ANSWERS FINALIZED.pdf

Questions and Answers for Sanitation Tank Cleanings

1. Request the general arrangement drawing for the vessel.

Answer: Drawings will be provided via DoD Safe.

2. The POP dates included in RFP N4215826Q0035 are 10.26.2026 - 12.18.2026 and 04.05.2027 - 05.14.2027. Are the first POP dates (10.26.2026 - 12.18.2026) intended for the erection of scaffold, and the later POP dates (04.05.2027 - 05.14.2027) intended for dismantling of scaffold?

Answer: No scaffolding is required for sanitary tank services. San tank 1 and ACR will be cleaned pier-side during the first POP. San tank 3 will be cleaned in dry dock during the second POP.

3. Is the government’s intention to clean all three tanks twice, one time for both POPs?

Answer:

Each tank will be cleaned once.

First Period (10/26/26-12/18/26): San tank 1 and ACR holding tank Second Period (4/5/27-5/14/27): San tank 3

4. Where are the three sanitation tanks physically located (vessel, building, pier, or other location)?

Answer: Vessel, pier-side and dry dock. See question 2.

5. Are all three tanks located at the same location/vessel?

Answer: Same Vessel. 1 in ACR, 1 in OPS, and 1 in AMR2 Compartments

6. Are these sewage/CHT tanks, or do they contain another type of sanitation waste?

Answer: CHT

7. What type of tanks/systems are they (gravity, vacuum, or other)?

Answer: Sanitaries drain to the tank via gravity

8. What are the dimensions and capacities of each tank?

Answer:

ACR Holding: DWG. 2006971 ’J’ - “TANKS-FWD TRIM & WRT, FR 22-31” ACR Holding: DWG. 2006972 ’G’ - “TANKS-FWD TRIM & WRT, FR 22-31” ACR Holding and San Tank No. 1: DWG. 2007164 ‘P’ – “MANHOLES – BOILER

TYPE – 12 X 16”

San Tank No. 1: DWG. 2006700 ‘H’ - “TANKS NFO 1 AUX SAN 1 2 FR 38-41” San Tank No. 1: DWG. 2007379 ‘H’ - “TANKS NFO 1 AUX SAN 1 2 FR 38-41” San Tank No. 3: DWG. 2006684 ‘M’ – “FRAMES 115, 116, 117, 118, & 119” San Tank No. 3: DWG. 2007163 ‘E’ – “MANHOLES – FLAT PLATE EXTERIOR”

9. What is the estimated quantity/volume of waste or residual material expected in each tank?

Answer: No exact amount. San 1 can contain about 24000 lb of saltwater, but will be blown to the max extent possible. ACR Holding tank has a max capacity of 1300 gallons, but will be blown to max extent possible so expecting less for the contractor to clean. San 3 has a max capacity of 300 gallons, but will be blown to max extent possible so expecting less for the contractor to clean.

Ship’s Force will blow down all tanks to the maximum extent possible prior to contractor turnover; however, the contractor should plan to pump down and manage remaining heel/residual silts. Tank capacities are SAN 1 (24,000 lbs), ACR Holding (1,300 gal), and San 3 (300 gal) as stated in the eSPEC Item Number 175-01-001, para 1.2. The specification does not quantify the expected residual material after Ship’s Force blows down the tanks, but again, it will be completed to the maximum extent possible.

10. When were the tanks last cleaned?

Answer: Based on historical data, the most recent is 2012.

11. Will the sanitation systems be operational during cleaning, or will they be shut down and isolated?

Answer: Sanitation systems will be shut down and isolated.

12. Will the Government empty/pump down the tanks before cleaning, or is the contractor responsible for pumping/removing the contents?

Answer: Ship’s Force will pump down the tanks to the maximum operational extent prior to the start of contractor work. Once this is turned over, the contractor is expected to follow eSPEC Item Number 175-01-001 para 3.

13. Is the contractor responsible for transportation and disposal of all removed waste? If so, is there an approved on-site disposal location, or must the waste be transported off-site?

Answer: Contractor is responsible. There is not an approved on-site disposal location

14. Is confined-space entry required to perform the cleaning?

Answer: If going into the tank, yes

15. How close can vacuum trucks and other contractor equipment get to the tanks? If known, please provide the approximate required hose-run distance.

Answer: Contractor should plan for a maximum hose-run of 400 feet.

16. Are pictures, drawings, diagrams, or tank specifications available?

Answer: See Question 1.

17. Could you please provide the complete Statement of Work/ESPEC referenced as Exhibit A, if it is not already available with the solicitation package?

Answer: The document can be found in the attachments/links section, titled “9-24-2026 New ESPEC-Statement of Work.pdf

18. Would you please advise and/or provide clarification regarding the requirements outlined in Paragraph 3.6.6?

Answer: Paragraph 3.6.6 – The paragraph require the Contractor to install temporary covers to facilitate the testing requirements prior to cleaning. It also states that NNSY will perform the testing, with the Contractor providing assistance.

19. This system is an IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health) system. No work or testing should be performed on the system until the tank and work location have been properly cleaned and certified safe for personnel entry by a Certified Marine Chemist. Performing testing or other work prior to cleaning and certification could potentially place personnel at significant risk. Please advise if the intent is for any testing or work to be performed prior to cleaning and Marine Chemist certification. If so, please provide clarification on the applicable safety requirements and procedures.

Answer: The only testing to be performed would be to verify the tightness of the temporary cover to be used during the cleaning on tanks that have access via a side cover versus a tank top cover. This is only applicable to Sanitary Tank #3.

This is a normal procedure that has been performed in the past with contractor support if leakage is found to ensure no leakage during the cleaning. The test procedure is performed using air.

20. Additionally, once the Contractor installs the temporary covers, Paragraph 3.6.6 indicates that NNSY will perform the testing requirements and that the Contractor will assist. Please clarify what specific assistance is expected from the Contractor during NNSY's testing activities, including the Contractor's responsibilities and any equipment, personnel, or support that will be required.

Answer : Contractor support is limited to San 3 cover air test. The contractor shall be responsible for securing the cover, addressing gasket/sealing issues, and performing minor cover adjustments/tightening to ensure a tight deal during the test IAW eSPEC Item Number 176-01-001, para 3.6.6.

Would you please advise and/or provide clarification regarding the requirements outlined in Paragraph 3.10 and 3.11?

Paragraph 3.10 states that the ship’s CHT system is inoperable.

21. To accomplish the tank-cleaning requirements in accordance with the NAVSEA

Pollution Control Manual, Sodium Hypochlorite solution is provided to Ship’s Force for introduction into the applicable systems and to conduct the flush-through cycle (three evolutions) to minimize/reduce hydrogen sulfide levels.

Answer: The eSPEC does not mention providing chemical treatments, however Item Number 176-01-001 para 4.5 does speak to this. Ship’s Force does not provide chemical agents for flushing. Ship’s Force will only perform flushes utilizing fresh or salt water to blow down the tanks to the maximum extent possible prior to contractor turnover. The contractor is expected to provide and manage the solution in the performance of their duties if required.

22. Please clarify whether Ship’s Force will be able to perform the required Sodium Hypochlorite flush-through cycle in support of the Contractor’s tank-cleaning requirements.

Answer: They can only flush with fresh or salt water.

Paragraph 3.11 directs the Contractor to provide services to accomplish three flushes of the sanitary tank identified in Paragraph 1.2 and to dispose of all waste effluent.

Please provide clarification on the following:

23. Please identify the specific flushing method required and the applicable reference, technical manual, or governing procedure to be used to perform the three required flushes.

Answer: Please review 176-01-001

24. Please advise whether the existing overboard discharge pump is currently connected and operational or whether it has been removed.

Answer: The ship’s overboard system will not be available at the time of cleaning. This is due to tagout requirements and the system is blown overboard with air vice pumped out.

25. The Contract does not appear to direct the Contractor to empty, clean, and gas-free the system piping in preparation for the required flushing operations. Will the Contract be revised to include the necessary requirements to certify the piping safe for flanging and installation of the pump/equipment required to accomplish the flushing?

Answer: eSPEC Item Number 176-01-001, para 3.6 states the contractor must certify all CHT Tanks, spaces, and associated piping for initial entry. The contractor is responsible for piping.

Additional questions since new ESPEC posting:

26. Facility access: What is the process and expected lead time for contractor personnel to obtain NNSY installation access/badging and any required background screening to work aboard the vessel? Must this be complete before the Round 1 period of performance begins (10/26/2026)?

Answer: Yes. Item Number 176-01-003, para 3.3.1 states.

27. Certified Marine Chemist: SOW Item 042-89-001 requires a Certified Marine Chemist to be present to certify the CHT tanks before entry. Is the Contractor responsible for providing this individual, or does NNSY supply one? If the Contractor must provide one, may this role be filled by a subcontractor?

Answer: Per 3.3.1-NNSY to provide Certified Marine Chemist during the opening of the tanks, per 3.4-KTR to provide competent person to certify the space

“SAFE FOR WORKERS”.

28. Waste disposal: Is there a specific pre-approved local facility for disposal of CHT tank effluent, or is the Contractor responsible for identifying and securing its own approved disposal site? What is the typical lead time for NNSY Code 106 to approve hauling wastewater off-yard?

Answer: Item Number 176-01-001, para 3.9.6.3 states “Contractor shall contact NNSY Code 106 and obtain permission and correct forms prior to carrying waste water off yard. Just has to be a local agency that is approved to accept waste like this, ESPEC does not state pre-approved facility. This is the contractor’s responsibility to procure that information.

29. Tank access: Sanitary Tank 3 is accessed through Main Ballast Tank 6B. Will NNSY remove any interferences/access panels needed to reach this tank, and what is the typical timeline for that support once requested?

Answer: NNSY will verify access upon completion of MBT 6B cleaning. Current project schedule reflects that timeline and durations to get to that point.

30. Manhole covers: The SOW states NNSY will remove permanent tank manhole covers "when requested by contractor." What is the required notice period for that request, and is that separate from the temporary side-mounted cover install/air-test process?

Answer: Within 24 hours. Yes.

31. Staffing duration: Section 3.9.2 requires personnel to be posted at the manhole opening 24 hours a day during the bacteria-culture cleaning, agitation, pumping, and blowdown process. Approximately how many total days per tank (or per round) should we plan for this continuous-coverage requirement, based on past performance of this work item?

Answer: The contractor is responsible in identifying how many days it would take them to do the bacteria culture cleaning, agitation, pumping and blowdown process. Item Number 176-01-001, para 3.9.2,states personnel must be posted at a man-hole opening 24 hours per day during the bacterial culture cleaning, agitation, pumping, and blowdown process.

32. Utilities: For the fresh/saltwater, tool air, and temporary ventilation NNSY provides via pier connection, are there specific connection types, capacities, or usage windows we should plan around?

Answer: Item Number 042-88-001, para 3.5 specifies connection types for water: Water (fresh and salt) 2 ½” male hose fitting.

33. Schedule flexibility: Are the stated Round 1 (10/26/2026–12/18/2026) and Round 2 (4/5/2027–5/14/2027) windows firm, or is the actual cleaning schedule within each window dependent on the vessel's broader availability schedule and subject to change after award?

Answer: Project Response: Yes.

34. Set-aside classification: The solicitation header displays "Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)," but Block 10 of the SF 1449 shows the set-aside as Total Small Business rather than a WOSB-specific set-aside. Could you confirm which designation governs eligibility for this procurement?

Answer: This is a 100% Small Business set aside

35. Subcontracting: Is a Limitations on Subcontracting requirement (FAR 52.219-14) applicable to this 100% small business set-aside, even though it does not appear explicitly listed among the incorporated FAR clauses in Section I?

Answer: No.