rfb24_0005add1.pdf

Treet

FINANCE DEPARTMENT

PURCHASING DIVISION 1111 1st Avenue, P.O. BOX 1340

COLUMBUS, GEORGIA 31902-1340

706-225-4087, Fax 706-225-4086

BidLine 706-225-4536 www.columbusga.org

October 12, 2023

Addendum No. 1

Water Management Services (Annual Contract)

RFB No. 24-0005

Use the ADDENDA ACKNOWLEDGEMENT form provided in the solicitation to acknowledge receipt of this Addendum. Failure to do so may result in your submittal being deemed non-responsive and not receiving further consideration for award.

Vendors are informed that the above subject Bid is hereby modified, corrected, or supplemented as specified, described and set forth in this Addendum:

1. Question:

During the walkthrough it was noted that the water treatment systems are almost all in very poor condition with older, obsolete control equipment, no chemical inventory, pumps not primed and systems valved off and in dangerous condition for both personnel and the capital equipment. In order to bring these systems up to a safe, acceptable and high performing standard (and to meet the RFB specifications), the quotes you are likely to receive from firms that attended the walkthrough for this RFB are going to be very much higher than the quoted current contract value. With this in mind, is Columbus

Consolidated Government committed to accepting a substantial increase in budget from their current spend?

Answer:

The City will accept the quotes given and will take into consideration additional equipment costs that may be needed to bring the water systems safe and up to code.

2. Question:

It appears the systems are not currently being serviced - when did the previous contract expire?

The current contract RFB No. 18-0026 will expire on January 31, 2024.

COLUMBUS CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT

Georgia’s First Consolidated Government http://www.columbusga.org/

3. Question:

Where your systems do not have the required chemical feed systems or require installation of bypass feeders, will the city be contracting the mechanical contractor to perform the installation of any equipment supplied by the water treatment contractor?

The City will look at the best option for installing feed systems, if needed we can have our mechanical contractor install feeders.

4. Question:

The specifications call for corrosion coupon analysis but none of the systems surveyed had appropriate coupon racks to accomplish this. The specification also calls for 100% containment for each chemical product in use. Again, this is not on site at the time of survey. In a similar vein to question (1) this will require a substantial investment from the City to bring all treatment stations into compliance with the specifications. With this in mind, any RFB response will be substantially higher than the current contract value. Is the City prepared for a substantial budget increase?

The City will accept the quotes given and will take into consideration additional equipment costs that may be needed to bring the water systems safe and up to code.

5. Question:

In part (E) - 3 of the specifications, it requires vendors to remove all empty containers. Does this include those left by previous contractors over the years?

It will be the vendor's responsibility to remove all trash and keep the areas clean and free of debris.

6. Question:

Part (III) Chemical Treatment of the specification calls for dual alternating biocides for the cooling towers. This is not the current practice in place for these locations, with most systems being treated with a single biocide. Can the City confirm that this is the desire to upgrade to dual biocides for all evaporative cooling systems?

The City will consider the options of upgrading as needed.

7. Question:

Part (III) Chemical Treatment of the specification states that all closed HW and CHW systems are 'tight' so we will assume an annual makeup of less than 10% of system volume for each of these systems with any additional chemical required for makeup volumes over this amount to be paid for outside the scope of this contract. Is this acceptable to the City?

Yes, that is acceptable if it is approved prior by the Facilities Maintenance Manager or Assistant

Manager.

8. Question:

We noticed during the walk thru that most, if not all, of the equipment is the equipment that was in place when we serviced the building 5 years ago. We also noticed that some of the chemical containers have our name on them and have not been replaced over the same 5-year period.

In many cases, we had made recommendations to replace this equipment, with quotes, when this was a maintenance contract. It appears that nothing has been done to improve and fix the issues we reported 5 years ago. We certainly hope the City is aware and supports any bidding vendor on achieving a successful water management program here in the City of Columbus.

Is this a 100% provide contract?

Does all the current water treatment equipment stay?

Does all the water treatment need replaced by the awarded the current provide contract?

This is a 100% provide contract. The City will look at replacement as recommended.

Andrea J. McCorvey

Purchasing Division Manager