B-2 Attach 6 Additional Information.pdf

Attachment 6: Additional Information

1. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to quote a solution which addresses the solicitation requirements. NIST has revised its requirements, as detailed in the attached revised Specifications document, to broaden the height requirements.

A racking solution that allows for a minimum 16” front edge module height is acceptable, although an 8” height is preferable. It is preferable that the array be configured so that the front-edge of each module is positioned as low as possible above the roof. Please refer to updated specification 4.3 for exact details.

2. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to quote a solution which addresses the solicitation requirements. NIST requires protection underneath the ballasts and points of contact under the racking system. The current roof cap sheet is a TREMCO POWERply® 300 FR. Options for the added protective layer may include fiberglass reinforced or other asphalt-based pads compatible with TREMCO POWERply® 300 FR.

CLINs 0003 and CLINs 0004 - 0008 are not linked. Any modules that are removed under CLIN 0003 will belong to NIST. Any modules removed under CLIN 0003 will not count towards the modules that NIST may choose to purchase under CLINs 0004 - 0008.

3. The existing roof is a Tremco 3-ply built-up roof installed by DJB Contracting, Inc. We have a 25-year warranty on the roof and it began on January 16, 2020.

4. NIST does not require the respondent to apply to the roof manufacturer for a solar design approval. The NIST Office of Facilities and Property Management will approve the solar design for conformance with the roof warranty requirements.

5. NIST does not require that racking slip sheets/pads be procured from or specifically approved by the roofing manufacturer. However, per Section 4.9.1.1. of the Specifications, NIST does require that the quoted slip sheets/pads be compatible with the current roof cap sheet which is a TREMCO POWERply® 300 FR.

The Contractor shall provide affirmation of this compatibility. This documentation requirement has been added to the solicitation This compatibility determination may be sought from TREMCO.

6. Tentative approval to use the loading dock on the south side of the building to hoist materials up to the roof has been secured. However, NIST may not provide final confirmation of loading dock space until after a specific schedule for the work has been determined. This will take place following the kick-off meeting.

Note that unattended material may not be stored at the loading dock on the south side of the building. Additionally, the loading dock shall not be blocked off all day but may be closed off for a few hours in the morning or evening hours with advanced notice and approval. NIST staff supporting this project will ensure these notifications are made and approvals are sought after the kick-off meeting, once a schedule is decided upon.

7. Tentative approval to use the loading dock on the south side of the building to hoist materials up to the roof has been secured. However, NIST may not provide final confirmation of loading dock space until after a specific schedule for the work has been determined. This will take place following the kick-off meeting. Approximately 2 weeks is anticipated for final approvals and the estimate is subject to change.

8. It is NIST’s responsibility to identify and secure a laydown area for the duration of the installation project. This information will be finalized after the kick-off meeting. It is anticipated that the laydown areas will be the eastern edge of the Building 222 parking lot and the southeast corner of the roof. These locations are subject to change.

9. The electrical connection between the 480V transformer and the Motor Control Center (facility electrical panel) has been approved by the NIST Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for temporary testing and commissioning of the PV system for the purposes of this requirement.

All connections between the inverter and the PV array, associated module level string connections, and instrumentation connections will have to be designed and submitted by the successful Contractor for AHJ approval. Temporary direct connections between the inverter and the transformer via four terminal blocks have been provided to aid in testing and commissioning of the inverter. The inverter output terminals are directly wired to these terminal blocks.

Connections between the AC output terminals of the inverter and the 480V transformer are outside the scope of this work and are the responsibility of NIST research staff.

NIST recognizes that modifications and changes may be required for NEC compliance of the connections between the inverter and the electrical panel. This work will be taken up by NIST after the installation of the bi-facial PV array and the associated DC wiring.

10. NIST is the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for this project. Therefore, NIST will be responsible for the necessary approvals and acceptance of design and installation. The NIST AHJ or appropriate designee will participate in the kickoff meeting, during which time the approval process necessary for permission to proceed with construction will be reviewed. The design documents submitted for Deliverable 4 will be adequate for this approval process.

11. Contractor personnel must be escorted by a Government employee at all times on the NIST campus. Contractor personnel who have been granted campus access badges will be allowed to access the roof through the building stairwell with a Federal escort.

Exterior ladder access may also be permitted with a Federal escort but is subject to advance reviews and approvals; the ladder would have to be removed over night or outside business hours.

Temporary removal of the sections of the ballasted guard rail currently in place may be permitted, with advanced approval, as long as alternate fall protection is approved by the relevant NIST authority. The guard rail must be reinstalled after work is complete. Per NIST facilities representative, it would be preferable if the guardrail were removed only during the period when hoisting work is being performed. Any removal and/or reinstallation of the existing ballasted railing is the responsibility of the contractor, and is discouraged.

12. Contractors may quote non-domestic products. Contractors must identify any such products in its quote via FAR Provision 52.225-4 Buy American-Free Trade Agreements- Israeli Trade Act Certificate Alternate III.

There is no limit to the number of “Free Trade Agreement Country End Products (Other than Bahrainian, Moroccan, Omani, Panamanian, or Peruvian End Products) or Israeli End Products” or “Other Foreign End Products” that may be listed by the quoter in the FAR 52.225-4 Buy American-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act Certificate Alternate III provision, sections (b) and (c)_respectively.

The Government will evaluate all quotations including consideration of FAR Part 25.

Please review FAR Part 25, including FAR 25.105, for details.

13. NIST will integrate any measurement or research equipment on the AC side of the inverter. The contractor is only required to install and integrate measurement hardware on the DC side of the system.

14. There is no wage scale requirement for this effort.

15. NIST does not have manufacturer’s data on roof cap sheet reflectivity values.

Contractors are not required to provide any estimates on the back-side gain.

16. Temporary direct connections between the inverter and the transformer on the mezzanine via four terminal blocks have been provided to aid in testing and commissioning of the inverter. The inverter output terminals from both inverters are directly wired to these terminal blocks.

17. The conduits on the mezzanine are 1.5 inches for the electrical wires and 1 inch for the data acquisition system wires. Please see attached photos of the conduits.

Per the NIST electrical systems AHJ, the 1.5 inch conduit will be insufficient to accommodate high voltage DC wiring and so must be replaced in full with conduit sizes selected by the Contractor to satisfy current NEC requirements.

18. The DAS connection is currently in the equipment box with the glass front door located in the mezzanine next to the inverters. This is the connection to be used.

19. No DC wiring is currently installed in the existing system. AC wiring is already done for the system and is not needed for this procurement, only the DC side is required.

The conduits on the DC side of the converter have not been updated since the original installation 25 years ago. The contractor shall propose a solution to replace them.

20. NIST requires bifacial modules.

21. NIST requires racking that fits the specifications identified in the solicitation. Please see specifications in the requirements; note that these requirements have been updated for this amendment. NIST market research indicates that products are available that meet requirements.

22. For security reasons, NIST will not provide photos of Building 101 such that potential material staging locations in relation to the building are visible.

23. Current fall protection railings are expected to remain for the period of performance of this requirement. In the event that should change, the solar array specifications provide for enough distance from the edge of the roof that safety will not be negatively impacted.

Safety is a priority and provision of adequate fall protection or equivalent space usage requirements will be discussed during the kick-off meeting with the successful offeror.

Fall protection is the responsibility of the contractor if the contractor wishes to change the existing NIST provided railings.

24. NIST is unable to provide a line drawing of the existing conduits.

It is required that all the conduits and junction boxes required for the DC wiring for the required system will be installed anew by the Contractor to meet NEC requirements.

25. The existing solar modules have been disconnected, removed, and scrapped for approximately one year.

26. Material delivery, equipment and materials storage, dumpster drops and retrievals, and debris clean-up, etc., shall be proposed by the successful quoter prior to the contract kick-off meeting for NIST review. Please see Section A of the Statement of Need for details.

Tentative approval to use the loading dock on the south side of the building to hoist materials up to the roof has been secured. However, NIST may not provide final confirmation of loading dock space until after a specific schedule for the work has been determined. This will take place following the kick-off meeting.

Note that unattended material may not be stored at the loading dock on the south side of the building. Additionally, the loading dock shall not be blocked off all day but may be closed off for a few hours in the morning or evening hours with advanced notice and approval. NIST staff supporting this project will ensure these notifications are made and approvals are sought after the kick-off meeting, once a schedule is decided upon.

27. NIST estimates that the it would be an approximately three-story lift from the ground to the low roof. The estimated lift height is 35 feet (not including the height of fall protection guard rails on the roof).

28. The contractor is liable to repair any damage it creates to the roof, using a Tremco Approved roofing contractor, in accordance with Tremco’s repair requirements to maintain NIST’s 25 year warranty with them.