SOW Replace Cooling Towers 1-21-21.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Project No. 528A8-19-807

Stratton VAMC Replace Cooling Towers 1 & 2 January 21, 2021

1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Stratton VA Medical Center (VAMC) located at 113 Holland Avenue, Albany, New York was constructed in the late 1940’s. A semi-detached chiller plant was added in 1988 to provide a centralized source of chilled water for the hospital.

Numerous modifications have been made to the chiller plant over the years but Cooling Towers 1 and 2 (nominal 700 tons each) are original and have numerous deficiencies that will be addressed by replacement of the towers and related equipment. More detailed information can be found in the accompanying plans and specifications.

BIDDERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE CONTRACT REQUIRES THAT THE

NEW COOLING TOWERS MUST BE OPERATIONAL NO LATER THAN MARCH

30, 2022.

It is highly recommended that bidders perform a site visit to confirm what is shown on the drawings.

The Scope of Work generally includes:

1. Removal of existing cooling towers 1 and 2 and related dunnage and condenser water piping both above and below the roof.

2. Installation of new structural steel dunnage.

3. Roofing repairs for new steel and pipe penetrations.

4. Installation of new cooling towers 1 and 2 – Nominal 750 tons each. Complete with stainless steel basins, steam basin heaters, basin sweepers, high performance fans, ladders, service platforms, safety rails, vibration rails, seismic provisions, and davit for servicing fans / motors in the future.

5. New condenser water piping for Cooling Towers 1 and 2 up to the main headers in the plant.

6. Note: The three existing condenser water pumps will remain in service.

7. New steam piping for basin heaters.

8. New side-stream filter piping connected to the basin sweeping system.

9. Heat trace.

10. Pipe Insulation. Exterior piping that is insulated will also be jacketed.

11. New makeup water and blowdown piping.

12. Flow meters.

13. Variable frequency drives for basin sweeping pump and Chiller No. 3 condenser pumps.

14. New and modified DDC controls. Controls must be compatible with existing chiller optimization system and existing Automated Logic Controls.

528A8-19-807

15. Electric Distribution for motors, VFDs, heat trace, controls.

16. New 45 kvA transformer and 208Y / 120 VAC, 3 phase electric distribution panel with service from an existing 480V switchgear.

17. Start up, Commissioning, test and balance.

18. Deduct Alternates: Any reference to “Deduct Alternates” on the drawings should be interpreted to mean that the scope of work identified under any given deduct alternate will actually be included in the base bid. The following scope items are therefore included in the base bid Scope of Work:

Alternate #1. Basin equalizer and condenser water piping cross connections with Cooling Tower/Chiller #3;

Alternate #2. Demolition of old HW & CHW pipes inside plant;

Alternate #3. Cross connection of steam headers.

Background: The Samuel S. Stratton VA Medical Center was constructed in the late 1940’s. A semi-detached chiller plant was added in 1988 based on a design by Einhorn, Yaffee, Prescott. Several modifications have been made to the mechanical equipment over the intervening years although the structure itself is original. The roof of the chiller plant is in poor condition and is scheduled for replacement after the cooling tower project is completed.

The current chiller configuration consists of: Two (2) 750 ton water cooled centrifugal chillers served by two (2) 700 ton induced draft cooling towers; one (1) 1,000 ton water cooled centrifugal chiller served by one (1) 1,000 ton induced draft cooling tower; plate and frame heat exchanger for water side economizer; primary/secondary chilled water distribution; and N + 1 configuration for all chilled water and condenser water pumps. Chillers 1 and 2 and cooling towers 1 and 2 are piped such that each component can be backed up by the other and use automatic isolation valves to provide fully automatic operation. CT 3 is independent of chillers 1 and 2 and cooling towers 1 and 2. In addition to the chilling equipment, the chiller plant houses the heating hot water system (steam converters, pumps, etc).

The chilled water system is normally available for operation from March 15 to Nov 15 of each year – weather dependent. All cooling towers are drained in winter.

Cooling Towers 1 and 2 are winterized to assist with use of the water side economizer system. Cooling Tower 3 is not winterized. The peak summer load is approximately 1,800 tons.

Cooling Towers 1 and 2 have exceeded their useful lives and have developed numerous leaks in their basins. A decision was made to replace (rather than repair) these towers based on their useful life having been reached.

Electric for the chiller plant is primarily provided by a new 480V main switchgear feeding several older MCCs. Chillers 1 and 2 have a separate power feed – reflecting that they were originally served at 4,160 V.

The central chilled water equipment is currently served by an Automated Logic Control system and includes an optimization program with fully automatic operation of chillers and pumps. The chiller plant operates largely unattended with monitoring by the boiler plant staff.

A new combined heating and cooling (CHP) plant is under construction adjacent to the chiller plant. The only interaction with the cooling tower replacement project is the main 480V switchgear (installed under the CHP project in 2019 and currently fully operational), and DDC controls. The contractor should be aware that there may be utility interruptions of several hours’ duration for testing of the CHP unit.

Interactions between the two projects will be coordinated by the COR.

Unrestricted access to the VAMC and ancillary buildings by patients, visitors and staff must be maintained at all times throughout the project. No VAMC access point will be permitted to be closed off at any time without prior written approval of the project Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). Roadway closures also will not be permitted at any time or for any reason except with the written approval of the project COR.

COVID 19 prevention measures for contractors are currently in place and must be adhered to during the entire construction project. This requires screening and entrance through a main building entrance portal which is separate from the chiller plant. All contractors must be screened daily and may not work on site without being screened. Once an individual has been screened and granted admission for any given day, they may use the chiller plant entrance at will for the remainder of that day before being screened again the following day. Out of state contractors/individuals (including those who have recently travelled out of state) may be subject to a more rigorous screening (including testing) procedure. While working on site, contractors must follow NY State guidelines for PPE (e.g. masks) and social distancing. Extra costs of any kind due to the COVID 19 procedures (including loss of productivity) must be included in the contractors bid. Failure to adhere to the COVID 19 procedures may result in the VA denying access to the VA site for up to 2 weeks for the offending individual.

2. REFERENCES

The work required under this contract is shown on drawings prepared by Patriot Design and Consulting, entitled Replace Cooling Towers 1 & 2 dated May 7, 2020 and further defined in the project specifications of the same date.

3. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The contractor shall provide all labor, supervision and materials necessary to perform the work as indicated in this scope of work, project specifications and drawings. The contactor shall make every effort to maintain the existing conditions that are not part of the project. In addition to following “FAR 52.236-9, Protection of Existing, Structures, Equipment, Utilities and Improvements” the contractor shall remove or alter existing work in such a manner as to prevent injury or damage to any portions of the existing work, which is to remain. The contractor shall repair or replace portions of the existing work, which have been altered or damaged during construction operations to match existing or adjoining work, as approved by the COR and at no cost to the government. At the completion of operations, existing work shall be in a condition equal to or better than that which existed before new work started.

The Contactor shall verify all existing conditions on the site and in the facility infrastructure that the proposed project may affect before the commencement of any construction. This includes but is not limited to verifying the location and elevations of existing utilities, verifying site items as shown on the project drawings, and taking appropriate field measurements. Please also note that the height of the chiller plant is approximately 22 feet to the underside of the roof deck with the Cooling Tower supply header (CWTT) at approximately 14’-0” above finished floor. The government will not be held responsible for bidding errors made or the failure to adequately inspect the job site for existing conditions, dimensions or to fully review manufacturer’s information related to the project.

All discrepancies between the drawings, specifications and manufacturer’s recommendations shall be brought to the attention of the Contracting Officer prior to the commencement of work. The Contractor shall abide by the Scope of Work regardless of whether or not a manufacturer calls for the task, level of preparation, etc. in question. The only exception is where the Contracting Officer agrees in writing that the item or task specifically voids a manufacturer’s warranty and may be omitted. A credit for the work not performed may be due the government in such circumstances at the discretion of the Contracting Officer.

All drawings notated with “install, replace, provide, or new” infer that the contractor is responsible for providing all materials and labor associated to complete that task or phase of the project as well as the project overall.

Service interruptions of the 480V main switchgear is limited to 2 hours maximum per day (not to exceed 5 days total and only when the outdoor temperature exceeds 30 °F) and requires pre-approval, in writing, from the COR. This is necessary to ensure adequate heating will be available for the hospital at all times.

4. SCHEDULES

The work shall be substantially complete no later than March 30, 2022. In the event that certain critical milestones (as detailed below) are not met before September 30, 2021 the VA reserves the right to postpone demolition and the start of construction by up to 365 days at no cost to the government. This delay is necessary to ensure that the facility has the ability to use Chillers #1 and #2 between March 15 and September 30 of any given year. Chiller #3 must be available between March 1 and November 30 of any given year which could also impact certain aspects of the demolition and construction (e.g. equalizer piping, condenser piping cross connects, CT #3 basin modifications, VFDs on condenser pumps serving CT #3).

Critical Milestone Dates

Notice to Proceed (Assumed): May 1, 2021 Construction Schedule Submitted: June 1, 2021 Safety Plan Submitted: July 1, 2021 Critical Submittals, Initial Submission: August 1, 2021 Critical Submittals, Final Submission: September 1, 2021 Critical Submittals, VA Approval September 15, 2021 VA authorization to proceed with demolition: October 1, 2021 CT #1 and #2 set in place: January 15, 2022 CT #3 available for operation: March 1, 2022 CT #1 and #2 available for operation: March 15, 2022

Critical Submittals

Construction Schedule including critical milestone dates (section 013216.15) Lift Plan (Section 013526) Steel and Dunnage (Section 051200) Seismic Restraints (Section 130541) Piping Materials (Section 232113) Valves, Fittings (Section 232113) Motor Controllers (Section 232911) Cooling Towers (Section 236500)

Rescheduling of any activities shall be done at no cost to the government unless negotiation and authorization of the rescheduled activity has been agreed upon by the government. Notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative at least 72 hours prior to starting demolition work, minor utility shut downs, large deliveries or any event that may impact the normal operations of the facility.

5. CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE

Construction needs to be completed in a workmanlike manner in accordance with industry best practice and standards.. All work shall be performed by laborers that are fully versed and experienced in the trade that they are employed to do.

Coordination with the government for project progress updates and scheduled items shall be a regular occurrence, initiated by the Contractor. Construction progress meetings shall be held weekly at a day and time agreed to with the Contracting

Officer’s Representative, unless otherwise agreed to. The Contractor will provide the previous week’s meeting minutes to all attendees, including any edits required by the Contracting Officer’s Representative, at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. A submittal schedule will be provided and updated at each meeting indicating the status of all submittals.

The VA’s project Contracting Officer’s Representative shall govern all work done during the project duration. The Contractor will immediately correct any work that the Contracting Officer’s Representative deems unacceptable or not in accordance with the plans or specifications at no additional cost to the government.

Snow removal in construction areas (including the roof of the chiller plant and access to the roof) will be the responsibility of the contractor.