Post_Site_Questions.pdf

FA4613-19-RA004

Repair Natural Gas Lines

POST SITE QUESTIONS

1. Will the contractor be allowed to shut off adjacent gas mains to allow for tie ins/valve replacement?

a. Yes. Contractor can shut off mains for tie ins and valve replacement. Coordinate with CE

Project manager and Contracting 7 days prior to shut off.

2. Removal of the existing steel main could cause certain issues as far as disposal and interference with the installation of the new main. Is it possible that the old steel main could remain abandoned in place?

a. Old steel main to remain in place and be abandoned in place. Follow standard procedures regarding abandoning pipe in place; including capping abandoned piping at terminated ends.

3. Due to the poor condition of the existing asphalt that needs to be trenched through what can the contractor expect for a minimum or maximum width that should be accounted for in the contract for replacement? Some areas might only need 2 feet wide and some areas may need as much as 4 to 6 feet wide to match up to a suitable edge.

a. Maximum width to be 4 ft. the government understands that the existing asphalt is in poor condition and there may not be a suitable edge available to tie into.

4. Does the existing main need to stay in service during installation of the new main?

a. Due to the decision being made to abandon the existing main in place after the construction of the new main, the existing main can remain in service during installation of the new main.

5. Due to the very likely expectation of the expectation of encountering asbestos in the Coal Tar

Enamel pipe coating of the existing pipeline and the and great costs of labor, equipment, asphalt surface removal and replacement, and the functionality of constructing the new pipeline while leaving the existing pipeline in-play and redundant for tie-over of the old pipeline to the new pipeline, does it work to the great advantage of the Government to leave the old pipeline in the ground, abandoned in place rather than remove it?

a. Old steel main to remain in place and be abandoned in place. Follow standard procedures regarding abandoning pipe in place; including capping abandoned piping at terminated ends.

6. The clarity of what the Government wants, either working with large system outages or paying very large costs for Hot Taps, Stoppels and by-pass operations, must be decided to enable an appropriate price proposal. The majority of the natural gas use is only for hot water. And with in-house Base Plumbers and Facility Maintenance workers doing the relighting, the outage option will save many thousands of dollars. So, what option does the Government select?

a. Outages are acceptable when replacing valves and tying the new main into the existing system.

Coordinate with CE Project manager and Contracting 7 days prior to shut off. No Hot Taps are required.

7. Please define the meters and regulators to be replaced and with what make / model and or capacities needed? Or as a cost savings, and current lack of needed information is it possible to not have meter & regulators replaced under this contract. Limit this project to replace the service coxes and risers and main line?

a. See Attachment 1 AMRS Meter Specifications in SOW updated 15 Aug 19. All meters to be replaced except the new meter feeding Building 332.

8. Does the Government want test stations for the locate wire installed?

a. Yes

9. With (3) existing values at each end of the new pipeline, can these valves be of continued use for tie-in of the new system even if they are leaking and just need to be greased or serviced else ways?

a. No. Replace all valves.

10. Who does the re-lighting after the outages?

a. 90 CES will be responsible for re-lighting after outages.

11. Are there any known gas leaks?

a. One valve at the intersection of 10th Cavalry and Old Glory is leaking. An additional valve is leaking near Schreiver in the field with the big tree. No pipe leaks are known about at this time.

12. What is the operating pressure of the existing 6” steel pipelines?

a. 7-10 lbs.

13. It’s the contractor’s prerogative to use the means and methods in install the pipeline, it is acceptable to use directional boring instead of open cut ditch where possible?

a. Yes. Boring is acceptable where possible.

14. It is stated that the new pipeline will be HDPE. MDPE (medium density polyethylene) is the industry standard for natural Gas Distribution Construction. Should the pipeline be MDPE rather than HDPE?

a. Yes the pipeline shall be MDPE to match the Industry Standard.

15. Will there be a dump site on site for the slurry?

a. FE Warren does not have a common dumping area for slurry. Per environmental’s approval, a concrete cleanout location can be constructed in the area of construction and will be required to be cleaned up at the end of the project.

16. Is there a schedule of replacement for meters and regs listed to be replaced?

a. A schedule is not available. Replace meter with like.

17. Age of pipes?

a. An exact date is not known. Assumption is that these were installed with other gas pipes around base between 1950-1960.

18. Can you clarify which meters do not need to be replaced anymore?

a. All meters to be replaced except the new meter feeding Building 332.

19. Due to the complexity of this project in keeping certain buildings in gas 24/7 is there a specific phase that the Air Force would like completed. This very much complicates the project. Or is it possible to do a new installation and abandonment of the existing line in lieu of remove and replace? Whichever option is allowed will also greatly affect the surface removal and replacement quantities.

a. Due to the decision being made to abandon the existing main in place after the construction of the new main, the existing main can remain in service during installation of the new main.

20. There is a big concern about connections to existing lines and being able to shut the lines down.

Will hot tap / cut-in valves be required?

a. Hot Taps/cut in valves will not be required. Coordinate any gas shut offs with CE Project manager and Contracting 7 days prior to shut off

21. Do you know if the existing valves down and upstream will give a good shut-off? This has a potential of a very large shutdown to accomplish the tie ins.

a. The existing valves down and upstream are functional and give a good shut off.

22. Is there any idea on how old the existing lines are and what type of coating was used on the steel lines?

a. An exact date is not known. Assumption is that these were installed with other gas pipes around base between 1950-1960. It is not known what type of coating was used. Assume asbestos was used.

23. After the walk-thru today and the revised design on the gas line around the big tree, we have concerns about more trees. Is it possible to do the loop around the big tree in the grass area between 10th and 5th Calvary instead of before 10th thus eliminating any issues with trees?

a. Yes. The loop can be routed around the big tree and routed back to the original alignment to avoid all live trees.

24. There is a new gas meter at Bldg 332. This remains in place and the service line to the meter is the only thing that gets replaced, correct?

a. The meter at Bldg 332 shall remain in place. The service line to the meter shall be replaced.