Solicitation QAs - Steam Generator.pdf

Steam Generator Solicitaiton Q&A

• Please confirm a 3D model/laser scan of the facility in its current state will be provided to winning bidder. Or will performing a laser scan be included in the proposed scope?

1. Yes, AFRL can provide laser scans of the area

• Please confirm Edwards AFB will provide any drafting/layering standards, title blocks, etc.

1. AFRL will provide our standards

• Please confirm that the propane bullets will be relocated by the time the steam generators will be installed.

1. Propane tanks will be relocated prior to installation of new steam generators.

• Are you subject to Kern County Building Permits, or are there any Federal Building Permits?

1. As a federal installation, we do not require local county or city building permits. We require adherence to applicable UFCs, NFPAs, NECs and EAFB base standards.

• Is the 1/8” thick stainless steel liner a requirement? If allowed, we’d like to add a ¼” or 3/8” thick corrosion allowance as a substitute for the 1/8” thick stainless steel liner.

1. Stainless steel is preferred, but if it is cost or schedule prohibitive, AFRL would consider an additional carbon steel corrosion allowance.

• Can water be added to the vessel each day? As a significant cost reduction of the vessel, this would reduce the diameter, wall thickness and length.

1. Vessel volume needs to be a minimum of what was specified in the SOW in order to meet our operational requirements for testing.

• What is the feed water quality? Is there any upstream water treatment?

1. The feed water is City water, currently running through water softeners only.

Water softeners are replaceable cartridge type sourced from Eversoft.

• Has there been any preliminary sizing on the fire tube diameter/wall thickness?

1. No

• Since the original design has stood the test of many years of use, why is there a desire to change the fundamental design?

1. To simplify the system and remove current failure points. The hot-water loop, primarily the hot-water pump, is the current highest frequency failure point.

• Fire tubes can potentially get hot spots (~2000F) and fail if the feed water is not really clean (solids build up in the vessel/scaling of tubes/etc). Additionally, Stack temperatures on start-up (cold water on winter days) can produce condensate that can potentially corrode the cold side of the fire tubes. We haven’t come across a fire-tube steam generator for a service like this. Are you open to utilizing HTF rather than fire tubes to avoid these potential issues?

1. Yes. We would be open to using a HTF with a process heater similar to our current process heaters. 8.5MM BTU/Hr Vapor Power heaters.

• Contract Clarification: On page 34 of Attachment +-+2_SF144_Model+Contract, section 2.iii says, "(iii) Each service employee who will perform the services under the contract will spend only a small portion of his or her time (a monthly average of less than 20 percent of the available hours on an annualized basis, or less than 20 percent of available hours during the contract period if the contract period is less than a month) servicing the Government contract;". Does this mean that each staff member is only able to support the project for 8 hrs/week (based on a 40 hour work week)? If not, can you please clarify the intent of this section?

1. The verbiage mentioned is included within FAR provision 52.212-3 under (k)(2)(iii). For awareness, the initial provision instructions state that if a contractor has completed their annual representations and certifications electronically in the System for Award Management (SAM) (sam.gov), they would not need to fill that section out a second time because that information has already been provided on the official entity page for the contractor. If current entity information is stored within SAM.gov, vendors will only need to complete section (b) of this provision. If the representations and certifications are not verifiable through SAM.gov, sections (c) through (v) will need to be completed.

• Once the contract is awarded, will extra discussions with the Government be allowed prior to design?

1. Yes, additional coordination will be welcomed during the design stage leading to the 30% Design Review.

• Will the testing facility be able to provide the water required for hydrostatically testing the steam generator and the external piping?

1. Groundwater is available. However, the contractor must utilize a testing/treatment method to meet the chloride content requirement and bring their own hydrostatic pumping system. Additionally, if assembled at the staging area, the steam generator shall be hydrostatically tested at the staging area. Please refer to Section 4.3 and 9 of the SOW for additional detail.