Questions and answers - Boiler Safety Testing.pdf

1. Inspections and testing are required to be done annually by a qualified contractor, IAW VHA Boiler and Associated Plant Safety Device Testing Manual (current edition) and VA Directive 1810. Specific inspection/tests and their frequencies are listed in the back of VA Directive 1810.

2. All work shall be performed IAW VHA Boiler and Associated Plant Safety Device Testing Manual (current edition) and VA Directive 1810 any contradictions should be brought up to the CO and

COR

3. Most drawings and schematics for the boiler plant are outdated or not available. New drawings and schematics following the boiler replacement project will be provided to the contractor when available.

4. Mercoid switches question - No, the contract is not calling for the replacement of Mercoid switches, please refer to the scope of work of items to be corrected and all inspections and testings of safety devices IAW VHA Boiler and Associated Plant Safety Device Testing Manual (current edition) and VA Directive

5. What are the dimensions of the Grand Island DA Tank#1?

30” O.D. X 54” Shell length for the DA. 48” O.D. X 120” shell length for the storage. We have a blueprint of the DA in the book if a scan would work better.

6. To accurately price the calibration requirements, we would need the quantity, manufacturer, and model number of all plant instruments requiring calibration. Please provide documentation such as the last calibration report.

As far as I know we do not have a calibration report. Nothing that I can think of has been in the past calibrated that we have documentation for. Would this be for gages and the like or tools? .

VA Directive 1810 Calibrate pressure gages and thermometers. We would also need the O2 sensor and carbon monoxide.

7. Can we perform the DA NDT and internal inspection during one of the visits to test and tune the boilers or should this be a separate trip?

It can happen at the same time using the bypass, but I wouldn’t recommend doing it at the same time. If we did, we would want to do it in the summer months. It would also take a day to cool down.

8. Can the DA and Condensate tank be internally inspected on the same trip, or should separate trips be budgeted?

If we do a shutdown, it would be best if they wanted to do them at the same time due to the fact that the cool down time alone would make it easiest.

9. If they require integration into the BMS, please provide the point of contact for the BMS integrator.

We use JCI here in Grand Island (Metasys)

10. Do any of the boilers have UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply), and if so, do they need to be inspected and tested annually?

a. Omaha - The boilers do not have UPS systems.

b. Grand Island – 2 boilers have UPS systems, they are not included in the current safety device testing contract.

11. If the UPS is required to be tested, please clarify the testing process.

• N/A

12. Does this boiler plant have an emissions control system?

a. There is not an emission control system for either plant.

13. If there is an emissions control system, please state what components are in place.

a. N/A

14. Is an annual emission control system inspection required, and for which components?

a. An annual emission control system inspection is not required.

15. If an annual emission control system inspection is required, what are the specifications of the system?

16. What are the dimensions of the Omaha DA Tank#1?

a. #1 tank is 5’6” wide, 13’3” long, 12’ 6” tall.

17. What are the dimensions of the Omaha DA Tank#2?

a. #2 tank is 5’6” wide, 13’3” long, 12’ 6” tall.

18. Does the DA require Ultrasonic Thickness readings to map the DA storage tank?

a. The DA requires annual visual inspections and cleanings, and a 6 year wet magnetic particle testing of all welds of pressure vessel interior.

19. To accurately price the calibration requirements, we would need the quantity, manufacturer, and model number of all plant instruments requiring calibration.

Please provide documentation such as the last calibration report.

Omaha - has no records of calibration being done on the equipment requesting calibrations.

Grand Island - As far as I know we do not have a calibration report. Nothing that I can think of has been in the past calibrated that we have documentation for.

20. Are the calibrations limited to digital instruments (pressure, flow, and temperature transmitters) only, or do the plant analog instruments also require calibration (pressure and temperature indicators)?

a. Calibrations shall be on the boiler plant burners, controls, and instruments along with the specific devices listed in section 9: INSTALLATION/UPDATING TO

REVISION 8 FOR BOILER PLANT DEVICES

21. If analog instruments also require calibration, please provide the full list of indicators requiring calibration.

22. Are there any other requirements for quarterly visits other than the Omaha Quarterly Dental Building Boiler Tuning?

a. The dental boiler is the only required Quarterly tuning. The remainder of the boilers shall be tuned semi-annually.

23. Can we perform the DA NDT and internal inspection during one of the visits to test and tune the boilers or should this be a separate trip?

a. Omaha - Testing can be done on the same day.

b. Grand Island - It can happen at the same time using the bypass, but I wouldn’t recommend doing it at the same time. If we did, we would want to do it in the summer months. It would also take a day to cool down

24. Who will be responsible for opening & closing the boilers and DA tank for inspection?

a. VA staff is responsible for opening and closing boilers and tanks for inspections.

25. Who will be responsible for lockout, draining & filling the DA tanks?

• VA staff will LOTO, drain, and fill components of this contract. Contractors are required to follow normal LOTO procedures while working on plant components.

26. Can the DA and Condensate tank be internally inspected on the same trip, or should separate trips be budgeted?

a. Omaha - testing can be done on the same day for 1 DA tank, the second DA tank inspection would need a separate visit.

b. Grand Island - If we do a shutdown, it would be best if they wanted to do them at the same time due to the fact that the cool down time alone would make it easiest.

27. Should gaskets be included in “0001 & 0002 Parts and materials for updates to Rev 8”?

a. Small parts and materials to make replacements and repairs should be included in proposal quotes.

28. Per the solicitation page 20 under “Emergency Call Out,” as shown in the picture below, how should the labor cost be quoted? The base rate for each callout + hourly rate for each hour spent onsite for the callout?

a. Emergency technicians are requested to be available on site for a minimum of 8 hours for troubleshooting, diagnostics, and repair(if feasible). Not all callouts will obviously need the full 8 hours, but it is the VA’s intention for the technician to be at least available to each site for 8 hours if needed. Any travel time should be added to each callout to not limit the 8 hour availability. These callouts are expected to be needed after working hours, ie. nights, weekends, holidays, and should be quoted appropriately.

29. Please confirm we are to allocate (and add $5,000) to each of the 12 yearly call-outs, adding $60,000 to the total yearly cost for emergency parts/materials, and this amount is in addition to the cost of getting a technician to the boiler plant.

a. Each callout shall allocate a $5000 parts and materials stipend for repairs as necessary, therefore yes there will be an additional $60,000 added for parts and materials yearly. Not all callouts will require usage of the full $5000 parts stipend. All parts and materials will be approved by the COR or plant primary/secondary alternates before work is performed.

30. For the callouts, should the cost include the hourly rate and service call cost it takes to get the technician to the boiler plant only? Once they arrive on site, a new charge starts, as there is no way to create an accurate budget for their time or cost in advance of the known issue.

a. Callouts should be quoted to include all necessary expenses to facilitate a minimum of 8 hours of onsite troubleshooting, diagnostics, and minor repair.

All drive time, tool charges, or other misc. fees should be incorporated in the quote. There should only be one charge/usage per callout unless otherwise approved by the COR or plant primary/secondary alternates. Repair or work proposals in excess of or not covered under this callout must be authorized in advance by the CO/COR or plant primary/secondary alternates and should be performed during normal hours of operation.

31. Page 18, 9),a) states this contract calls for the updating of outstanding deficiencies to various devices in the boiler plana during the initial year. Please confirm this contract is to make these repairs.

a. All repairs that are part of this contract are listed in section 9:

INSTALLATION/UPDATING TO REVISION 8 FOR BOILER PLANT DEVICES

32. Please confirm the new BEI Safety Device Testing Manual Edition 8 changes are to be integrated into the existing BMS. Usually, these are part of the boiler plant DCS/ECC system and not part of the BMS system.

a. When feasible components installed in section 9: INSTALLATION/UPDATING TO REVISION 8 FOR BOILER PLANT DEVICES, shall be connected to the Building Management System. When appropriate components that perform a boiler safety function such as iii) 2nd Outside Air Damper Interlock with Alarm (Omaha), shall be connected to the boiler control systems. Deviations from this request can be brought up to the CO/COR and the primary contacts for each boiler plant while submitting proposals.

33. If they require integration into the BMS, please provide the point of contact for the BMS integrator.

a. Omaha – There is no requirement.

b. Grand Island – There is no requirement but is preferred.

A POC will be provided post award.

34. The “Services” listed on page 19 appear to describe the SOW required by the FCA deficiency report. If so, please provide the full specs for this material and equipment (various flow meters, gauges, blowdown flash tank).

a. For section 9: INSTALLATION/UPDATING TO REVISION 8 FOR BOILER PLANT DEVICES contractors shall determine and quote devices that best support the request of the VA, those devices will assist in determination of which contract is selected.

35. Please provide a copy of the Site Visit Attendance Sheet.

a. An attendance list was not generated for this site visit.

36. In the event of contract modifications, should contractors apply bond premiums to the individual modification or wait until the end of the job, when the VA issues a final modification to reimburse contractors for bond overruns for all mods?

a. No. This is a services requirement and not a construction contract.

37. Please provide the full FCA report if we are to make these repairs.

a. There are changes in between rev 7 and rev 8 to the safety device testing manual, the requests in this contract are aligned with these changes.

38. CLIN 0001 / 0002: Parts and Materials for updates SOW lists labor for installation on these items, but CLIN only lists parts and materials. Please confirm if Labor is to be included in these

CLINS.

a. Labor should be quoted in proposals for all work.

39. 0005AA / 0005AB : Annual testing The CLIN only shows 1 but VHA 1810 requires this be completed every 6 months. Please confirm how many visits are required per year. Same question on subsequent year IDIQ CLINS

a. Per VA 1810 “Testing of all safety devices required to be tested every 6 months must be completed once annually by VA medical facility staff and once annually by a qualified testing contractor, unless otherwise approved by OHE.” Reference VA 1810 Appendix A sect 2, page A-1

40. 0005: base year Why is there no unit or QTY

a. This line item is NSP (Not Separately Priced)

41. 1003 / 2003 / 3003 / 4003/OP Year 1 There is a quantity listed but not what unit (Annual, Each, Job, etc.)

a. These line items are NSP (Not Separately Priced)

42. There will be an additional site visit

a. Omaha – Tuesday February 18th, 2025 at 10:00AM CST

Department of Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha Division Medical Center, 4101 Woolworth Avenue, Omaha, NE 68105

b. Grand Island – Wednesday February 19th, 2025 at 10:00AM CST Department of Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Grand Island Division Medical Center, 2201 N Broadwell Ave, Grand Island, NE 68803