Sources Sought Notice_36C25626Q0699.pdf

Sources Sought Notice

*= Required Field Sources Sought Notice

SUBJECT* Alx-Boiler Inspection

GENERAL INFORMATION

CONTRACTING OFFICE’S ZIP CODE* 77056-5643

SOLICITATION NUMBER* 36C25626Q0699

RESPONSE DATE/TIME/ZONE 04-24-2026 17:00 EASTERN TIME, NEW YORK,

USA

ARCHIVE 11 DAYS AFTER THE RESPONSE DATE

RECOVERY ACT FUNDS N

SET-ASIDE

PRODUCT SERVICE CODE* H145

NAICS CODE* 541380

CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS Department of Veterans Affairs

Network Contracting Office 16 Galleria Financial Center 5075 Westheimer Road, Suite 750 Houston TX 77056-5643

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contracting Officer Jeneice Matthews jeneice.matthews@va.gov

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

ADDRESS Alexandria VA Medical Center

2495 Shreveport Hwy Pineville LA

POSTAL CODE 71101

COUNTRY US

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL https://www.va.gov

URL DESCRIPTION Department of Veterans Affairs

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS jeneice.matthews@va.gov

EMAIL DESCRIPTION 36C25626Q0699 Sources Sought

DESCRIPTION

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. THIS IS NOT A

REQUEST FOR QUOTE, PROPOSAL, OR BID

The purpose of this sources sought notice is to identify potential sources which will aid in defining the procurement strategy for example set-aside, sole source, unrestricted of a solicitation the VA intends on issuing in the near future. Please review the attached document for more details on this requirement.

See attached 36C25626Q0699 and Scope of Work

Description: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Alexandria VA Medical Center in Pineville, LA is seeking information from potential vendors on their ability to Inspect and Test Boilers and Ancillary Equipment at the Alexandria VAMC. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, parts/supplies, transportation/travel, trained personnel, and management for non-personal services as listed in the attachment.

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. Small Business Concerns are encouraged to provide responses to the description/service in order to assist the Alexandria VAMC in determining potential levels of competition and general market pricing available in the industry.

Therefore, vendors are requested to submit estimated market research pricing along with their responses to the above. The estimated pricing will be considered when determining the procurement strategy for the forthcoming solicitation. THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS NOT A SOLICITATION OR REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTES. The VA will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this sources sought notice. Any prospective contractor must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) to be eligible for award.

Responses are due by 4:00P.M. (Central Time), on April 24, 2026; size is limited to 8.5 x 11 inches, 12-point font, with 1-inch margins in Microsoft Word format or Portable Document Format (PDF) via email to jeneice.matthews@va.gov the subject line shall read: Sources Sought 36C25626Q0699 Inspect and Test Boilers and Ancillary Equipment Alexandria VAMC. NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME. All interested parties shall submit clear and convincing documentation demonstrating their capability to satisfy the requirement.

Capability documentation should include general information and technical background describing in detail the prospective contractor's capability and experience that will demonstrate the ability to support the requirement. Information provided will be used solely by Alexandria VAMC as “Market Research” and will not be released outside of the Alexandria VAMC Purchasing and Contracting Team.

36C25626Q0699 Inspect and Test Boilers and Ancillary Equipment 1

In response to this announcement, please provide the information requested below in this market research table questionnaire. If this information is not provided, then it will be assumed the entire requirement cannot be met:

NAICS Code:

Company Name:

Address:

UEI (Unique Entity ID) Number:

Contact Name:

Phone No.:

Email:

Business Size Information - Select all that applies:

� Small Business � Emerging Small Business � Small Disadvantaged Business � Certified under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act � HUBZone � Woman Owned � Certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small � Veteran Owned Small Business � Large Business

FSS/GSA Contract Holder: Yes No

FSS/GSA Contract Number: ____________________________

Effective Date/ Expiration Date: _____________________________

Proposed solution is listed and available on the above FSS/GSA Contract #: _____________________

Yes No

Available pricing structure of proposed solution (select all that are applicable below, or remove to fit your requirement):

Pricing Model

Please Indicate Availability Below: (Yes / No / NA)

All on FSS Open Market only

Mix of FSS & Open Market

Firm-Fixed Price

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Market Rearch Questions:

36C25626Q0699 Inspect and Test Boilers and Ancillary Equipment 2

Buy American Act RFO 52.225-1 and RFO 52.225-2 Buy American Certificate – What percentage of the proposed product (including leases and rentals) is a:

1. Domestic end product? _____________ (%)

2. Foreign end product? _______________ (%) Country of Origin:

Questions for Small Businesses ONLY:

Limitations on Subcontracting RFO 52.219-14

1. What percentage of the work would be subcontracted to another company? ________

2. What is the business size of the subcontractor?______

Per RFO 52.219-14 the following conditions must be met:

Services (except construction), it will not pay more than 50 percent of the amount paid by the Government for contract performance to subcontractors that are not similarly situated entities. Any work that a similarly situated entity further subcontracts will count towards the prime contractor's 50 percent subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded. When a contract includes both services and supplies, the 50 percent limitation shall apply only to the service portion of the contract;

Supplies (other than procurement from a nonmanufacturer of such supplies), it will not pay more than 50 percent of the amount paid by the Government for contract performance, excluding the cost of materials, to subcontractors that are not similarly situated entities. Any work that a similarly situated entity further subcontracts will count towards the prime contractor's 50 percent subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded. When a contract includes both supplies and services, the 50 percent limitation shall apply only to the supply portion of the contract;

3. If subcontracting, what added value do you offer (RFO 52.215-23):

4. Nonmanufacturer Rule (RFO 52.219-33):

a. Does your company manufacturer these proposed items? [ ] yes [ ] no

b. Does your company exceed 500 employees? [ ] yes [ ] no If yes, list # of employees: _________

c. Does your company primarily engaged in the retail or wholesale trade and normally sells the type of item being supplied? [ ] yes [ ] no

d. Does your company take ownership or possession of the item(s) with its personnel, equipment or facilities in a manner consistent with industry practice? [ ] yes [ ] no

e. Does your company supply the end item of a small business manufacturer, processor or producer made in the United States, or obtains a waiver of such requirement pursuant to paragraph (b)(5) CFR

121.406. [ ] yes [ ] no If yes, what is the manufacturer’s name? ________________

Response Instructions:

1) Do not provide more than 8 pages, including cover letter page.

2) Submit your response via email to jeneice.matthews@va.gov

3) Submit your response NLT 4:00pm (CST) on Wednesday, April 24, 2026;

4) Mark your response as “Proprietary Information” if the information is considered business sensitive.

5) VA has identified the appropriate North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code as 541380 –

Testing Laboratories and Services with a Small Business size standard of $19,000,000. Please identify and explain any NAICS codes your company believes would better represent the predominant work included in the attached Statement of Work draft / Salient Characteristics List.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER

SCOPE OF WORK

ENGINEERING EVALUATION OF BOILER, DEAERATOR AND CONDENSATE TANK

RELIABILITY/LIFE EXPECTANCY

1. Introduction:

The Alexandria VAMC provides critical health care which requires reliable steam supply for sterilization, domestic hot water, kitchens, and building heating/air conditioning.

Boilers and associated equipment serving VA medical centers must be reliable, safe and efficient. The age of boilers and associated equipment is often a major indicator of reliability.

The VHA Directive 1810 (1), BOILER AND BOILER PLANT OPERATIONS, assigns “useful life expectancy”, in years, to the boilers and plant equipment. The Directive requires that retention of certain equipment beyond the “useful life expectancy” must be based on an engineering evaluation of the reliability, efficiency and cost effectiveness of continued operation.

2. Summary of Requirements:

The consultant shall supply all labor, material and equipment to inspect and test the boilers and ancillary equipment at the Alexandria VAMC. The work shall be documented in a full report of findings and recommendations. The report must be stamped by a licensed professional engineer. The following is a general list of equipment that must be addressed.

A. List of boilers, by make, model, size and age:

a. Boiler 1 (serial no. T8106-1-1) is a Cleaver Brooks 600 Hp boiler (model no.

CBLE-4W 200-600-200ST) manufactured in 2022.

b. Boiler 2 (serial no. T8106-1-2) is a Cleaver Brooks 600 Hp boiler (model no.

CBLE-4W 200-600-200ST) manufactured in 2022.

c. Boiler 3 (serial no. T8106-1-3) is a Cleaver Brooks 600 Hp boiler (model no.

CBLE-4W 200-600-200ST) manufactured in 2022.

B. Deaerator (DA) tank Maximum Working Pressure (MAWP): 50 psi C. Condensate tank MAWP: 50 psi

3. Qualification Requirements for Consultant and Inspection Personnel:

A. A professional engineering firm (Professional License (PE)) that specializes in life expectancy evaluations must be part of the team and provide an analysis and recommendations under their seal based on the evaluation of the boiler and associated equipment by means of visual inspection and non-destructive testing conducted by experienced boiler inspectors and non-destructive testing experts on the team.

B. The inspections shall be supervised on-site by a “Qualified Professional Inspector”, defined as anyone or combination of the following. Proof of qualifications shall be provided with the bid and as part of the final report.

1) A boiler inspector who has a valid commission from the National Board of Boiler and

Pressure Vessel Inspectors.

2) A boiler inspector who has qualified by passing a written examination under the laws, rules and regulations of a jurisdiction of a state.

3) A boiler inspector who is regularly employed as a boiler inspector by a jurisdiction that has adopted and administers one or more sections of the ASME Boiler and

DRAFT

Pressure Vessel Code as a legal requirement and has a representative serving as a member of the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Conference Committee.

4) A boiler inspector who is regularly employed by an insurance company that has been licensed or registered by the appropriate authority of a state of the United States to write boiler and pressure vessel insurance.

C. Non-destructive testing personnel shall be certified to American Society for Non-destructive Testing (ASNT) Level II, who are experienced in evaluating boilers and associated equipment.

4. Inspector:

The “Qualified Professional Inspector” shall demonstrate familiarity with and ready access to the current versions of the following codes and manuals:

a. ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code

b. ASME B31.1, Power Piping Code

c. ANSI/NB-23, National Board Inspection Code

d. NACE International Standard RP0590, Recommended Practice for Prevention, Detection and Correction of Deaerator Cracking

e. VHA Boiler Plant Safety Device Testing Manual, current edition.

The NDT technicians shall demonstrate familiarity with and ready access to the current version of:

a. NACE International Standard RP0590, Recommended Practice for Prevention, Detection and Correction of Deaerator Cracking

5. Contractor Responsibilities for Preparation of Boiler Inspection

1. Since steam production cannot cease, the consultant and the contractor will have to work closely to develop an inspection schedule that will ensure the facility can always meet steam demand with sufficient backup.

2. The boiler will be prepared by the contractor for the inspection prior to the scheduled arrival of the inspector. This includes cooling the unit to near ambient temperature and having all manways and access doors open, the unit cleaned of loose materials, “lock-out, tag-out” in place, connecting piping isolated, proper illumination provided, compliance with “confined space” access requirements including having safety personnel present in the boiler plant.

3. Contractor will comply with any other requirements of the inspector that are considered reasonable by the contractor and have been presented in writing at least two weeks prior to the scheduled inspection.

4. Coordinate preparation work with the requirements of the inspection firm.

5. All records of maintenance and repair activities, water treatment logs, operational logs, inspection reports, and all histories of prior problems shall be readily available during the inspection. Records for three years are suggested. If the consultant requires copies, they will need to sign out the documents and return them upon completion.

6. Remove all manway and handhole covers, access panels.

7. Remove all drum internals.

8. Clean all fireside and waterside surfaces.

9. Remove insulation from water tube boilers steam and mud drum ends and from locations where pipes are connected to the boiler.

10. Arrange for ladders, lifts and other devices necessary to allow access to the boiler.

11. Furnish copies of the original National Board (NB) “Manufacturer’s Data Report” inspection form that was prepared for the boiler when it was new and NB “Report of Repair” forms if boiler pressure vessel repairs have been performed.

6. Inspection Requirements for Boilers

A. Consultant shall develop a detailed list of information required at least two weeks prior to the inspection to allow the contractor to compile the information.

B. Consultant shall develop a detailed schedule of the inspection in consultation with the contractor to ensure availability of equipment as needed during the execution of the project.

C. Visually inspect the following items and document the locations with a sketch or pictures.

Any adverse findings must be documented with pictures and notes in detail. All data shall be included in the final report as supporting documentation.

1) Review the boilers history including operating conditions, date of last inspection, current inspection certificate, ASME stamping, National Board registration number, materials of construction, extent of post weld heat treatment, history of repairs and modifications.

2) All welded and threaded pipe connections to the boiler shell or drum for signs of leakage or defects in the welded areas. Defects must be documented as to location with a sketch or picture and be non-destructively tested.

3) Boiler support structure for proper alignment, evidence of sagging, shifting or misalignment.

4) Boiler casings for signs of warping, misalignment and overheating.

5) All furnace tubes and all accessible convection tubes for alignment, evidence of corrosion, erosion, bulges, sagging, defective or deteriorated welds.

6) Exposed surfaces of steam and mud drum in furnace, particularly ligament areas between tubes, for evidence of corrosion, cracking, scale buildup, other defects.

7) Refractory for cracking, shifting, sagging, bulging or general deterioration.

8) Internal areas of steam drum and mud drum (inside boiler shell in fire tube boilers).

a. Welded outlet connections.

b. Surface of drums for pitting or surface discontinuities.

c. Ligament areas between tube holes for cracking.

d. Each tube end and internal surface of representative number of tubes for pitting, erosion, corrosion and excessive scale buildup. Utilize fiber optic inspection equipment to inspect interior of tubes.

e. Clean and inspect shell or tube sheet between tube holes for cracking.

7. Contractor Responsibilities for Preparation of DA and

Condensate Tanks Inspection

a. Since steam production cannot cease, the consultant and the contractor will have to work closely to develop an inspection schedule that will ensure the facility can always meet feed water demand with sufficient backup.

b. The DA will be prepared by the contractor for the inspection prior to the scheduled arrival of the inspector. This includes cooling the unit to near ambient temperature and having all manways and access doors open, the unit cleaned of loose materials, “lock-out, tag-out” in place, connecting piping isolated, proper illumination provided, compliance with “confined space” access requirements including having safety personnel present in the boiler plant.

8. Inspection Requirements for Deaerator (DA) and Condensate Tanks

A. The DA inspections shall comply with the guidelines in the current issues of the following documents:

B. NACE International, Standard RP0590, Recommended Practice for Prevention, Detection and Correction of Deaerator Cracking.

C. NATIONAL BOARD INSPECTION CODE, Part RB, Inservice Inspection of Pressure-

Retaining Items.

1) Review the DA and condensate history including operating conditions, date of last inspection, current inspection certificate, ASME stamping, National Board registration number, materials of construction, extent of post weld heat treatment, history of repairs and modifications.

2) Assess the external parts of the DA and condensate and accessories and piping for safety, accessibility, and cleanliness. proper operation, and compliance with codes.

3) Inspect for evidence of leakage.

4) Inspect DA/condensate tank safety valve installation and verify that the valves have proper set pressure and capacity and are properly installed

5) Inspect support structures for proper integrity and allowance for thermal expansion.

6) Internal inspections:

a. Visually inspect all visible pressure vessel and tanks surfaces for corrosion, material thinning, deposits, and weld cracking.

b. Inspect DA spray nozzles and trays.

c. Certified American Society for Non-Destructive Testing (ASNT) Level II technicians shall perform non-destructive tests (NDT) using the wet fluorescent magnetic particle (WFMT), ultrasonic testing (UT), and any other necessary non-destructive tests.

o Completely examine all accessible welds utilizing the WFMT test method. Properly prepare the surfaces before testing.

o Determine pressure vessel material thickness by UT. Thickness measurement locations shall be selected by dividing the storage tank heads into quadrants and taking measurements at each quadrant on two imaginary rings in each head (eight measurements total). Measurement locations on the shell shall be on each of the quadrants, on four to six locations along the length of the shell (16 to 24 measurements total).

The technician may recommend fewer or more tests to the owner, providing justification.

o Typically, the pressure vessel section containing the deaerator trays and sprays is not accessible for non-destructive testing. The experience is that this section, which is mainly exposed to steam, is less vulnerable to weld failures and material thinning than the storage section which contains condensate and make-up water.

9. Testing:

The following Nondestructive testing shall be completed and documented as to the location or findings with a sketch or pictures. Any adverse findings must be documented with pictures and notes in detail. All data shall be included in the final report as supporting documentation.

1) Ultrasonic thickness testing of representative samples of all components. At least four (4) samples shall be taken for each tube sheet and each drum.

2) Obtain sufficient material thickness measurements to accurately reflect the condition of the entire boiler, DA or condensate tank.

a) Ultrasonic thickness testing of all areas visually noted to have corroded or eroded.

b) Magnetic particle testing of all areas where indications of defects have been found visually.

c) Metallurgical analysis of representative samples of boiler metal if there are indications or a record of overheating.

10. Calculations:

The consultant shall calculate and report the maximum allowable working pressure rating and remaining life expectancy based on the thickness measurements, data obtained, observations and testing for the boiler, deaerator and condensate tanks.

1) ASME Code formulas must be used and references provided in the final report.

2) Calculate and report the depletion rate of material thickness.

3) Remaining life calculation shall be based on original material thickness, current material thickness, and evaluation of other factors in the condition of the boiler.

11. Report Requirements:

A. Provide complete written report fully describing all inspections and tests performed, findings, and recommendations. The condition of all items inspected shall be stated whether acceptable or deficient. All deficiencies shall be fully described along with recommendations for methods of correction

B. Provide oral report of condition of the boiler to VAMC engineering management at the conclusion of the inspection and prior to leaving the site.

C. Provide a draft report Microsoft (MS) Word format withing 7 days of the completion of inspection for review and comment by the COR. Once approved by VA, provide MS Word format and 6 copies of final report to COR.

D. Provide complete narrative of the history of the equipment in the plant and current conditions of the same as well as an analysis of the visual inspections and test results, photographic views of deteriorated areas and photographs to show areas identified as not acceptable for continued service or requiring repair.

E. Provide calculations for remaining life based on calculated present maximum allowable working pressure vs. original maximum allowable working pressure when the boiler was new. Show locations and extent of all non-destructive testing by sketches.

F. Describe all deteriorated areas; provide expert judgment on need for repairs and repair methods.

G. Provide expert judgment on cost effectiveness of retaining the boiler in service.

H. Provide expert analysis of the condition of boilers/ancillary equipment and recommended extension to useful life in years.

I. Provide photographs and/or drawings and show where each the measurements or negative observation was taken.

J. All safety-related deficiencies shall be immediately reported to the COR during the inspection visit.

K. Provide recommendations on need for re-inspections after correction of deficiencies.

Cost of re-inspections shall be extra cost negotiated with VA Contracting Officer.

Based upon a review of the PWS/SOW as presented and my conversation/email/teams exchange with the submitter, the contractor will not have access to VA sensitive information or PII/PHI to fulfill the terms of the contract. A BAA will not be required. Please contact the team with any questions.

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