RFIs Replace Burners Controls Project 549A422422.pdf

RFI’s TO IFB 36C25724B0018 – REPLACE BOILERS BURNERS & CONTROLS

1. Please clarify the fuel train requirements?

Government Response: Utilizing Weishaupt

2. Please clarify the desired size and location of the new water softener skid?

Government response: Please refer to drawings

3. What is your required PPM? 15-20 What is your low nox requirement? 15-20

4. Do we need a flow meter on the crude oil return line?

Government response: Yes, for each boiler

5. Is there a required manufacturer for any of the equipment being installed?

Government response: yes, weishaupt burners. Sizing to be compatible to installed boilers

6. As the Statement of Work only specifies installing, is the awarded contractor responsible for removal of any existing equipment?

Government response: YES, ITEM 9 SOW.

7. Drawing # MD-101 Note 5 states: “Relocate and adjust overhead conduit to accommodate new catwalk for economizer access. Any abandoned, air lines or other equipment can be demolished. Field verify quantity and sizes to be demolished”. It was noticed there were several lines coming from the MCC panel running along the wall of room 103 that are preventing the new catwalk mating up with the roof of room 103 without building some sort of walkover bridge. Question: Is there an existing list or have lines been identified and marked for obsolete, abandoned, or redundant lines in this bundle that is expected to be demolished?

Government response: No list on site verification and coordination with COR

8. Question: Is the plant prepared for possible utility outages to facilitate relocating Government response: Shut down is not required

9. Note 8 states: “Demolish existing boiler controls inside cabinet, cabinet to be reused for new boiler controls” o The Master VA Specification Section 23 09 11, INSTRUMENTATION AND

CONTROL FOR BOILER PLANT § 2.3 MAIN INSTRUMENTATION AND

CONTROL PANEL calls for each plant to have a “Plant Master Panel”.

Question: Is the intent of re-using the existing cabinet to be re-tasked as the Plant Master Panel to include:

Government response: YES, IT IS ALREADY TASKED AS SUCH:

Master Steam Pressure Control Station Boiler/Burner Submaster Control Stations Recording Systems and Touch Screens Pressure Gauges for steam header pressure, boiler feed header pressure for each boiler, fuel header pressures.

Boiler Economizer Temperature Indicator Systems that include

RTD measuring temperature for feedwater in and out, flue gas in and out, Modbus communication, Pressure gauges on feedwater, in and out. Thermometers measuring the feedwater temperature in and out, and flue gas in and out.

Annunciator System with alarm lights, alarm bell, integral test and acknowledge push buttons, Modbus communications for monitoring alarms

Condensate Storage Tank High and Low Water Level Alarms

Feedwater Deaerator Tank High and Low Water Level Alarms

High and Low Steam Header Pressure Emergency Gas Valve Closed Oil Tanks – High and Low Level Low Excess Air – Boiler High Natural Gas Header Pressure LP Igniter (Pilot) Gas in Fuel Oil Temperature – High and Low (Heated Oil Only Low feedwater pressure Emergency Fuel Safety Shut-Off Valve Control

10. Hazardous Materials Note states: “An Asbestos survey is available for this project that identifies areas and systems where abatement will be required.”

Question: Will this survey be made available prior to solicitation submission date so that possible abatement cost can be accounted for accurately:

Government response: N/A

Drawing #: M-101

11. Note 7 & 9 state: “Existing LPG gas line capped at building entry.” & “Provide one (1) 40lb propane tank per boiler plant on an industrial cart for manual connection to burner pilot and one (1) spare 40lb propane tank to boiler plant”

These notes contradict the requirements found in VA Standard Drawing SD235229-03 Natural Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas – Burner and Ignitor Fuel Standard Piping Diagram, whereas the requirements call for an external tank complete with PRV, Gauges, Emergency Gas Safety Shut-off Valve, LP Ignitor Gas “In Use” indicator.

Utilizing Weishaupt burners

Question: Has the VHA Office of Healthcare Engineering (OHE) been made aware of the deviation from the Standard Piping Diagram and have they approved the deviation?

Government response: Deviation has been approved by OHE

If this has been approved by OHE, will this approval be made available to the installing contractors for their records?.

Government response: Deviation letter approved

Drawing #: M-301

12. Steam Boiler Schedule: “Superior Boiler”

a. It was noted that the existing boiler safety relief valves do not meet with VA Design Alert DA-151 Cast Iron Fitting Replacement.

Question: Will the contractor be required to replace all cast iron or malleable fittings, including boiler safety relief valves on the boiler to meet with Design Alert 151 or does the contractor’s responsibility stop at the burners?

Government response: Please refer to design

13. Steam Boiler Schedule: “Weishaupt Burner”

The burner base for design is the Weishaupt Burner model RGL70/1-B3LN. This burner type is a pressure atomized burner and is in conflict with Master VA Specification SECTION 23 52 39, FIRE TUBE BOILERS § 1.7 PROJECT CONDITIONS, Paragraph D – Fuel Oil

Government response: Deviation was approved.

Paragraph D states: Will be furnished under Government contract. House pumping system is designed to provide // // kPa (// // psig) gauge nominal to the fuel train entrance on each burner. Pressure will vary in accordance with characteristics of backpressure regulator on oil pump set (Refer to Section 23 50 11, BOILER PLANT MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT. Oil grade (No. 2) refers to ASTM D396. No burner-mounted pump or relief valve is required. THIS HAS BEEN APPROVED

Note 9 on Drawing M301 states: Oil pump mounted and wired. External Oil Pump

NOT ACCEPTED

Question: Has the VHA Office of Healthcare Engineering (OHE) been made aware of the deviation from Master VA Specification SECTION 23 52 39, FIRE TUBE BOILERS and have they approved the deviation.

Government response: THIS HAS BEEN APPROVED

Question: If this has been approved by OHE, will this approval be made available to the installing contractors for their records.

Government response: THIS HAS BEEN APPROVED

14. Are we to dispose/abate of any asbestos, lead, mold or other hazardous material as part of this project? If so, provide appropriate hazardous material site survey report.

Government response: N/A

15. What will the ICRA level be for this project?

Government response: Level II or higher pending on work, see attached ICRA

16. Are there any required/proprietary subcontractors the general contractor is to hire associated with this project?

Government response: IC2T

17. Will all work associated with this project able to be performed during regular working hours?

Government response: YES

18. Contractors were informed when on the site walk that there are drawings associated with this project but were never uploaded. Will the contractor receive a copy of the drawings on Sam?

Government response: See attached drawings

19. If drawings are released, will the contractors have the opportunity to a 2nd site visit?

Government response: See amendment

20. If a 2nd site visit is allowed, will the contractors also have the opportunity to submit a 2nd set of RFIs?

21. would the bid due date be extended?

22. The SOW states the following, “Background Information: Currently, the government has the following equipment:

2 each: 400 Horsepower (HP) Boilers, Weishaupt

1 each: 200 Horsepower (HP) Boilers, Weishaupt

The equipment has outlived its normal life and needs replacement of the same type or equal.” However, this is not what is on site. Is this what the VA wants to be installed? If so what model of Weishaupt? As contractors could be providing proposals for different types of equipment.

Government response: Weishaaupt to be installed

23. How many boilers would the contractor be allowed to remove at one time before having the new installed?

Government response: SME states one at a time will be done one burner at a time. the boiler is not finished until the new equipment can operate as required.

24. Is it the Contractor’s responsibility to discard the old equipment from the property or does the VA wish to leave the old equipment on property?

Government response: Yes coordination with VA and COR

25. The SOW states, “Design catwalks around the boiler economizer at the top of the boilers.”, is it the Contractor responsibility for designing the catwalk? If so please be more specific on what the VA is needing the catwalk to be like, to be 100 percent functional for VA personnel.

Government response: Yes 100% functional for VA employees to conduct maintenance

26. We do not see a specifications package uploaded for this project. Please confirm that a project specific package will not be provided, and that all performance shall be in accordance to the VA TIL.

Government response: SPECS and Desing will be uploaded

27. Will a dedicated SSHO be required for this project?

Government response: Yes

28. If dedicated SSHO is required, can the Prime Contractor Superintendent dual role as long as they meet the qualifications?

29. Are any other full time on-site personnel required of the prime contractor outside of the Superintendent and SSHO?

30. In regard to project commissioning, will the VA be providing a Commissioning Agent (CxA) or will the cost of the CxA be the responsibility of the contractor.

Government response Yes

31. Will any engineering or delegated design be required of the prime construction contractor under this project?

Government response: Yes AE is will answer all RFI

32. Drawing M-101 indicates existing hazardous materials and references an asbestos survey. Please confirm if abatement is the responsibility of the contractor?

33. If asbestos abatement is to be included in prime contractors offer, please provide the survey referenced on M-101 so that quantity of scope can be accurately estimated.

Government response: Yes survey should be in the specs

34. The SF1442 section 13. requires contractors to hold pricing for up to 180 calendar days.

This amount of time seems longer than typical for a bid opening and will make it difficult to estimate price increases. Will contracting consider reducing this to 90 calendar days?

Government response: Because we are unsure when funding will be received, we can change to 120 days.

35. Please clarify the period of performance. SF1442 states 180 calendar days however, page 11 states 365 calendar days.

Government response: 180 days

36. Is the contractor expected to provide any temporary heating equipment or will outages be provided for all necessary work?

Government response: NO

37. Request for a new set of drawings that does not have “restricted permissions that prevent extraction of individual pages”. We are receiving an error message when uploading the drawings.

Government response: see attachements.