Attachment 8 - 25-60 Compressor Site Visit Questions - V7 11 Apr 25.pdf

FA442225Q1041- Air Compressor w/Air Distribution System Site Visit Questions

1. USAF wants installation and operational by end of May? Other vendors to set up training equipment during June, need compressed air system ready by then. Please confirm installation and operational dates required.

Gov't confirms confirms installation and operation of the air compressor are required by end of May 2025. KC-46 MTS Augmented Hardware Training Devices (AHTD) are due to arrive at Travis beginning June 2025.

2. Compressor to be isolation mounted, install location is across hall from offices and Room 108 (Depot) is not sound proofed. Recommend per page two (2) of the Statement of Work to find another suitable location, IE Room 122 (Mechanical Room) that has an empty space on the clean-up pad that could easily house the compressor and the neighboring rooms, 137 (Electrical) and 123 (FCT) would be less bothered by any noise from the unit than an installation in Room 108 (Depot). Is compressor installation in Room 137 acceptable?

Gov't concurs with relocating the air compressor to the Mechanical Room (Room 122).

Mechanical Room (Room 122) is a good location assuming there is sufficient space on concrete pad for compressor and related components. It appears electrical requirements are more efficiently available from the adjacent Electrical Room (Room 137). However, Gov't does not have funding for electrical work, or any additional costs required to make the change from the Depot Room (Room 108) to the Mechanical room (Room 122).

3. Could run power from Room 106 to Room 108? Page two (2) of the Statement of Work states that electrical is to be supplied from Room 137, not from Room 106. Please clarify.

As stated in Comment 2 above, Gov't concurs with installing air compressor in Mechanical Room (Room 122). It appears electrical requirements are more efficiently available from the adjacent Electrical Room (Room 137). However, Gov't does not have funding for electrical work, or any additional costs required to make the change from the Depot Room (Room 108) to the Mechanical room (Room 122).

4. Customer does not know how high up the wall the piping should be installed. Can we get a recommended installation height from USAF? Or an installation height that would be unacceptable to the USAF?

Gov't requests piping be mounted 4 to 4.5 feet above the floor, with air fittings running parallel to the wall and not perpendicular.

5. Customer does not have a plan to discharge exhaust air for the compressor from Depot Room. Moving compressor to Room 137 would alleviate this issue. Is compressor installation in Room 137 acceptable?

As stated in Comment 2 above, Gov't concurs with installing air compressor in the Mechanical Room (Room 122). Mechanical Room (Room 122) has sufficient airflow and vents to allow exhaust air to dissipate.

6. No classes to be held in Depot Room (Room 108), but compressed air could be needed in this room. Is a Drop required in the Depot Room? The Piping Diagram does not specify one, but USAF personnel on site recommended one. If the compressor is installed in Room 137, is an additional Drop needed/required for Room 108 (Depot)? If compressor is installed in Room 108 (Depot) then a quick-connect could be plumbed in immediately after the discharge of the compressor and a dedicated drop would not be required.

Compressed air drop is required in the Depot Room (Room 108). Piping Diagram has been updated to add Drop 9 (D9) in Room 108. Regardless of where the air compressor is located, an air drop is required in Room 108 to accommodate maintenance of Augmented Hardware Training Device (AHTD) components, support equipment and tools. With the compressor installed in the Mechanical Room (Room 122), provide a drop in Room 108 by T-ing off the air piping in the adjacent training bay, Flight Deck Avionics Trainer (FDAT) Room (Room 128).

7. AWERT (Room 108, Soldering classes) will have classes (again, no sound proofing for compressor).

AWERT Room is Room 106, not 108. Installing the air compressor in Mechanical Room

(Room 122) will eliminate noise concerns in adjacent training rooms and office areas, as well as the need for soundproofing.

8. Room 128 (FDAT, Flight Deck training room) will have three drops for Breathing Air. Per USAF personnel on site, compressed air is to be used to check operational fitment of aviation masks which will require several minutes of a user wearing the mask to check for leaks. (Recommend Oil-Free air compressor for breathing air). Please clarify if the supplied compressed air will be used for breathing air at any time.

The FDAT training devices have a filtering system to prep shop air for use during tasks requiring breathable air. No special consideration needs to be made for the air compressor itself.

9. Can D5 and D6 drops be combined to one header? USAF personnel present said walls must maintain fireproof requirements, so probably not.

Yes, D5 and D6, Rooms 132 and 134, can come off the same service line. Seal and fire-block all wall penetrations.

10. How much room is available in the drop ceiling for installation of piping? Specifically, vertical clearance/access for personnel during installation.

Contractor shall verity site conditions.

See attached Architectural Floor Plan Drawings A-541 and A-122 for ceiling details.

11. Why is there a loop in the piping plans? Specifically, the blue line on the Diagram. What is this piping’s purpose? Page two (2) of the Statement of Work recommends a “looped-air distribution system,” but given the type of installation drawn on the Piping Diagram, a loop shown by the blue line would not serve the purpose of having a looped-air distribution system.

Per UFC 3 420 02 para 3-7.3, Piping Layout: Arrange piping system in a closed loop or

“ring main” where possible. Provide dedicated main air lines to services requiring heavy air consumption and that are long distances from the compressor unit. Install piping parallel with the lines of the building, with main and branch headers sloping down toward a dead end. Install traps in airlines at all low points and dead ends to remove condensed moisture.

Branch headers from compressed air mains, and all other takeoffs, must be taken off at the top to avoid picking up moisture.

A strainer or filter and a lubricator must be provided in piping that serves tools.

Provide all end points with a filter/strainer, pressure regulator, and dryer/lubricator

(depending on end use application).

Provide pressure gauges upstream and downstream of pressure regulator if a pressure gauge is not integral to the regulator. Provide filters and dryers with automatic drains.

Provide service drops with isolation ball valves.

Provide end point quick connect couplings compatible with end user equipment.

Presumably standard ¼” quick disconnect couplings.

Coordinate service drop locations and configurations with end user.

Also from Compressed Air and Gas Institute (CAGI) Compressed Air & Gas Handbook, Seventh Edition, Ch 4: A loop distribution layout allows air to reach any user from two directions. The maximum distance air must travel through the system is one-half the total length of the loop, reducing pressure drop by one-half as compared to the pressure drop in a similar length of straight pipe as would be the case in a trunk system. Also, since air can reach the user from two directions, the volume of air from each feed direction is less than the total required. Less flow means less pressure drop. This also allows for smaller header pipe to be installed; a cost saving.

12. What size of piping? The diameter of the pipe is not specified in the Statement of Work.

1.5" diameter from compressor to wall penetration; 1" for loop piping; 3/4" for service lines to each training room/bay.

13. Please provide pipe sizes for the main piping and branch sizes.

1.5" diameter from compressor to wall penetration; 1" for loop piping; 3/4" for service lines to each training room/bay.

14. Has the compressor specified in the solicitation been sized for all locations to utilize compressed air at the same time?

Compressor sized in the solicitation is the same size and type currently in place at McConnell AFB KC-46 Regional Maintenance Training Facility. Travis AFB is using the same AHTDs as McConnell AFB. Compressor and piping size are based on average air consumption, not maximum air consumption, therefore McConnell’s air use should be used as the baseline for Travis.

The Aerial Refueling Trainer (ART, Room 135) needs an air-driven hydraulic pump used to lift the WARP for installation/removal (13.5 CFM at 95 psi) and a Miniature RAT used for drogue illumination lights (110 psi). Facility air will not be provided, but a portable compressor utilizing a standard wall plug (120VAC/60Hz/1-phase/15A) will be supplied. Dependent on average air consumption of the end-use devices (not the sum of the maximum air consumption).

The Engine/APU Trainer (Room 134) needs compressed air to blow air (3 CFM at 60 psi

– 90 psi) through a drain hole of the turbine housing boss. The provided facility air is sufficient to accomplish this task. Dependent on average air consumption of the end-use devices (not the sum of the maximum air consumption).

The Flight Controls Trainer (Room 123) utilizes a ½” drive air motor SE to manually drive the flaps without aircraft power (1 CFM at 110 psi). Facility air will be plumbed into the FCT room. Dependent on average air consumption of the end-use devices (not the sum of the maximum air consumption).

The Flight Deck Avionics Trainer (FDAT, Room 128) has an oxygen mask, which requires no more than 1CFM at 110 psi for testing. Dependent on average air consumption of the end-use devices (not the sum of the maximum air consumption).

The Landing Gear Trainer (LGT, Room 132) requires an air drop where D5 is identified on the Looped Air Distribution System Diagram. Air requirements not yet determined;

training device is currently undergoing redesign.

15. At locations D2-D8, what end connections are desired? Also, will regulators and isolation valves be required?

Individual regulators are not required at each drop in the training bays. Isolator Valves should be used. In case individual air drops need to be taken offline for various reasons, the entire system will not need to be drained, therefore rendering all remaining drops inoperable as well. Standard air coupler for an air hose to plug into should be used. Fittings should be parallel to the wall, not perpendicular. See Comment 11 above.

16. A reciprocating compressor is VERY noisy. Due to the proximity to classrooms, hallways, and offices, may this be substituted with a rotary / screw style compressor?

Reciprocating compressors make more sense due to the low demand levels we are dealing with. Independent Government Cost Estimate was conducted for a reciprocating compressor; the initial cost of a rotary compressor is typically much higher.

Reciprocating Compressor is installed at two other training locations and is appropriate for Travis. See Comments 2 and 7 above.

17. During the site walk it was mentioned that one or more of the stations may have needs to supply air for a breathing apparatus. Will the training devises clean the compressed air, so it is suitable for human consumption?

The The Flight Deck Avionics Trainers (FDAT, Room 128) have their own filtering system to prepare shop air for use during tasks requiring breathable air. Further, the FDATs have an oxygen mask, which requires no more than 1CFM at 110 psi for testing.

No special consideration needs to be made for the air compressor itself.

18. The piping pathway proposed that crosses the Hallway, crosses into a hard lidded room, requiring the need for a soffit. May the crossing piping route be adjusted slightly to remove the requirement for a soffit?

Where piping must cross hallways 100B & 100D, it will be installed above the T-bar ceiling, eliminating the need for a soffit. In high-bay training rooms (123, 128, 132, 134, 135), Mechanical Room (122) & Depot Room (108), piping should enter & exit walls via appropriate location so as not to interfere with existing piping, conduit, etc. "Compressed Air" labels should be applied to all piping at roughly 20 ft intervals.

19. The proposed location for the compressor in Depot Rm 108 will create significant noise complaints, cooling issues, and require servicing mechanics to enter the office area for access. Would Mech Rm 122 be considered a suitable location due its proximity to panel M-1, entrance and egress through the exterior, noise isolation from common areas, and a raised concrete equipment pad currently installed?

See Comments 2 and 7 above.

20. Does the compressor require any connection to the EMCS system on base?

No.

21. Due to the pipe brazing requirements, will “burn permits” be facilitated through the fire department on base?

A "Hot Work" permit must be obtained from the Base Fire Department, Bldg. 175, 707-424-3886.

22. It is stated that all lateral piping will be above the T-bar elevation in common areas.

Will piping in each of the classroom need to be higher or lower in elevation than the T-bar in the Hallways?

Service piping will tap off the main piping (above the T-bar elevation) and penetrate wall into training bays. Then piping will be routed across, then down to service drop/user level, 4 to 4.5 ft above floor.

23. The SOW requires that a “air-dryer” be installed. This component required a 120v circuit. Please specify the panel and location for this circuit and if this is to be included in the

SOW?

Air compressor to be installed in the Mechanical Room (Room 122), which shares a wall with the Electrical Room (Room 137).

As stated in Comment 2 above, 120v service should be readily available in the Mechanical

Room. Otherwise, 120v service can be “fished” through wall from the Electrical Room.

24. Will the freight located in each of the bays be the responsibility of the Prime to move, or is this to be moved by others?

Classrooms will be set up the week of 7 Apr 25; all classroom equipment currently still in boxes will be out of the training bays by 14 Apr 25.

25. Painting of the pipes and brackets in exposed areas, will this require one coat of primer and 2 color coats?

No pipe painting required. However, adhesive “Compressed Air” labels should be applied to all piping at roughly 20ft intervals.

26. May the secondary pipe loop be omitted? From our experience, if the main piping and branches are sized for all locations to be used simultaneously, there is no need for a secondary line.

A single main header requires larger diameter pipe size compared to a looped main header. A looped main header is preferred but if it comes down to cost, choose whichever is more cost effective.