Attachment 11- Questions and Answers- HVAC Water Testing.pdf

Contractor Questions and Answers:

0. Can you please provide the name of the incumbent & the current contract number (or most recent, as we understand there might have been a gap in service)?

a. Govt Answer: There is no current GAP in service. The current Contract number:

FA468623P0058, CTR: Cherokee Chemical CO. Inc.

1. Monthly Service Visits - Confirming only Bldgs. 1086, 2145 and 23265 are to be checked monthly, all other semi-annual loop visits.

a. Govt Answer: According to the PWS under monthly service, all facilities listed in the PWS under Appendix A are to be inspected and serviced monthly.

2. Semi-Annual Service Visits

a. Confirming all other sites on Appendix A (and only Appendix A) will be on the list for sampling/testing/additions every 6 months.

1. Govt Answer: True

b. What is the estimated travel time to get to each of the buildings on the list on a semi-annual basis, as we didn't see those on the site walk. (For example, if it takes 4 hours to park/sign in and access mechanical rooms to each system we can add our time to perform service per building from there.)

1. Govt Answer: Travel time varies, 46 sites @ Average 5 minutes to each site, 3 ½ to 4 hours. Sites 1200, 1218, 11200, 2415 should be scheduled for escorts ahead of time to eliminate any extended wait times.

3. Annual Service Visits

a. Do you have a full count of chillers that will need annual brushing?

1. Govt Answer: This will be determined during the inspection. Contractor will determine which facility will need brushing.

b. Do you have a full count of pumps that need strainers for the loop and pump cleaned annually?

1. Govt Answer: Strainers and pumps are cleaned by base personnel.

4. Cooling Tower Questions:

a. What is the annual run time of the 2 smaller fluid coolers at Bldg 23265?

1. Govt Answer: Unknown

b. Are all other towers 24/7 operation?

1. Govt Answer: All cooling towers are operated 24/7 (1086, 2145,23265)

5. Closed Loop Questions:

a. Any estimate on system volume to base our calculations off of per building?

1. Govt Answer: Currently, there is no calculations for system volume.

b. If not do you have pump GPM sizes for the closed loops?

1. Govt Answer: No accurate estimates available.

c. If not can we make an assumption that certain loops can be estimated to be 500 gallons or 1,000 gallons for example?

1. Govt Answer: Unknown

d. How do you want closed loop chemical priced? Cooling Towers make sense as we can estimate how much water is used. In a closed loop, the assumption is no chemicals are needed once properly treated (although we don't know if they are treated to spec at this time), and if we are to account for losses (10% for example), we'd need to have an estimate of a system volume to go off of.

1. Govt Answer: Interested vendors should propose pricing based on the CLIN structure breakdown in the SF 1449. Please reference the PWS paragraph

2.4. There has been no lapse in services, so the assumption can be made that everything is being maintained as required.

e. Is there a plan to say include pricing for chemical to treat 5,000 gallons and then this is there an ability to have a buy as needed cost $/1,000 gallons of treatment for anything in excess of that?

1. Govt Answer: Unknown

f. Confirming that on the Appendix A (Chilled Loop # Pipes = 4 still means we have 1 common loop with 1 pot feeder)

1. Govt Answer: Appendix A has been updated to correct any confusion with loop vs number of pipes

g. My count was 76 loops when you count each as 1. Is that correct?

1. Govt Answer: The number of loops is listed in Appendix A of the PWS.

6. Help us understand re: bld. And equipment list – what does “other” define please / mean by

2 ea. Of 140 tons…

a. Govt Answer: Other is equipment “2 ea. 140 tons” 2 chillers , each 140 Tons. One loop or 2 pipes for both chillers

7. Do all closed loops have BPF’s?

a. Govt Answer: Yes

b. Are there any leaks on any of the closed loops?

1. Govt Answer: Currently none that we are aware of

c. What are the volumes of each closed loop?

1. Govt Answer: No accurate count at this time

8. Do all loops and cooling towers, boilers have water meters?

a. Govt Answer: No

9. Is all equipment, chemical feed pumps, controllers, etc., owned by the government?

a. Govt Answer: To the best of our knowledge, we believe everything in place is Government owned.

10. Is all equipment in good working order?

a. Govt Answer: Due to the age of some equipment, there might be issues that need to be addressed. In accordance with paragraph 1.2 in the PWS, “Additional funds will be provided for parts and labor required to repair system failure or breakage that is determined by the CO, to be beyond the control of the contractor.” Quotes for repairs outside the control of the contractor will need to be coordinated with the Contracting Officer before performing services not in the PWS.

11. Are there bleed off valves on all boilers, cooling towers, etc.?

a. Govt Answer: Cooling towers have bleed off valves equipped, boilers do not.

b. Are these set to manual or automatic mode?

1. Govt Answer: Automatic

12. Are any bldgs.., equipment serviced located on the flightline? Are escorts required if so, does vendor pay?

a. Govt Answer: Escorts will have to be scheduled prior to visit with the COR , no additional costs as the escorts will be military members.

13. Is there an existing base map indicating the buildings that are serviced on this contract?

a. Govt Answer: A base map can be provided.

14. Who is the current service provider? Are they performing the same PWS of which we are currently bidding for now?

a. Govt Answer: See answer provided in question 1. Yes, the work being performed is the same.

15. Gallons per minute of flow for the two evaporative coolers and the cooling tower at

Contrails Inn? Do you have water meter readings for the makeup going into each tower in gallons for the Contrails Inn?

a. Govt Answer: There are no evaporative coolers attached to the contrails inn.

16. If we propose a dual biocide program and no equipment to facilitate that program will the government purchase the equipment outside the contract (This program would prevent a health and safety issue stemming from the cooling towers. This is for bacteria control such as legionella outbreaks for employee working within the building)?

a. Govt Answer: In accordance with para 1.1 “The Contractor shall provide all manpower, tools, equipment, transportation, materials, and incidentals necessary to provide comprehensive industrial water treatment and technical services for all treated systems.”

17. What is the goal of the annual cooling towers; to remove loose dirt/debris from the fill or is the or return to its original efficiency?

a. Govt Answer: Annual service that is needed is stated in PWS para 2.5.

18. We have an exception to the annual tower cleanings – we suggest an inspection needs to be completed to identify the current condition of all towers i.e. fan belts, motors, spray nozzles, media fill, etc. Would we be able to schedule a visit by a tower cleaning company?

a. Govt Answer: Please reference PWS paragraph 2.2. An initial service shall be scheduled and performed as outlined in the PWS. The contractor shall submit recommendations for improvement within 14 days of contract award to the Contracting Officer and COR. Annual service that is needed is stated in PWS. If the contractor feels they want to bring in another company, they can do that at their cost or the cost that they propose during bidding. However, an additional site visit before award will not be scheduled.

19. Please help us understand which two contracts are being combined to form this Solicitation

[FA468624Q0008].

a. Govt Answer: There are not two contracts being combined to form the solicitation FA468624Q0008. This is a follow on requirement to contract FA468623P0058.

Please reference question 1.

20. Is the Tower 1086 going to be replaced any time soon?

a. Govt Answer: The cooling tower at 1086 will be in use for the foreseeable future.

21. Does the Bid include WT equipment or is there a separate fund for new WT equipment?

a. Govt Answer: If this question is referring to repairs needed of the equipment, please refer to paragraph 1.2 in the PWS.

22. How many cleanings per year for each Tower and chiller?

a. Govt Answer: All services shall be completed according to the PWS listed under monthly, semi-annual, and annual services. Cleaning of cooling towers are done on an annual basis according to paragraph 2.5.

23. In order to take on the Responsibility of Potential Equipment Failures we would need a Comprehensive Study on Existing Conditions. Can this be provided? We could not be held Liable for any equipment that are currently demonstrating maintenance issues or are nearing the end of their life cycle. Will a waiver be provided for the equipment that are suspect?

Govt Answer: Contractor will not be held responsible for equipment failure, unless WT is the cause for the failure. Per 1.2 in the PWS “contractor shall replace or repair any features damaged by his operations in a manner satisfactory to the Contracting Officer (CO) or his/her designated representative. Contractor must also bear cost of additional labor and replacement parts. Additional funds will be provided for parts and labor required to repair system failure or breakage that is determined by the CO, to be beyond the control of the contractor.”

24. We would like a 3rd party cooling tower maintenance/servicing company to visit all three

(3) cooling towers that will be covered in the solicitation. During the site visit it appeared to us there was significant deferred maintenance on the cooling towers located at Buildings 1086 and 2145 and possibly at building 2490. Would we be able to schedule a visit by a tower cleaning company?

a. Govt Answer: At this time another site visit will not be held. It is the prime contractor's discretion to hire subcontractors; however, majority work must be fulfilled by the primary. Building 2490 does not have a cooling tower.