Attachment D Responses to Questions.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 13 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Central Laboratory Vacuum System Replacement
- Solicitation number
- HFP-2025-128492
About this file
This file is a Responses to Questions document for a federal solicitation (HFP-2025-128492) issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a Central Laboratory Vacuum System Replacement project. The document contains 20 detailed vendor questions and corresponding government responses addressing technical specifications for a new vacuum system to be installed at the Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building in College Park, MD. Key technical details include requirements for a skid-mounted, tri-plex (three-pump), dry (oil-less) system with a manually switchable redundant control system, automatic sequencing, and specific installation considerations.
The project involves disconnecting and replacing the existing central laboratory vacuum system, with work including site survey, submittals, delivery, installation, utility connections, testing, and warranty service. Critical technical specifications clarified in the Q&A include pump sequencing (automatic and demand-based), control system redundancy (manual A/B switch acceptable), power requirements (60A, 480V), maintenance approach (FDA has existing PM contract), and installation constraints (freight elevator access, business hours preferred). The period of performance is September 29, 2025 to September 28, 2026, with the project located at 5001 Campus Drive, College Park, MD.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Attachment B_Statement_of_Work .pdf | ||
| Attachment A- Combined_Synopsis_Solicitation_HFP-2025-8492.docx | DOCX document | |
| Attachment C_Pricing Template-HFP-2025-128492.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet |
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Text version
Responses to Questions 090925
| Item No. | Category | Vendor Question | Government Response | Notes | |
| 1 | Design | Please clarify the intended operation of the three-pump setup. Is sequencing manual, or should a lead/lag/lag arrangement be used to balance run hours across pumps? | Sequencing is automatic and demand based. As more users draw on the system, the more pumps that come on-line. In addition, the system rotates Lead/lag/lag to distribute run hours across pumps. | No | |
| 2 | Design | Does the Government have requirements for future capacity (anticipated growth) and/or upsizing provisions to accommodate future load increases? | Not at this time. | No | |
| 3 | Design | Are provisions required for remote monitoring, data logging, and/or integration with the Building Management System (BMS)? | No. | No | |
| 4 | Design | Is a digital/operator-friendly HMI required, or is the current control scheme acceptable? | Current is acceptable. | No | |
| 5 | Design | What are the existing materials of construction for the receiver and skid piping? (e.g., copper, steel, stainless steel) | Piping is copper. Receiver tank is steel. | No | |
| 6 | Redundant Control System | Please provide the background/rationale for the redundant control system requirement. | Previous controler failure that resulted in lab operations being shut down for several weeks. Controller is currently a single point of failure | No | |
| 7 | Redundant Control System | Is manual switchover between control systems acceptable? | Yes, a simple A/B manual switch is acceptable and preferred. | No | |
| 8 | Redundant Control System | Must the redundant control system be isolable/accessible/repairable while the other control unit is operating the system? | Yes. | No | |
| 9 | Power | How is the current skid wired? Are the vacuum pumps fed from the control cabinet, or are they individually home-run to the panel? | Fed from the control cabinet. | No | |
| 10 | Power | What are the current breaker sizes serving the skid/pumps? | 60A | No | |
| 11 | Power | If a single 480V feed from the panel is provided, where is the panel located? Can the Government provide the breaker/cable sizes? | Panel is on Penhouse mezzanine about 15 feet up and 50 feet to the left of the skid. 60A/3 pole breaker, #8 wire. | No | |
| 12 | Maintenance & Operation | Does the FDA perform routine maintenance/calibration on this equipment, or should the Contractor include these services in the proposal? | The FDA has a PM contract on the system. IF the Contracting Officer allows, a service proposal could be included as an option to begin after the intial warranty period ends. | No | Vendor originally referenced NIH—corrected to FDA. |
| 13 | Maintenance & Operation | Will the Government accept a design with the 480V section of the control panel separated into a distinct enclosure from the control power/circuitry (safety segregation)? | Yes, if the proposed design still fits into the allowable footprint. | No | |
| 14 | Maintenance & Operation | Under current Lock-Out/Tag-Out standards, does the Government require an upstream disconnect to lock out the entire skid machine? | Current system has an "E-stop" on the control panel. There is no bladed disconnect. | No | |
| 15 | Maintenance & Operation | Should each pump disconnect include provisions to accept a lock for maintenance activities? | Yes. | No | |
| 16 | Installation | Can the penthouse be accessed by a freight elevator, or will a crane be required? If elevator access is available, please provide approximate dimensions and capacity. | Freight elevator goes to the Penthouse level. Travel path from freight elevator to pad location should be field verified by contractor. | No | |
| 17 | Installation | Are there targeted downtime windows for cutover to the new unit, including specific dates/times and coordination with other capital projects? | Outage dates and times will be coordinated with lab users by the FDA once a schedule/needs are provided by contractor. | No | |
| 18 | Installation | Are nights/weekends required for the cutover activities? | No. Business hours are preferred. | No | |
| 19 | Installation | Is a temporary vacuum service required during the cutover period? If not required, would the Government consider it advantageous? | Yes if cutover is determined to be exceptionly long.(greater than 1 week) | No | |
| 20 | Installation | During the shutdown, would the Government consider leak testing on the system headers to identify major system leaks? | No, FDA will not consider leak testing. | No | |
| Would it be acceptable to provide pricing for a skid with redundant controller as required by the government and provide alternate pricing with a single, industry-standard controller? | All proposesd systems must meet all the requirements listed in the solicitation |
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .