RFI_GGGEU_05 15 2020.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT/REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has developed a DRAFT Statement of Work (SOW) to solicit construction services to upgrade the internal infrastructure of some key beneficiaries in Bong County, Republic of Liberia. This RFI provides industries and stakeholders the opportunity to review, comment, suggest, and provide capability statements in response to this requirement.

The attached draft SOW is anticipated to result in a Request for a Proposal (RFP) to international and local firms and a firm fixed price award. The potential period of performance is twelve (12) months. Six (6) months of construction and six (6) months of Defects Liability Period (DLP) within an award range of $500,000 to $1,000,000. The Place of Performance is Bong County, Republic of Liberia.

DISCLAIMER

This is a Request for Information Only. It is not a Request for Proposal, a Request for Quotation, an Invitation for Bids, a Solicitation or an indication that USAID/Liberia will contract for the services. The RFI is an attempt to reach out to the market in an effort to determine the scope of industry capabilities and interest and will be treated as information only. In accordance with FAR 15.201 (e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responses are strictly voluntary, and USAID will not pay respondents for information provided. Responses will not be returned, and respondents will not be notified of the result of the review. If a Request for Quotation (RFQ) is issued, it will be sent to a selective set of companies at a later date, and all interested parties must respond to that solicitation separately from any response to this notice. This RFI does not restrict the Government’s acquisition approach on a future solicitation.

INSTRUCTIONS

To respond to this RFI, interested sources must provide not more than a maximum of seven (7) pages in Microsoft Word or PDF format by Friday, May 22, 2020, 11:30 AM, Liberian time.

Please submit comments to Ruth D. Caesar-Hne at rcaesar-hne@usaid.gov and Edward S.

Lamin at elamin@usaid.gov. Interested sources must provide the following information:

1. A capability statement expressing interest and documenting their ability to meet the attached requirements which must include (maximum of five (5) pages):

✔ Full Name, Contact Person/Title and Address of the Firm;

✔ DUNs Number ✔ Describe your company’s capability to meet all the requirements describe in the attached SOW including any experience with similar activities.

2. Maximum two (2) pages of comments or suggestions on the SOW.

Sincerely, Judy J. Webb Supervisory Contracting Officer

Introduction

USAID Liberia Mission is funding the construction of the Ganta-Gbarnga Grid Extension Project.

The grid extension consists of 77 km three phase 33 kV medium voltage line, 25 km single phase MV distribution line, and about 10 km low voltage line with 500 service connections to end customers in Gbarnga. Power supply to the grid extension will be provided from the Danane-Ganta Cross Border system from Ivory Coast.

The construction of the grid extension and connections to end customers is expected to commence construction before October 2020. The grid extension will operate at 50 Hz frequency in line with existing Liberia grid, and among other customers will provide electricity to key institutions such as the Phebe Hospital, Cuttington University (CU), Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), Bong County Technical College (BCTC), and C.B. Dunbar Hospital. At present, electricity to these institutions is supplied by diesel generators.

A technical assessment of electrical infrastructure in these institutions was conducted to i) review the in-general condition and adequacy of internal electrical infrastructure, ii) identify changes and upgrades needed to help these institutions operate at 50 Hz supply, and iii) identify additional investment and upgrades needed for safe operation and interconnection with the grid extension project.

Based on the technical assessment, connecting these institutions requires additional considerations and investments. This document outlines the specific scope of work at these institutions that the contractors will be engaged with, the technical specifications of the equipment to be supplied, installed and commissioned by the contractor, and civil works (concrete pads, electrical duct banks with concrete encasing).

This document should be read along with a report titled ‘Technical Assessment For Connections To Ganta-Gbarnga Grid Extension’ for completion and better understanding of this requirement.

This report is organized into six chapters and Chapters 2 to 6 and includes a summary of present electrical systems in these institutions, proposed connection to Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) grid, and scope of work for the contractor. Appendix A provides detailed technical specifications for the major equipment to be supplied, installed and commissioned by the contractor.

PHEBE HOSPITAL

Phebe Hospital and Medical School of Nursing is in Gbarnga, about 300 kilometers from Monrovia in central Liberia’s largely rural Bong county. The hospital opened in 1921 and has been serving patients since then.

Figure 0-1: Power Supply Grid Interconnection Point at Phebe Hospital

1.1. ELECTRICAL SUPPLY SYSTEM IN PHEBE HOSPITAL

At present the main electricity system at the hospital consists of five diesel generators (five installed, one out of service - Coelmo 130 kVA) and a 100 kWp solar PV plant supplying electricity at 60 Hz as shown in Figure 0-3. The solar PV plant is synchronized with the Daewoo generator (190 kVA). To manage diesel costs, usually 130 kVA or 100 kVA generator to run for a couple of hours every day. Three diesel generators (Coelmo 130 kVA, Perkins 250 kVA and CAT 350 kVA) are designed for a nominal frequency of 50 Hz but adjusted by the supplier to operate at 60 Hz on the request of hospital authorities. The fourth generator (Daewoo 190 kVA) is designed for a nominal frequency of 60 Hz.

Figure 0-2: Generator House at Phebe Hospital

1.2. CONNECTION TO LEC GRID

Once the Ganta Gbarnga Grid Extension (GGGE) construction contract is substantially completed, the hospital will be connected to the Ganta-Gbarnga grid extension. The main supply will then be at 400 V and 50 Hz. Figure 0-3 shows the single line diagram of the proposed system which consists of:

▪ A bank of 3 single phase transformers of 167 kVA each, with primary side connected in delta configuration at 33 kV and the secondary connected in star configuration at 400V phase to phase (230V phase to neutral),

▪ A 400V Generation Switchgear with the connection to diesel generators,

▪ A 400V Manual Transfer Switch, and

▪ A 400V Hospital Distribution Switchgear with connections to various load centers within the hospital and solar PV controller

It should be noted that when the hospital is connected to the grid then all five diesel generators may not be needed, rather two or three diesel generators will be sufficient for back-up supply in case the grid supply is not available.

Figure 0-3: Proposed Electrical System at Phebe Hospital after connection with Grid

1.3. SCOPE OF WORK FOR CONTRACTOR

The contractor is responsible for providing all the resources necessary for the supply, installation and commissioning of Generation Switchboard and Distribution Panelboard in the Phebe Hospital in accordance with contract, specifications and drawings. To complete this task the contractor shall perform the following:

1) Verify the current LV installation and elaborate detailed design of Phebe Hospital's electrical system (see the Figure 0-3)

2) Supply and install the Generation Switchboard (Type 1), that interconnects diesel generators with the Phebe Hospital automatic transfer switch and allows it to operate several diesel generators alternatively (see the detailed specifications included in the appendix).

3) Connection of G1 and G3 diesel generators to the Generation Switchboard. G2 will not be connected since the future load will be served at 50 Hz instead of 60 Hz.

4) Supply and install two (2) Hospital Distribution Panelboards of 6 cubicles each - that serve as a distributor to interconnect the common supply that comes from the automatic transfer switch and the Solar PV with the different points of consumption of the hospital (see the detailed specifications included in the appendix). One panel will include all the preferential/uninterruptible loads while in the second all the general loads such as residential, nursing school, etc. will be connected.

5) Connection of the PV controller to the Hospital Distribution Panelboard.

6) Connection of the all internal LV lines to the Hospital Distribution Panelboard. This activity will include the construction of trenches or cable trays (best suitable option) to re-arrange and connect cables between panelboards.

7) Supply and installation of all necessary materials e.g. connectors, clamps, grounding rod, etc., and any other required materials and accessories needed for complete grounding.

8) Perform frequency change from 60Hz to 50 Hz at the generators and assess operation of the internal equipment after the frequency change.

9) Check and adjust operation voltage which looks high from several measurements.

10) Perform the required tests and commissioning of this electrical system in both conditions – i) electricity supply from grid (after loads already transferred to 50 Hz), and ii) electricity supply from diesel generators when grid is available and not available.

11) Provide technical training on operation and maintenance of installed equipment.

12) Hand Over the new system to those authorized personnel at the hospital. This should include technical information, operation and maintenance manuals, and As Built drawings etc.

1.4. SPECIFICATIONS

The specifications for major equipment are included in the appendix1.

1) These specifications outline the requirements for the supplying, assembling, fixing in position, connecting, inspecting, testing and leaving in working order, new or a modified electrical installation with additional features.

2) The work shall comprise the whole of the labor and, unless otherwise indicated, all the materials necessary to form a complete installation, including such tests, adjustments and commissioning as are prescribed in subsequent clauses and as may otherwise be required to give an effective working installation to the satisfaction of the Project Manager.

3) Adequate protection of equipment during transit shall be provided by manufacturers and the contractor shall ensure adequate protection on site. The contractor shall advise the Project Manager of any damage that occurs to equipment including finishes and shall carry out repairs as directed by the Project Manager.

4) The work shall include for the removal and safe disposal of equipment where specified. The contractor shall be responsible for maintaining a tidy and clean site whilst working and the removal of all rubbish during and at the end of the project.

CUTTINGTON UNIVERSITY (CU)

Cuttington University (CU) is spread over 1500 acres and is located at Suakoko in Gbarnga, Bong county. Started in 1889, CU is one of the oldest educational institutions in Sub-Sahara Africa.

1.5. ELECTRICAL SUPPLY SYSTEM IN CU

Electricity is produced by three diesel generators of 450 kVA, 410 kVA and 500 kVA at 400 V 50 Hz. The generated electricity is then stepped up to 11 kV for distribution within the campus and then stepped down to 400 V near the load centers for use.

In the original electrical system configuration, the generators were connected to a 400 V switchgear, a three-phase 400 V/11 kV (Delta at 400 V and Star at 11 kV) step-up transformer of 800 kVA which in turn connected to three 11 kV feeders through 11kV switchgear and breakers (Figure 0-1).

Due to some faults from prior years, the 400 V and 11kV switchgear, and 800-kVA step-up transformer were damaged. The damaged switchgear and transformer were not replaced; instead the original configuration was changed.

At present the three generators (50 Hz and 400 V) are connected to two distribution transformers of 630 kVA and 75 kVA being used as step-up transformers (Star in 400 V and Delta in 11 kV) through Manual Transfer Switches (Figure 0-2).

The output of these transformers is connected to 11 kV feeders through cut-off fuses.

When the 800-kVA step-up transformer was damaged, LEC provided the 630 kVA distribution transformer in emergency for use as a step-up generation transformer as a suitable step-up transformer was not available in stock. However, since then the distribution transformer has not been replaced with a step-up transformer.

Thus, this modified configuration does not meet the technical standards and creates protection issues which must be corrected as soon as possible. This current configuration does not provide adequate electrical protection to generators and feeders which is just limited to the breakers of each generator and the fuses of the 11 kV feeders.

Figure 0-1: Cuttington University Original Electric System Configuration

Figure 0-2: Cuttington University Actual Electric System Configuration

1.6. CONNECTION TO LEC GRID

Figure 0-3 shows the proposed configuration for connecting grid supply to Cuttington University.

The grid supply at 33 kV 50 Hz shall be connected to the university electrical system through a bank of three 167 kVA 33kV/ 400V step-down transformers with a Manual Transfer Switch. The 400 V supply from these transformers is intended to be connected to 400 V switchgear at the university powerhouse.

Figure 0-3: Cuttington University Proposed Electric System 33 kV Interconnection configuration

1.7. SCOPE OF WORK FOR CONTRACTOR

The contractor shall be responsible for providing all the resources necessary for the supply, installation and commissioning of Generation Switchboard, Generation Step Up Transformer and MV switchgear in the Cuttington University in accordance with contract, specifications and drawings. To complete this task the contractor shall perform the following:

1) Verify the current LV and MV installations and elaborate detailed design of Cuttington University's electrical system.

2) Supply and install the Generation Switchboard (Type 1) - which interconnects diesel generators with the Cuttington University manual transfer switch and allows to operate several diesel generators simultaneously (see the detailed specifications included in the appendix). An interlock system will be installed at the transfer switch to avoid paralleling the generators. The capacity of the transfer switch will be 450 A.

3) Connection of all diesel generators to the Generation Switchboard.

4) Retire the 630 kVA existing transformer at the main office and install it at the powerhouse

5) Retire the existing 75 kVA transformer from the powerhouse and relocate it at the main office to replace the 630 kVA retired as explained in item 4).

6) Connect the Generation Step Up Transformer low side to the manual transfer switch and connect the high side to the supply side MV switchgear (11 kV).

7) Connect the three internal MV overhead lines to MV switchgear.

8) Supply and install of all necessary materials e.g. connectors, clamps, grounding rod, etc., and any other required materials and accessories needed for complete grounding.

9) Perform the required tests and commissioning of this electrical system in both conditions – i) electricity supply from grid, and ii) electricity supply from diesel generators when grid is available and not available.

10) Provide technical training on operation and maintenance of installed equipment.

11) Hand Over the new system to authorized personnel. This should include technical information, operation and maintenance manuals, and As Build drawings etc.

CENTRAL AGRICULTURE RESEARCH INSTITUTE (CARI)

The Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) was established in 1980, to conduct both adaptive and applied research in agriculture. CARI is a semi-autonomous agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, and is in Suakoko, Gbarnga in Bong County. During the civil war, its sprawling campus and infrastructure were damaged. CARI resumed operations in 2006.

1.8. ELECTRICAL SUPPLY SYSTEM IN CARI AND CONNECTION

TO LEC GRID

CARI has 5 to 6 different load centers spread over its sprawling campus. Prior to the civil war, a central power station with medium voltage lines strung across the campus supplied electricity to load centers. During the civil war the generation and distribution infrastructure was destroyed. At present these load centers are supplied from 50 kVA generators. The 33kV lines being built as part of the Ganta-Gbarnga grid extension will connect CARI at two points i) at the administrative building (3x75 kVA single phase transformers 33 kV/400 V), and ii) at the original location of main power station (3x75 kVA + 3x75 kVA single phase transformers 33 kV/400 V).

While CARI has started ramping up its activities, most of the electrical load at present is centered on the administrative building. Some laboratories (Rice Lab) are being set-up in facilities vacated by UNMIL and are about 1.2 kilometers from the interconnection point at the administrative building. Similarly, other activity centers such as Liberia Agribusiness Development Activity and Cassava Flour Factory are approximately three kilometers from the second connection point (old powerhouse). Since the medium voltage lines connecting loads within CARI campus were destroyed during the civil war, new low voltage lines need to be constructed from interconnection points to the load centers.

1.9. SCOPE OF WORK FOR CONTRACTOR

The contractor shall be responsible for providing all the resources necessary for the supply, installation and commissioning of MV Overhead Line in the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) in accordance with contract, specifications and drawings. To complete this task the contractor shall perform the following:

1) Verify the current LV installation and elaborate detailed design of CARI's electrical system.

2) Supply and install about 2.2 km of single phases 19 kV Overhead Line (# 4 AWG – Swan) as per the diagram below.

3) Separate the 3 x 75 kVA three phase transformer bank located at (A) in the diagram below and relocate two transformers in the northwest residential areas.

4) Retire one of the 3x75 kVA transformer banks located at (B) in the diagram and relocate the transformers in the southeast residential areas as per the diagram below

5) Connect the load centers with multiplex conductor Aerial Bundled Cable (ABC) (4 conductors, 3 insulated phases and 1 bare neutral)

6) All the electrical works to include (see the detailed specifications included in the appendix):

a. Overhead Lines Wooden Poles: To include supply and installation of Wooden Poles in accordance with the specifications. Quantity, length and class of poles according to the approved detailed design required for the overhead lines (Class 4, 5 and 6 poles).

b. MV and LV Poles Structures: To include supply and installation of all materials to include all clamps, hangers, connectors, ties and other fittings necessary to construct medium voltage and low voltage structures. Does not include poles or conductors already considered in the other items.

c. MV and LV Stays Complete: To include complete supply and installation of stay rods, blocks, stay wires, grips, clips, clamps and any other required materials and accessories;

including backfilling of the foundations.

d. MV and LV Overhead Cables: To include supply and installation of MV conductor and XLPE overhead cables and accessories e.g. joints, connectors clamps and any other materials and fittings required for complete installation of overhead cable and accessories.

7) Supply and install all necessary materials e.g. cable, pole mounted breaker, ties, etc., and any other required materials and accessories needed for complete connection from the pole to the customer's breaker box.

8) Supply and install all necessary materials e.g. connectors, clamps, grounding rod, etc., and any other required materials and accessories needed for complete grounding.

9) Perform the required tests and commissioning of this electrical system in both conditions – i) electricity supply from grid, and ii) electricity supply from diesel generators when grid is available and not available.

10) Provide technical training on operation and maintenance of installed equipment.

11) Hand Over the new system to authorized personnel. This should include technical information, operation and maintenance manuals, and As Build drawings etc.

Figure 0-1: CARI Main Administrative Office Proposed One Line Diagram

Figure 0-2: CARI Old Power Station Proposed One Line Diagram

BONG COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE (BCTC)

Bong County Technical College (BCTC) located in Gbarnga, is spread over an area of 27.5 acres. At present only the Academy/Administrative building is partially built.

1.10. ELECTRICITY SUPPLY SYSTEM AND CONNECTION TO LEC

GRID

BCTC is a newly built infrastructure, however partially complete. Chinese contractor hired for constructing the building has left and a legal process is underway. Internal wiring has been partially done but has not been tested. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, the college is not using the wiring put-in by the contractor rather ad-hoc wiring is being used to serve some load within the college including the administrative offices.

At present, the electricity demand in the college is being served from a 75 kVA generator for a couple of hours every day. The College also has 150 kVA, and 30 kVA generators, but they are not in use. Temporary main circuit-board is at the generator house, as the circuit board in the administrative building is not ready.

Fuel consumption is about 40 gallons per day. No formal records for fuel purchase and consumption are available. Our preliminary estimates show the electricity load of the college building once complete will be between 230 kW to 460 kW (see Table 0-1).

Table 0-1: Estimated Load at BCTC

Building

Floor area (Sq

Ft)

Watt/sq ft

1.00 2.00

Total Load (kW) Total Load (kW)

1 Academy / Administrative 135,004 135.0 270.0

2 Gymnasium 31,306 31.3 62.6

3 Dining Hall 8,268 8.3 16.5

4 Dormitory (Male & Female) 32,450 32.5 64.9

5 Security 103 0.1 0.2

6 Teachers' Quarter 22,746 22.7 45.5

Total 229,877 229.9 459.8

In order to connect BCTC, a branch line needs to be constructed from the main Ganta-Gbarnga grid extension line. Figure 0-1 shows the route for the 33-kV overhead branch line extension (approx. 1.2 km).

Figure 0-1: 33 kV Overhead Line Extension (1.20 km)

1.11. SCOPE OF WORK FOR CONTRACTOR

The contractor is responsible for providing all the resources necessary for the supply, install and put in service Generation Switchboard in the Bong County Technical College (BCTC) in accordance with contract, specifications and drawings. To complete this task the contractor shall perform the following:

1) Verify the current LV installation and elaborate detailed design of Bong County Technical

College's electrical system.

2) Supply and install the Generation Switchboard (Type 2): which interconnects diesel generators with the Bong County Technical College (BCTC) manual transfer switch.

3) Connect all diesel generators to the Generation Switchboard.

4) Connect the manual transfer switch to the Bong County Technical College Distribution

Switchboard.

5) Supply and install all necessary materials e.g. connectors, clamps, grounding rod, etc., and any other required materials and accessories needed for complete grounding.

6) Perform the required tests and commissioning of this electrical system in both conditions – i) electricity supply from grid, and ii) electricity supply from diesel generators when grid is available and not available.

7) Provide technical training on operation and maintenance of installed equipment.

8) Hand Over the new system to authorized personnel. This should include technical information, operation and maintenance manuals, and As Built drawings etc.

The supply limits are indicated in the following one-line diagram

Bong County Technical College (BCTC)

33kV branch line : 1.2 km

Figure 0-2: Bong County Technical College Proposed One Line Diagram

C.B. DUNBAR HOSPITAL

C.B. Dunbar Hospital located in Gbarnga, is one of the specialized maternity hospitals in rural Liberia.

Figure 0-1: C.B. Dunbar Hospital

1.12. ELECTRICITY SUPPLY AND CONNECTION TO LEC GRID

C.B. Dunbar hospital is served by 250 kVA Perkins and 110 kVA Caterpillar generators. Due to high fuel consumption, the 250kVA generator is rarely used. At the time of visit, the load of the hospital was about 80 kW. Peak load is around 179 kW. The main overhead line of 33 kv will pass along the route where this hospital is located, and hence it will be easier to connect the hospital to the Ganta-Gbarnga Grid Extension line, see Figure 0-2 below.

Figure 0-2: 33 kV Main Overhead line at C.B. Dunbar Hospital

1.13. SCOPE OF WORK FOR CONTRACTOR

The contractor shall be responsible for providing all the resources necessary for connecting grid supply to Generation Switchboard in the C.B. Dunbar hospital in accordance with contract, specifications and drawings. To complete this task the contractor shall perform the following:

1) Verify the current LV installation and elaborate detailed design of C.B Dunbar's electrical system. (see Figure 0-3)

2) Connect the Generation Switchboard (which is currently installed) to the C.B. Dunbar Hospital manual transfer switch.

3) Connect the manual transfer switch to the Hospital Distribution Switchboard (which is currently installed)

4) Supply and install of all necessary materials e.g. connectors, clamps, grounding rod, etc., and any other required materials and accessories needed for complete grounding.

5) Perform the required tests and commissioning of this electrical system in both conditions – i) electricity supply from grid, and ii) electricity supply from diesel generators when grid is available and not available.

6) Provide technical training on operation and maintenance of installed equipment.

7) Hand Over the new system to authorized personnel. This should include technical information, operation and maintenance manuals, and As Built drawings etc.

C.B Dunbar Hospital

The supply limits are indicated in the following one-line diagram

Figure 0-3: C.B. Dunbar Hospital Proposed One Line Diagram

Note: It is assumed that distribution transformer, related accessories and manual transfer switch shall be provided by GGGEP project. C B Dunbar hospital has already installed a generation and distribution switchboard and hence these need not be supplied by the contractor.