QandA FA461020Q0029 20200723.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

Insulator Washing FY20

# FA461020Q0029

Questions were due to 30 CONS by 22 July, 2020. The following questions were received and answers are provided below. Here are the responses to those respective questions. As a friendly reminder, proposals are due by 3:00 PM PST on 29 July, 2020. Please respond to the #

FA461020Q0029.

Question 1: How promptly can we receive the Google Earth .KMZ files requested? With the bid due next Wednesday, we need time to ascertain the location and situation of each pole in the 2123 that need to be serviced.

A: Visiting the site to ascertain the challenges associated with reaching these poles is essential to the contractor’s understanding of the work involved. We do not recommend attempting to estimate this work with maps alone. Upon award digital/paper maps will be provided to the awardee.

Question 2: It appears as though the SOW is saying that only the insulators need to be washed for each pole? Is it Vandenberg’s experience that the insulators each be washed up and down or just one direction? Can you elaborate on this?

A: The insulators are washed from the ground because that addresses contamination that cannot be cleaned by rainfall. Follow IEEE standard 927-2005 per SOW.

Question 3: Is it Vandenberg’s experience to utilize a helicopter for the more rugged terrain where some of the poles are located? If so, can you estimate how many poles cannot easily be reached by a ground unit?

A: A helicopter has not been used to wash our lines for at least the past 25 years. Though other utility companies do use helicopters, those applications are normally for cross-country transmission towers which are substantially taller, and which have substantially better clearance space around them, than any of our poles. If the contractor is unable to reach a small segment of the contracted work due to the steepness of the terrain then the government will consider an offset; however, the contractor is cautioned to be prepared for off-road work on many of the contracted poles, so four wheel drive capabilities are absolutely necessary.

Question 4: The SOW says that we can use the base’s water supply through fire hydrants, etc.

From last year’’ experience, is that practical/feasible or do we need to cost out bringing in our own water supply?

A: The contract requires the use of de-ionized water which is NOT available through our fire hydrants. The base water supply may be used for other purposes associated with this contract though, for example if the contractor proposes a system to filter/purify the water on-site.

Question 5: We understand that the water needs to be free of contaminants and be of a certain purity depending on the voltage and the resistance factor. Based on the base’s recent experience performing this work, do we need to bring this purified water at our own expense, or will the condition of the base water supply suffice for this project? Have previous contractors performing this work used a filtering system for this purpose?

A: The base’s water will not meet the criteria of free of contaminants for line washing. In past contractors used their own filtering system and followed IEEE standard 927-2005/manufactures’ recommendation for purity and resistance factor. Previous contractors have procured the purified water from off-base sources, and have also developed mobile filtration systems to produce it on the spot.

Question 6: Based on last year’s experience, how long does the base expect the duration of this project to last with three people focused full-time on it?

A: Period of Performance will be 6 months after award. The contractor is free to take as much time as is needed within the Period of Performance. We are not at liberty to share past productivity rates from prior contractors.

Question 7: Our research reveals that specialized equipment is needed beyond a typical power washer. Can you provide a good local/regional source to lease this specialized equipment?

A: No. We are unaware of any company that leases the equipment needed to do this work.

Question 8: Do you need the Teaming agreements between prime and subs on bid day, included in proposal?

A: Yes.