Responses to RFIs Replace B20 Cooling Tower 07.11.2025.docx

Responses to RFIs Solicitation Number 36C26125R0064 – Replace B20 Cooling Tower, Martinez, CA

1. Please confirm this project contemplates no abatement of environmental hazards such as lead, asbestos, PCBs, etc.

Confirmed – no abatement of environmental hazards is expected

2. Please confirm if hazardous materials such as lead, asbestos, PCB's are encountered that it will be treated as unforeseen/differing site condition and a change order will be issued against the contractor under the applicable FAR Changes clause.

Confirmed – hazardous materials will be treated as unforeseen/differing site conditions.

3. Please confirm crane work will have to be scheduled on the weekend.

Crane work should be able to be done either during weekday or weekend. It is up to the contractor, unless the position or size of the crane affects campus operation. The two buildings in this area that could potentially be impacted are buildings R2 (supply chain) and 15 (in-house construction). These two buildings use golf carts to get around campus with supplies/equipment, so they need roadway access. There should be no issue with crane work being done during regular hours if:

· Lift will not hover above any buildings.

· Building 15 (in-house construction) workers can continue with their normal operations, meaning the roadway leading up to building 15/ parking lot would need access.

· Building R2 (supply chain) workers can continue with their normal operations. They typically travel on the same roadway as B15 occupants (leading up to the parking lot), but, if necessary, they can travel behind R-1.

4. Confirm the SOW doesn’t contemplate temporary cooling towers.

Confirmed – replacement is expected to take place during winter/colder months, so no temporary cooling tower needed.

5. Please confirm the facility can facilitate a cooling tower outage during the winter months when little to no cooling is needed.

Confirmed – facility can facilitate cooling tower outage during winter months.

6. What controls contractor has the controls on the cooling tower?

The current contractor is Siemens, but all controls at VA Martinez will eventually switch to Johnson Controls. It is likely that the switch to Jonhson Controls will be done by the time the cooling tower is ready to be replaced.

7. I noticed Section 23 25 00 – HVAC Water Treatment is referenced multiple times, but I do not see this section outlined in the documents provided. Could you please assist in locating or providing this section?

A few clarification questions:

🔹 Section 2.14 – Water Filters and Pot Feeders

· Could you please confirm the required size, type, and micron rating for the water filters?

· For the pot feeders, do you have a preferred brand or size specified?

🔹 Article 2.2 – Chemical Treatment for Closed Loop Systems

· Are we responsible for performing a full loop cleaning as part of this scope?

· Should we also include pricing for an ongoing service contract (routine testing, chemical monitoring, etc.) for the closed loop?

🔹 Section 3.7, Water Treatment A. It states: “Install water treatment equipment and provide water treatment system piping.”

→ Can you confirm whether this includes automation components such as controllers, chemical pumps, chemical tanks, etc.? If so, do you have specifications?

B. It states: “Close and fill system as soon as possible after final flushing to minimize corrosion.”

→ Does this imply passivation is required upon startup of the cooling tower? Once water enters, corrosion happens nearly instantly on bare (un-passivated) metal.

C. It states: “No water treatment chemicals are required at the time of completion.”

→ Can you please confirm whether this means that no chemicals should be included for initial startup, or if this is referring only to ongoing maintenance chemicals?

Response:

Hydronic piping, water filter, pot feeder, and water treatment equipment installations are not part of the scope. These were not mentioned in the scope of work. As stated in section 1.1.B of the Hydronic Piping specification, “The Contractor will reuse existing hydronic piping. If contractor damages existing piping or deems piping to be unusable, then Contractor will install piping that conforms with this specification. Replacement of hydronic piping will be at expense of the contractor if due to damage caused by the contractor.”

However, cleaning the newly installed cooling tower and components are part of the scope.

If still interested, 23 25 00 – HVAC Water Treatment, can be located on the VA TIL website (https://vatilms.va.gov/vatilms/reports/PG-18-1). However, this would be a general specification, not project specific.

🔹 Section 2.14 – Water Filters and Pot Feeders

· Water filter and pot feeder replacements are not part of the scope. Only replace if damaged by contractor.

🔹 Article 2.2 – Chemical Treatment for Closed Loop Systems

· Full loop cleaning is not part of the scope. Cleaning the cooling tower once installed is part of the scope, however.

· Ongoing service contract is not needed for this project.

🔹 Section 3.7, Water Treatment Chemical treatment and water treatment system piping are not part of the scope. Use existing chemical treatment piping, equipment, and controls – only replace if damaged by contractor.

8. Please advise if there is a limit to shut down time while replacement of the cooling tower is being performed. Will there be a requirement to have a rental cooling tower set up to limit down time.

No specified time limit for shut down while replacement is being performed. There is no requirement for a rental cooling tower as we are aiming for the replacement to be done during winter months.

9. Please advise if the VA’s facility team is able to perform control acceptance for the chiller swap, or if a third-party controls contractor such as Siemens is required for this scope of work. If DDC subcontractor is required, please provide the DDC points for the cooling tower.

A third-party controls contractor is required. Siemens is the current contractor for this system, but we will be transitioning to Johnson Controls. The transition will likely be done by the time the cooling tower is ready to be replaced.

10. Please confirm if the disconnect & the reconnection of electrical cabling and conduits can be performed by HVAC Service Technician or if this needs to be performed by a certified electrician.

Electrical work needs to be performed by a certified electrician. It cannot be performed by HVAC Service Technician.

11. Please provide the location and the VA’s process for chemical treatment of the cooling tower. No chemical treatment, Injector Pumps, or Controller was found during Job-Walk. There was a chemical pot feeder loosely placed on the ground next to the cooling tower which wasn’t connected to anything.

The installation of new chemical treatment equipment is not in the scope for this project.

However, the chemical treatment room is located next to the cooling tower (standalone room – NOT building 16 mechanical room). The cooling tower is treated using a Garratt Callahan ChemFeed system. This room also has the chemical treatment controller. The contractor will disconnect existing chemical treatment piping from existing cooling tower and reconnect to the newly installed cooling tower.

12. Please confirm if the existing ladders on the exterior of the cooling tower can be reused for the new cooling tower.

If the contractor deems the existing ladders to be in good, operational condition and there are no foreseeable issues with getting the ladder to fit on the new tower, then the existing ladders can be used.