Questions and Answers_updated_21MAY21.pdf

Date: 5/20/2021 Revised Q & A

Date: 5/5/2021

USCG Base Elizabeth City, NC

Facilities Engineering Department

Project: HMF-2 HVAC Unit #76 Replacement

Subject: Project Questions submitted and Answers

Question 1. Can the contractors take additional pictures during the site visit?

Answer 1. Yes, additional photographs related to this project may be taken by the Contractors.

Question 2. Given the proximity of the installation to a marine environment, are there any special coatings to condensing coils or housings which should be included when specifying the condensing unit?

Answer 2. The statement of work for this project does not have a requirement for the any coil coating.

Question 3. What is the magnitude of construction for this project?

Answer 3. Between 25,000 and 100,000

Question 4. Is this project proposing to sole source the Brand Name for the replacement units or can it be equal or better on the replacement unit?

Answer 4. No, this project is not requiring a “sole source”. The condensing equipment proposed for this project should be “equal to or exceed the existing equipment. The “brand” name or equipment manufacturer is not required to be the same manufacturer as the existing condensing equipment, that is be replaced in this project. The new condensing equipment requirements are specified in the “Technical Requirements” section of the Statement of Work and can be found on pages 5 through pages 8 of the “Statement of Work”. However, the evaporator coils and condensate drain pans are part of a very specialized air handler manufactured by Industrial Commercial Equipment Manufacturing LTD (ICE). The replacement evaporator coils and condensate drain pans must precisely fit the existing manufacturers’ (ICE) equipment to obtain the rated performance, form, fit and function as designed by the manufacturer.

Question 5. Is there a drawing showing the following:

a) The current location of the condensing unit and air handler.

b) The new location of the air handler and/or condensing unit.

c) The proposed routing for the new piping/electrical/drain lines.

d) The current location of the electrical source and proposed routing of the new electrical supply.

Answer 5.

a) No, there is not a drawing of the existing location of the condensing unit or Air Handler.

b) The new condensing unit will remain at the same location as the existing condensing unit. The existing air handler is remaining in its present location and is not being replaced. Only the existing evaporator coils and condensate pans are to be replaced.

c) There is not a drawing showing the location of the proposed new piping/ electrical/ or drain lines.

The existing refrigerant piping is routed from the condensing unit to the evaporator coils above an existing suspended ceiling. The Contractor is required, as listed in the Statement of Work, to provide a refrigerant piping plan submittal.

The electrical wiring, can be found, on pages 5 and 6 of the Scope of Work, under Technical Requirements.

The condensate drain piping is described in the Technical Requirements on page 6, also a photograph of the floor location on page 14 shows the floor drain.

d) There is no drawing for the existing electrical source, however the electrical panel that feeds the condensing unit is located to the left of the air handler and identified as Panel M3, circuit breaker # 55/57/59.

Question 6. We have pursued finding an alternate source for a replacement evaporator coil for your existing ICE Manufacturing packaged furnace. If possible, this source would like to have a picture of the name plate that is on the evaporator coil itself. The name plate that is actually on the evaporator coil will provide them with the information that will allow them to provide the exact replacement coil that will "precisely" fit into the existing equipment. Is this something that is doable?

Answer 6. USCG personnel has examined the evaporator coils for any further information and a data plate was not found on the existing coils or coil cabinet.

Question 7. In addition to the standard manufacturer warranty that covers parts only for 1 year would the U.S. Coast Guard want MCA to quote 1 year refrigerant and labor manufacturer’s warranty or an extended 5 or 10 year parts manufacturer’s warranty?

Answer 7. The bidder is only required to provide a one year warranty with this contract. The bidder may add additional warranty options that are available as separate line items.

Question 8. I have been requesting coil quotes for this project for almost two weeks. The vendor who manufactures the ICE indoor evaporator coil has not been able to respond with pricing and is asking for more information as of noon yesterday. The U.S. manufacturing plant has evidently run into legal trouble leaving only the Canadian branch to respond. Since this is a custom built unit we will need to provide them with this information to proceed. This is the only clear path I see to move forward. This would of course require a bid extension as I have no other way to obtain pricing for the Industrial Commercial Equipment Manufacturing LTD parts.

Answer 8. The USCG has learned that the equipment manufacturer, Industrial Commercial Equipment Manufacturing LTD (I.C.E) of Bolivar TN has closed their operations and manufacturing plant due to unknown reasons to the USCG and it is not known when they will reopen. However, ICE has another Manufacturing plant located in Alberta, Canada. If an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) part is not available, then equivalent evaporator coils and condensate pans may be used from a custom coil manufacturing company.

Question 9. We have reviewed the posted Q&A from the site visit; the answer to question 4 states, "The replacement evaporator coils and condensate drain pans must precisely fit the existing manufacturers’ (ICE) equipment to obtain the rated performance, form, fit and function as designed by the manufacturer." Unfortunately, ICE went out of business. Last week their website was still up and running, but now even that is gone. We cannot find a source for ICE parts. Without an installation manual or a parts manual it is impossible to know what brand evaporator coil and condensate pan will precisely fit the existing ICE equipment. Do you have a spec sheet or install manual for the existing ICE unit?

Answer 9. The USCG has learned that the equipment manufacturer, Industrial Commercial Equipment Manufacturing LTD (I.C.E) of Bolivar TN has closed their operations and manufacturing plant due to unknown reasons to the USCG and it is not known when they will reopen. However, ICE has another Manufacturing plant located in Alberta, Canada. If an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) part is not available, then equivalent evaporator coils and condensate pans may be used from a custom coil manufacturing company.