Attach 3 Propane Tank Farms QA RFI.pdf

Q&A: Propane Tank Farms

Questions:

1) When was the Propane Tank Farm built?

Answer: 1953 It has had safety updates /inspections within the past 5 years, and just recently had some upgrades last year with new pumps and capture tanks, so all safety has been kept up.

2) Is the propane air system currently operational?

Answer: yes

3) Are there are any known problems with the Propane Tank Farm? Are there any known system deficiencies?

Answer: none known

4) Have there been any problems experienced with the Propane delivery at the various buildings on the Base?

Answer: no

5) Have there been a lot of gas valve failures on the propane burning equipment on the Base?

Answer: no

6) Are current operating personnel capable of operating the system?

Answer: yes

7) Do base personnel currently start and maintain the system? If so, is this expected to continue?

Answer: yes

8) Does up to date, system documentation exists?

Answer: very few docs exist

9) Do system spare parts exist?

Answer: no

10) What is the duration of the contract? It states a 45-day period of performance, but the emergency response provision would suggest performance longer than 45 days. Or would the contractor only be expected to respond to emergencies within the 45-day period?

Answer: Process should only take 3 days, but was required by contracting to put 45 days

11) Is there an expectation for how many days the testing, inspecting and calibration should take to be completed? We see the 45-day period of performance but is there a smaller window for the initial testing, inspecting and calibrating?

Answer: We estimated 3 days

12) What if all 14 base personnel are not able to attend the one-day training? Would a second training be necessary?

Answer: No secondary training will be necessary.

Q&A: Propane Tank Farms

13) How frequent would the base expect the contractor to be on site?

a. Should we expect to be on site for all 45-days or is the frequency irrelevant so long as objectives are met within the 45-day period?

Answer: Should take 3 days. However the frequency is irrelevant so long as the objectives are complete.

14) What are the emergency response expectations when it comes to:

a. Tools

b. Number of personnel

c. System startup & operation

i. Do we price in advance, at the time we’re asked to respond to emergency or build emergency pricing into our response on this bid?

ii. If we should build into this bid, is there a suggested number of emergency responses we should build within it?

d. An emergency during the weekend, a holiday or after hours? How do we respond within 24 hours if a 3-day notice is required to work outside of normal working hours?

Answer: Removed the emergency response, this will be taken care of by base emergency response teams if something occurs.

15) How often has the system been exercised?

Answer: not often

16) Is Black Hills Energy expecting the base to be able to curtail?

Answer: no strictly used as a emergency back up system

17) What “system component information” is specifically being asked for?

Answer: if components require any mods or replacement and any manufacturers Maintenance requirements

18) When it comes to “Calibration” what calibration efforts are expected?

a. BTU Mix (verify existing Ranarex accuracy): Calibrate BTU/specific gravity

b. Prove Safeties that can be safely tested: yes

c. Test Fluids in air compressors and waterbaths: yes

d. Perform Combustion analysis on waterbath burner: yes

e. Confirm Amp Draw on valves and motors are within spec: no already done on previous contract

f. Prove operating pressures throughout facility: no

g. Prove ESD system operational: yes

h. Is the Deluge system included in the calibration requirement: no deluge system not included maintained and tested by base personnel

19) How would compensation take place for any efforts that exceed the scope of the original contract?

Answer: No work shall be performed beyond the scope of the contract without proper agreements, CO authorization, and modification.