as to replace the failing unit with a new unit that meets requirements. The site visit that was scheduled happened so potential contractors could ask questions and look at the job.

34. Please confirm there is no intention for new chiller support steel and vibration isolators. The new chiller can sit on the existing chiller supports

35. In the event of a schedule slip, will weekend work be allowed? If patient care allows for it.

36. Please provide specs for the following: Electrical conduit, power and control wiring, DDC controls, mechanical insulation, heat trace, testing lab services, hydronic piping, TAB, packaged water chillers, structural steel framing (if needed), Low Voltage Electrical, Grounding & Bonding, Raceway & Boxes, etc. this is a swap of units. Your questions should have been able to be answered at the site visit.

37. Where is the electrical room that feeds this equipment located? There are disconnects next to the existing unit that supply power to the unit.

38. Will the VA Maintenance team assist in the shutdown & lockout tagout procedures for the chiller replacement? yes

39. Please confirm the pump sizing remains unchanged and that no pumps are included in the scope of work. The pump size remains unchanged

40. Please confirm the drawing/document requirements that contractors will supply the VA at the end of the project, if any. The VA requires the technical manuals for the unit that the contractor will install

41. If any drawings are required, do the drawings need to be PE stamped? n/a

42. Please confirm seeding is acceptable and sodding isn’t required for damage caused during construction or by use of the laydown area. Any lay down area will be either on pavement or gravel, no sod or seed will be needed or expected.

43. What is the type and thickness of the mechanical insulation? Vague as far as which part

44. Does the existing lagging appear to be stainless steel? Please confirm the type and thickness of the new lagging. Va is short staffed, have not had time to verify lagging

45. Please provide existing Chiller Shop drawings and P&IDs. The shop cannot locate the old manuals

46. Please provide Chiller Connection details showing all components needed (temp indicators, flex connects, strainers with blowdowns, pressure indicators, etc.). that should have been looked at when the site visit occurred

47. What is the size of the existing breaker for the chiller power feed & where is it located? The existing breaker is located on the 5th floor interstitial area,

48. What is the size of the existing power wiring for the chiller power feed? unknown

49. If the wiring is upsized, please specify the new wire and breaker size and specs. unknown

50. Please confirm that the existing wire and breakers will be reused and not replaced. Existing wiring and breakers will be re-used and not replaced

51. Please confirm a new junction box and disconnect are not required at the new chiller. A new junction box and disconnect are not required, existing may be used.

52. Will the existing control wires to the chiller be replaced or extended?

Only if they do not reach the new unit

53. If contractors are only supposed to provide control wiring for the chiller (the SOW states VA to perform integration), please specify the termination point for the control conduit and wiring. Of course, one end will be for the chiller field devices, but what about the other end of the termination? Plan on using existing control wiring and extending it if necessary

54. Are thermal sensors to measure delta-T currently installed on the supply and return piping of the existing chiller? unknown

55. Will new thermal sensors and wiring need to be installed for the new chiller? Only if existing are damaged/do not work

56. Will the existing isolation valves at the chiller be replaced? no, unless they do not hold

57. The SOW states, “Furnish and install comparable 250-ton air-cooled screw type compressor chiller (460v/60Hz/3phase). Since the new chiller is not specified, please provide the existing chillers MCA and MOCP.

58. Is a temperature of 44 degrees Fahrenheit acceptable for water leaving the new chiller? Most OEMs have quoted a 44F/54F spec chiller. The VA’s chiller plant provides 42 degree water for the hospital. This unit should be able to provide 42 degree water. This unit provides additional cooling for the operating rooms

59. Please confirm that the VA will provide a commissioning agent to prepare plans for and coordinate the chillers' shutdown, startup, and commissioning. VA will provide a commissioning agent

60. Will commissioning be required to be performed on the weekend? Yes, due to the unit feeds the operating rooms

61. Can the crane be set up in the west parking lot either during the week or on a Friday, requiring part of the parking lot to be closed, as shown in the picture below?

Yes, on a Friday

62. If the chiller crane pick needs to be performed on the weekend, can the crane be set up in the parking lot on Friday, the crane pick the chillers on Saturday, and the breakdown of the crane take place on Sunday? Yes, with a three week notice, the parking lot can be shut down and the crane set up for a week end pick image6.jpeg image7.jpeg image8.jpeg image9.jpeg image10.jpeg image11.jpeg image12.jpeg image13.jpeg image1.png image2.jpeg image3.jpeg image4.jpeg image5.jpeg