QA_Holloman_-_10Dec13r2.docx

Solicitation: GS-00P-13-BSC-0937 Holloman AFB Electric Distribution System Privatization Questions: 1st Set Questions and Answers are provided below as the result of the Holloman Utilities Privatization Pre-proposal Conference and Site Visit for the electrical distribution system on 19 Nov 2013.

Question 1. Can the government provide the total number of overhead and underground distribution circuit or linear miles included in the system inventory? The JA1 attachment shows conductor totals in SCLF format, which makes it problematic to determine circuit/linear miles because the circuit configuration and phasing is unknown. For example, a three-phase line would have 4 conductors or 21,120 SCLF in a mile, where a single-phase line would only have 2 conductors or 10,560 SCLF in a mile.

Answer 1. Government Response: The primary distribution is a 3-phase Delta configuration. The inventory includes a neutral wire of the same size for all of the primary circuits. The overhead lines have 3 power wires and a static (e.g., neutral) wire. The inventory included in this solicitation contains approximately 126 miles of primary Overhead Circuit and approximately 40 miles of primary Underground Circuit on Holloman AFB. Secondary circuits are generally single-phase and comprise approximately 23 miles of circuits.

Question 2. POD 3 under Table 10 of the JA1 Attachment states that the POD is the secondary terminal of the transformer, but there are 2 arrows in the POD Sketch. One arrow points to the secondary terminal of the transformer, but the second points to the line side of the meter. Please confirm that the SO would not own the secondary cabling to the meter.

Answer 2. Government Response: The SO would own the secondary cabling to the meter. The referenced sketch shows that the SO would own the conduit and wire between the transformer and the meter, but not the meter. The 3rd POD in table 10 shows a meter that would have CT’s and PT’s in the transformer and the meter tapped from them. The meter is not in line with the secondary service it’s a tap off the transformer.

Question 3. POD items 4 and 5 under Table 10 of the JA1 Attachment show the POD for installations where transformers are located inside of buildings. Are such transformers accessible or removable via access or roll-up type doors? Can the Government provide a complete list of buildings that contain these types of transformers?

Answer 3. Government Response: Please note that Table 10 shows “Standard Points of Demarcation” that are used in numerous solicitations. Thus, some “Standard Points of Demarcation” may not be applicable to the electric system at Holloman AFB. That is the case with this item. Specifically, there are no transformers located inside of a building that are included in this solicitation.

Question 4. POD item 13 shows a Government owned lighting circuit and light fixture attached to a utility owned pole. Will the Government consider including the street lighting system (and possibly the parking lot lighting system) in the JA1 inventory to be privatized? In regard to the street lighting system, there are major concerns about liability to the SO if Government or government contractor low voltage workers need to access the privatized primary poles to work on street lights and/or street lighting circuits.

Answer 4. Government Response: Except for lighting serviced from a building, street lights and (some) parking lights are included in the Section JA1 Table 1. If additional lighting is desired by the SO, this can be discussed following system award. At this time, please use the inventory, as shown in Section JA1 Table 1 as the total inventory to be sold under this solicitation.

Question 5. POD item 5 in Table 11 identifies the point “where the wire leaves the insulator on the pole” as the POD going to the White Sands system. Is there any disconnecting means at this location?

Answer 5. Government Response: The White Sands Missile Range RadScat overhead line, (not included in this Solicitation outside of Holloman AFB) runs all the way to the Holloman AFB cantonment area. This POD is at the far north end of Holloman AFB at the fence line between Holloman AFB and White Sands Missile Range. There is a pole mounted regulator on a pole just short, (e.g., 6 poles), of the fence line on the Holloman AFB side of the fence. Holloman AFB owns the voltage regulator and this would normally be the POD. However, Holloman AFB has maintained the OH line all the way to the fence. Thus, the POD is established at the 6th pole to the north after the line crosses over Tula Peak Rd. The Tula Peak Rd. reference was chosen because it is an easily discernable location in an area otherwise devoid of landmarks.

See photograph, below, of the line crossing Tula Peak Rd.

And, actual POD location, leftmost pole in photograph below

Question 6. POD item 6 in Table 11 identifies the POD as the “load side of the meter near the transformer;” however, Table 5 indicates that no meters will be transferred as part of the privatized system. Please confirm that the POD should be the line side of this meter, the point of attachment at the weatherhead if served by an overhead serviced, or the secondary terminals if served by a padmounted transformer.

Answer 6. Government Response: The configuration at this location, following award of the electric system would be: line coming into airfield vault, owned by SO, terminating at the government owned meter, (see Standard Points of Demarcation), Government owned meter, line exiting the meter would be owned by SO.

Question 7. Information included in the technical library indicates that primary underground cable has been installed under the runways. Please confirm that these lines have been installed in concrete encased duct banks.

Answer 7. Government Response: Yes, they have been installed in concrete encased duct banks.

Question 8. JA1.3 items 3 and 4 discuss an “Installation Asbestos Management Plan” and the requirements if ACM is identified during excavation activities. No information was provided in the technical library regarding the amount or extent of ACM on Base. Can you provide an estimate as to the amount of underground primary distribution that has been installed in or encased in ACM?

Answer 8. Government Response: The amount of ACM, if any, on Holloman AFB is unknown. The referenced items are included so that both the Government and SO will know what to do if any ACM is found. Offerors do not need to adjust proposals due to these Specific Service Requirements.

Question 9. Most of the structures for the 115 kV line were observed to be H-Frame type construction. None of the pole units shown in the inventory appear to match these pole structures. Are the H-Frame structures listed in the current JA1 inventory and is there any way to distinguish these from the other distribution poles?

Answer 9. Government Response: Due to the data available at the time the Section JA1 Table 1 inventory was being developed the “H-Frame” structures were inadvertently not specifically shown therein but were treated as standard poles structures. Proposals should be prepared using the inventory as shown in Section JA1 Table 1. Any inventory differences can be adjusted during the Transition Period Joint Inventory process in the event that the system is awarded.

Question 10. It appears as though the static wire for the 115kV transmission line was left out of the JA1 inventory. Please confirm that it is the Government’s intention to include this static wire in the privatized system. Additionally, please provide an estimate of the amount and size of static wire to be transferred.

Answer 10. Government Response: It is the intention of the Government to include the static wire in the solicitation. Please prepare any proposal using the inventory as shown in Section JA1 Table 1. Any inventory differences can be adjusted during the Transition Period Joint Inventory process in the event that the system is awarded.

Question 11. Numerous manholes are shown in the system inventory. They are identified as 6’x10’x6’ in size. These installations were not observed during the site visit. Please confirm that these are concrete structures for primary wire and are large enough to safely permit a worker to enter the manhole and work on or around the cable contained inside.

Answer 11. Government Response: These structures are for primary wire. Government personnel work in these manholes. Offerors must make their own judgment regarding the “safety” of these structures.

Question 12. The JA1 inventory identifies Secondary wiring, 600V, 1/0 AWG. Can you identify whether this is overhead triplex type cable or underground secondary cable?

Answer 12. Government Response: It is both. There is a total of 247,575 sclf of #1/0 secondary wiring. The three lengths of 42,275 for 1985, 1995 and 2005 are overhead and the three lengths of 40,250 in 1985, 1995 and 2005 are underground.

Question 13. The JA1 inventory identifies Secondary wiring, 600V, 1/0 AWG. Can you identify whether this secondary wire is associated with service wires to buildings or if it is associated with street lighting circuits?

Answer 13. Government Response: It is associated with both service to buildings and street lighting.

Question 14. The inventory identifies “Light pole, fixture, windmill & PV - 15’.” No information could be located in the technical library regarding these installations. Please provide any available information regarding the windmill and PV components that are installed on these poles, especially as it relates to size, capacity, typical loading levels, expected useful life, etc.

Answer14. Government Response: These items are stand alone light fixtures mounted on poles that use the wind and solar power to create electricity for the lights. These lights are not connected or powered by the distribution system.

Question 15. During the site visit, several installations consisting of ground mounted pole type transformers were observed. Please provide a count of this type installation identified by kVA size of the transformer bank.

Answer 15. Government Response: The requested information is not available.

Question 16. Have these ground mounted transformer installations been included in the JA1 inventory as pad mounted or pole mount transformers?

Answer 16. Government Response: These are shown as pad-mounted in the Section JA1 Table 1.

Question 17. 4/0 Shielded Cable in the ISDC Additions is listed with a design life of 50 years while the other shielded cable is listed with a life of 45 years. Please confirm that the design life of this cable should match the 45 year design life of the other cable installed after 1990.

Answer 17. Government Response: The government is using the design lives as shown on Section JA1 Table 1. As noted in the Section JA1, “The design life column indicated in Table 1 is used by the Government in the development of the Government Should Cost Estimate. The design life is not mandated in the Offeror’s proposal. However, the proposal must clearly explain the use of any system component design life that significantly differs from the published Government design life.”

Question 18. The manholes listed in the ISDC Additions are listed with a design life of 100 years while the other manholes listed in the system inventory are shown to have a design life of 60 years. Please confirm that all of the manholes should have a design life of 60 years.

Answer 18. Government Response: Please see response to Question 17.

Question 19: How many AF personnel would be in training at any time?

Answer 19: Government Response: There are currently 15 airmen in the Holloman Electric Shop. All airmen will require training annually. It is not the government user’s intent that an individual course be developed for each listed task. Conversely, it is strongly suggested that the offeror logically group similar-type tasks into a series of course instructional blocks.

Question 20: Is there an on-base training area that would be made available to contractor?

Answer 20: Government Response: Training is done on the job, not in a particular area.

Question 21: Is housing previously privatized?

Answer 21: Government Response: Yes Question 22: Is gas and water eventually up for privatization?

Answer 22: Government Response: Yes Question 23: Could the submittal deadline be extended?

Answer 23: Government Response: The submittal deadline may be extended for a very short period that would allow this project to remain on schedule.

Question 24: How often will training be required of military personnel?

Answer 24: Government Response: There are currently 15 airmen in the Holloman Electric Shop. All airmen will require training annually. It is not the government user’s intent that an individual course be developed for each listed task. Conversely, it is strongly suggested that the offeror logically group similar-type tasks into a series of course instructional blocks.

Question 25: In regard to capital investments over the first five years, how will we determine the value of planned construction or growth need for Holloman AFB?

Answer 25: Government Response: Capital Investments, (e.g., the R&R schedule and ISDC requirements, (if any)), are to be proposed using the information contained in the Section JA1 and, if needed by the Offeror, any additional investment requirements during the first 5-years following the Contract Start date. Holloman AFB planned construction or growth that is not identified in the Section JA1 does not need to be included in the Offeror’s proposal. It is expected that Offerors will have sufficient financial resources to accommodate Holloman AFB planned construction or growth over the full contract period.

Question 26: Will a master copy of the facility growth plan be published?

Answer 26: Government Response: No.

Question 27: With regard to the Holloman RFP, are state union wages applicable on a Federal enclave?

Answer 27: Government Response: Wages to be paid to employees are expected to be appropriate for the level of skill and responsibility required for each employee. If the Offeror proposes wages less than those shown in Section JA41, (e.g., specified wages under the Services Contract Act), such wages should be fully documented and supported as being appropriate in the local labor market.

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