S05 Amend A00003 36C25524R0070 Questions 26-55- Responses.docx

Response to RFIs Amend A00003 Questions 26-55 Solicitation No. 36C225524R0070 589A6-22-402 Cooling Tower Replacement

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CODE

7. ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

CODE

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED

PAGE OF PAGES

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED

BPA NO.

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

FACILITY CODE

CODE

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

E. IMPORTANT:

is extended,

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

(REV. 11/2016)

is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office.

is not, A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

15C. DATE SIGNED

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER

Contractor

16C. DATE SIGNED

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

STANDARD FORM 30

PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243 (Type or print) (Type or print) (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (If other than Item 6) (Specify type of modification and authority) (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(If required)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(X)

CHECK

ONE

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

05/07/2024

589A6-24-402 36C255 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office (NCO) 15 3450 S 4th Street Trafficway

Leavenworth KS 66048

36C255 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office (NCO) 15 3450 S 4th Street Trafficway

Leavenworth KS 66048 To all Offerors/Bidders

36C25524R0070 04-25-2024

X

N/A

THIS AMENDMENT IS TO PROMULGATE THE FOLLOWING Changes: Please Note:

Promulgate Questions 26-55 for your review and action.

Please acknowledge this Amend in your proposal, effective date is 05/07/2024.

Timothy Parison Contracting Officer

26. Are the towers considered a non-Mission Critical building, if so can the VA provide the Annex L Lightning Risk Assessment of NFPA 780?

Response: No. Is recommended and is critical.

27. Reference the TIL Electrical Design Guide Based on the below excerpt from the guide is the VA going to provide the required calculations?

“Contract drawings shall show the detail methods of anchoring electrical equipment. Drawings shall include the size, number, and type of anchors and fasteners to be used to secure the equipment against the seismic forces and to meet codes. Calculations for equipment anchoring shall be performed by a licensed structural engineer.”

Response: No.

28. We assume the VA conducted a physical inspection of the existing low voltage conductors, control wiring, etc., and perhaps concluded that none of the existing should be reused? Please confirm that all wiring associated with the towers, pumps, controls ect is to be replaced?

Response: The power cables to the existing pumps is new and may be reused. The power cables to the Cooling Towers owe to be replaced. All the controls wiring is new 18 gauge white and blue.

29. If any conductors are to remain, are we to have the existing conductors meagered to ensure insulation integrity? And if post award testing resulted in issues how will the VA handle them?

Response: Only pumps wires will remain. Megger pumps wires. We address issues later.

30. Are there any existing GFCI maintenance receptacles that must be replaced at the Towers?

Response: No.

31. Are any spare parts required and if so, please indicate what they are?

Response: Nine Specification Sections detail spares required.

32. Can the VA confirm the number and size of spare conduits available out to the manhole?

Response: 14 conduits total size 2-inch, currently only three are spares.

33. Can the VA confirm if the intent is for all exterior electrical panelboards, disconnects and control panels are to be stainless steel?

Response: Watertight

34. Reference the HVAC Design Manual Should we include costs in providing a Davit for fan and motor service at each tower?

Response: No.

35. Demo drawing AE011 seems to indicate only the intermediate piping between sump and hot deck is to be demoed. AE011 does not clearly communicate what is to be demoed and what is to be re-used. Please clarify.

Response: Inlet cooling tower pipe is to be demolished including the existing bypass piping. The inlet is to be replaced to enter underneath the towers. The bypass piping is to be installed underneath as shown in the drawings.

36. There are no electrical drawings, no panel schedules, no mechanical schedules ect. If this is not a design build please provide full details on the drawings, otherwise how does the VA truly know what each bidder is proposing since this is LPTA?

Response: See Attachment 1

37. Specifications indicate replacement of three existing cooling towers with equal footprint but twice the cooling capacity. Since this is not a design build, has the VA confirmed with a specific vendor that doubling a cooling tower capacity will hold the same footprint?

Response: Yes.

38. Specification 23 65 00.2.1.I Are equalizer flumes between the two adjacent cells and is there a requirement to pipe an equalizer line to the third? They are all independent now, we believe.

Response: No equalizer lines required.

39. Should the return line to the towers be increased back to 24'' after the three-way valve for volume like it currently is?

Response: No.

40. Should the bypass line be increased back to 24'' after the three-way valve like it is currently and if not are we to assume we will need to infill the existing hole in the sump for the smaller pipe?

Response: The existing pipe has a metal skirt, your new 16” needs a skirt around as well.

41. Please provide all design criteria for the filtration system including pump design, piping arrangement, connection points to the tower system, motor HP, definition for "High Rate" sand filter and controls.

Response: Section 01 00 00, Part 1.3 A, item 9 completely answers your question. There are multiple Basin Sweeper systems in the market. Ours is based in United Industries – Tower-Flo Model TFW-30. 3 HP, 100 GPM Maximum, 208V, 230V or 460V Three-Phase, Media Area 5.0 Square Feet, Media Volume 4.5 Cubic Feet. See Attachment 5.

42. Please provide complete design information for sump piping plan sheet AE011. To include pipe sizing, connection points, material type in sump and full intent of the arrangement shown. Intent is unclear.

Response: The sump pump piping is existing. All we are specifying is the sump pump rail frame (i.e., PENTAIR Hydr-O-Rail System); and a capacitive level switch/ electrode (i.e., FOG Rod, LIT-100) See Attachment 6. There are multiple level switch/ electrode manufacturers.

43. Please indicate on the drawings exactly where the demo/connection points are for both the Supply and return exterior piping.

Response: The demo for the supply starts underground before the 24-inch pipe comes above ground to the existing three-way valve and include the complete bypass line. The return demo starts at the vertical turbine pumps, the reducer past the existing 10-inch check valve, you will install a new 12-inch silent check valve connecting to the existing 12-inch branch.

44. Specification 23 65 00.2.5 states factory to furnish new control panel for new towers complete with 3R enclosures, VFDs, Control devices, etc. Please confirm.

Response: Section 23 65 00 states: A) factory to furnish control panel for each cooling tower. Then continues with B) shall be field installed NEMA 250 Type 3, drip-proof type enclosure containing: Unfused disconnect, Fan motor VFD starters, Interlock relays, Pilot lights and relays, and provide remote start/stop for the Engineering Control Center (ECC) interface. VA specified VFD Starters in 26 29 11 and detailed them clearly in Section 01 00 00. Cutler-Hamer PowerXL® DH1 6-pulse or approved equal.

45. Please confirm Basin Heaters are not required as we were unable to identify anything in the volume #2 specifications.

Response: Confirmed.

46. Please confirm that no heat tracing or insulation is required on exterior piping for year-round operations supporting the EHRM units.

Response: Confirmed.

47. Please confirm the intent is to reuse the existing pump VFDs located in the existing MCC electrical room.

Response: No. All VFD’s are new, provided by the GC. See Sections 01 00 00 & 26 29 11.

48. Is any new lightning protection required on the cooling towers?

Response: Yes.

49. Please confirm we are reusing the existing power conductors from the MCC to the towers and pumps.

Response: GC is reusing the Conduits. Completing conduit or cable tray from electric manhole, wall to wall, and rerouting any conduit we might need to run differently. Only the VFD power cables are new enough to remain.

50. What power will be available for temporary cooling?

Response: The rental chiller the GC will provide when ambient temperatures drop consistently below 55° Fahrenheit. The Chiller Plant Management will determine the GC shall start-up the Rental Chiller powered from a panel closed to the emergency generator.

50. Will the VA's chiller plant personnel be monitoring the temporary cooling equipment in the event of a failure or is that the contractor’s responsibility?

Response: It is the GC responsibility. VA will only provide oversight and expert advice.

52. Please confirm that all stainless hardware is required on piping systems as specified.

Response: Confirmed.

53. Is the contractor supposed to carry the cost for passivation if the galvanize construction is chosen or with the water treatment contractor the VA is contracted with be doing through the VA?

Response: The General Contractor is solely responsible for passivation costs for years to come. VA will consider the cooling tower galvanized if either the casing, the structure, the collection basin, or the distribution basin; or any combination of them is galvanized.

54. The mechanical subs are looking for piping design for the pump ping & sand filter. Can the VA provide what the design is for this piping?

Response: Section 01 00 00, Part 1.3 A, item 9 completely answers your question. There are multiple Cooling Tower Basin Sweeper systems in the market. Ours is based in United Industries – Tower-Flo Model TFW-30. 3 HP, 100 GPM Maximum, 208V, 230V or 460V 3-Phase, Media Area 5.0 Square Feet, Media Volume 4.5 Cubic Feet. See Attachment 5. The piping design for the suction and discharge lines from the basin sweeper skid into and out of the basin are in drawing AE011 well defined.

55. Can the VA clarify if the new piping for the backwash is to be buried below grade and if so, what are the details for this?

Response: The backwash piping is not to be buried. It shall be insulated and jacketed for protection where exposed.

End of Questions