QandAs for - FA254324Q0031 B430 Pipe Survey 1 Aug24.pdf

B430 NDT Pipe Survey

FA254324Q0031

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1August2024

Question 1: Your prints look as though they were developed in the 1970’s-80’s, with that said there is a high possibility that underneath the aluminum covering over the pipes outside the building, the insulation itself contains asbestos. This of course would have to be tested for confirmation but it is highly likely given the time frame. Asbestos brings a whole new level to the scope of work and requirements/certifications for abatement work, should you choose to test areas under the insulation.

That being said: Have you tested for Asbestos and what are the results? If you have not tested for asbestos, is this something that is required of the contractor who is awarded this requirement?

Answer 1: No Asbestos testing has been performed on the piping insulation. Additionally, if they need to remove paint from any sections of piping a test for Lead Paint should be conducted.

R&O has a service contract to test for Asbestos and Lead Paint. This will be conducted prior to the start of any work.

Radiometric Profiling of the insulated sections of piping would negate the need to remove the insulation.

Question 2: Will there be any interaction with asbestos or other hazardous materials?

- If so, what materials will be encountered and what protocols must be followed?

Answer 2: If materials containing Asbestos and/or Lead are found the contracting employer must follow OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.1001 (Asbestos) and 29 CFR 1910.1025 (Lead) to ensure occupational exposures are mitigated as feasible as possible.

Question 3: Is the contractor responsible for removing and replacing the insulation near the cooling towers or do you have onsite personnel for that?

- If contractor is responsible, can a similar alternative method be used to reattach the outer aluminum cover?

- If an alternative method is not acceptable, do you have a preferred vendor to remove and replace insulation?

Answer 3: The contractor is responsible for removing any piping insulation. A similar alternative method can be utilized to reattach the outer aluminum cover.

Question 4: The Print SIT-M11 and PIPING LAYOUT 82-001 shows an under-ground tank with a manhole cover. Is this tank steel? If so, it should be UT tested and will need a confined space permit for entry. Included would be a fall protection system so when a worker does go into hole you mitigate the chance of the tank roof being too thin to support worker and collapsing into the tank/water. How will the government address this?

Answer 4: The tank is an underground sump that is made of Concrete, therefore, it isn’t Steel and doesn’t need to be tested.

Question 5: Your pictures show some of the water piping system goes underground, what is the plan to have these sections checked? I don’t see any vaults in these prints to allow access to the underground sections of piping for inspection purposes.

Should you want those sections inspected. a much more comprehensive plan for excavation will need to be developed for this task.

Answer 5: The underground sections of piping are inaccessible without excavation and are not in the scope of this study.

Question 6: Drawing SIT-10 shows to be a natural gas supply line from a meter run into a building. Are you needing UT on this gas line?

It is a buried line and will need excavation if the plan is to test it also.

Answer 6: We do not need UT on the gas line.

Question 7: What are the restrictions and process to get electronics related to testing into the RA area?

- If the gear is to be inspected immediately before entering the RA, how long does that process usually take?

- Are there limitations on common hand tools that can be brought into the RA?

- What is the procedure to bring ladders and equipment into the area? It would be helpful to understand how long the process will take so we can account for the time in our quote.

Answer 7: To get electronics in a letter must be signed by the RA commander allowing it to come into the RA. They will not be allowed in any SCIF. This process can take several weeks to get a letter signed. Model numbers and serial numbers will be required and the person that will bring them into the RA must be stated on the letter along with the purpose of the equipment. No limitations on common hand tools or ladders. All vehicles will need to have a letter signed by security forces allowing it into the RA. The vehicle will be searched.

Question 8: The PWS references building 435 but the site walk did not include that building.

- Was that a mistake in the PWS or is there condenser water piping going to that building as well?

- If the system extends to B435, can you provide comprehensive photos of the piping to be tested there?

Answer 8: The Chillers provide cooling to building 435, but there is no Condenser Water Piping located there. The government has removed any mention of Building 435 from the PWS to prevent confusion.

Question 9: Does the 568’ estimate of linear piping refer to both supply and return or 568’ of each?

Answer 9: It refers to both the Supply and Return section of piping.

Question 10: Is there a predetermined estimated number of scan locations to be tested…or scan density (distance between scan locations)…requested or expected?

Answer 10: No. We’ve identified the areas where they can perform NDE Testing. We are not experts in Radiometric Profiling or Ultrasonic Thickness Testing (UTT) so we are contracting that job out to someone else. A “Sampling Rate” in this instance refers to how many readings they take per length of piping, such as, every 6 inches, every foot, every 10 feet, etc. Additionally, we can’t determine if a Sampling Rate is acceptable without having a proposal from the contractor to review.

Question 11: Is the elevated piping at the cooling towers included in the scope?

- If so, how high is that pipe? And is it ladder accessible or will a boom lift be required?

Answer 11: No. Focus on what is accessible from the ground level.

Question 12: Photo “B433 Generator Piping #2” shows the “generator cooling system piping” which is not part of the condenser water system. Does the scope only include condenser water piping up to the heat exchangers or do you want the generator cooling pipe between the heat exchangers and the generators (as referenced in photo) to be assessed as well?

Answer 12: Two of the four generators should have their cooling water piping tested.

Question 13: Who is responsible for removing the grating to access the pipe in the diesel generator room?

Answer 13: The contractor is responsible for removing the grating.

Question 14: In B433, are any special tools required to pull the floor grating? If so, what is needed?

Answer 14: There are large hooks that are used to lift on both sides of the grating to move it.

This will require two people.

Question 15: In B430, does the scope only include the main supply piping or also the take o s to the chillers?

- If take o s are included, do we test to the valves or all the way to the chiller flanges?

Answer 15: It includes the take o s to the Chillers all the way to the valves.

Question 16: Is the government aware of any water quality excursions experienced in the past 24 months that would precipitate the corrosion?

Answer 16: No

Question 17: Is the government able to provide a picture of the “metal rust flakes lodged in the Cooling Towers, Chillers, or Generators” referenced in the SOW?

Answer 17: Yes, please see Solicitation attachment “Metal Flakes”

Question 18: Were the “rust flakes” found lodged in all three Cooling towers?

Answer 18: Yes

Question 19: Since corrosion is temperature dependent, and the HOT water piping will be the piping from any heat exchangers to the cooling tower, is it the Government's intent to request to evaluate only the INLET piping to the cooling water towers, or both the inlet and the COLD outlet piping?

Answer 19: We want both the Inlet and Outlet Piping evaluated.

Question 20: Regarding the section of Piping connected to the Cooling Towers outside:

Will ALL of the insulation be removed for testing or is it within the scope of work of this project for us to remove the insulation?

Answer 20: The contractor will be responsible for removing as much insulation as they deem necessary to get an adequate sample of the piping.

Question 21: Regarding the section of Piping connected to the Cooling Towers outside and the overhead piping in the mechanical room: Will there be a sca olding access provided to overhead piping or is ladder access expected?

Answer 21: The contractor will be responsible for providing sca olding or ladders for access to the overhead piping.

Question 22: If ladder access, are ladders provided or do we supply them?

Answer 22: The government will not provide any Government Furnished Products (GFPs), to include ladders.

Question 23: Will electrical power (110 V) be accessible to us for the section of piping connected to the cooling towers outside, the underneath grating in the powerplant and the overhead piping in the mechanical room?

Answer 23: We have 110 outlets around that can be used by normal hand tools.

Question 24: What is the nominal (original) thickness of the pipe for the piping connected to the Cooling Towers outside and the piping underneath the grating in the power plant? If unknown, is there an estimate?

Answer 24: The estimated thickness of both sections of piping is 0.25 Inches.

Question 25: For a facility that does not have piping isometric drawings, we would perform a 3D LIDAR scan, then model the piping and produce drawings to identify each specific area scan number. If we don’t generate drawings, we can simply use a written description of the general area of each scan.

Should we include the e ort to perform a 3D scan and develop drawings in our proposal?

Answer 25: No. Developing drawings is not required at this time.

Question 26: Is there an incumbent contract and if so, what is the value of the current contract.

Answer 26: No, this is a new requirement.

Question 27: Will the government provide pictures of the cooling tower area, please?

Answer 27: Yes. I will provide those to the contracting department to distribute.