Questions and Answers - W9128F24Q0001.pdf

Questions and Answers (Updated on 30 October 2023)

Solicitation #: W9128F24Q0001

1) Is this a military Trans island or would private flights be allowed? If Military, is there a schedule or contact to understand the schedule for shipping in people/equipment?

For contract personnel, the only commercial flights on/off Kwajalein are done by United.

Private planes are allowed to land/fuel with tons of lead time for planning (extremely rare due to the nature of being a military airport in a remote location)

For personnel, the primary way to get to Kwajalein is United. For equipment, contractors can ship using the military cargo plane, but the coordination piece is difficult. Typically, contractors utilize Matson Shipping to get materials to/from Kwajalein.

2) Is there accommodation available on the island? Is this included or is there a rate for contractors/reservation requirements?

Yes. There is a total of 66 motel rooms available. These rooms are available but are shared between all mission partners on Kwajalein. This means that double occupancy or times of non-availability do happen. There are also accommodations on Ebeye and Roi that can be used as overflow during times of non-availability.

The rate as of 28 Sep 2023 is $130 per night. Due at check in. American Express banking cards are not accepted on USAG-KA.

3) How are the food and lodging costs paid for? Are these paid directly by the contractor or by USACE?

For food, USACE will directly pay the costs of meals, and this arrangement will be discussed with the LPTA quote submitter. Rate as of 28 Sep is $22.47/day/person and is subject to change at any time. This is the only method for them to get meal cards and guarantee that they will have food available while on Kwajalein. The dining facility does accept card/cash at the door but in the event of shortages, is authorized to deny access to any non-meal card holders (hasn't happened in 2 years). There is no grocery store on Kwajalein that they can shop at (grocery store is similar to commissary's and there is no other options).

For lodging, they pay upon checking in.

4) Can you please confirm the volume in the tanks that is listed on the excel spreadsheet is correct? 100 gallons seems like a very low number given the size of the tanks.

Facilities 935, 956,957, and 958 have been OOS since 2017. There should be no fuel in these tank.

5) How many tanks will be available for cleaning and inspection per mobilization?

Facility 936 (Tank 13) is the only tank that needs to be taken OOS for inspection. The remaining tanks can be done concurrently.

6) With a 200-day period of performance, what is the estimated turnaround time between tank cleanings/inspections?

It is up to the contractor to determine the schedule but needs coordination if involving in-service tank and requires fuel transfer.

7) Please confirm that the 20,000 gallons in Tank #936 is to be disposed of or does it need to be transferred into another tank?

It needs to be disposed of. We don’t have room to transfer the fuel.

See Question #29 for updated guidance.

8) Which tanks do not have internal floating roofs?

No tanks have floating roofs.

9) For tanks without floating roofs, do the entire shell and roof undersides need to washed or is that up to the discretion of the API 653 Inspector?

It is up to the discretion of the inspector, but due to the corrosive environment, a through tank cleaning prior to the tank inspection may be needed.

10) Will the facility supply water for tank cleaning?

Yes, there is a water supply for use.

11) How about transportation on site? Can you rent cars on the island? How do we get from place to place?

Transportation around the site is at the contractor’s expense. There is no car rental location on Kwajalein.

For work related use, the contractor could utilize ATV’s/Golf Carts as one of the other questions eludes to. However, those would need to be shipped by contractor for contractor use.

For container movement of large items on island, transportation movement requests can be submitted. Capability is limited and priority goes to base support/island sustainment.

For off hours/leisure time, MWR has golf carts that can be rented on first come/ first serve basis.

Majority of personnel on island bike or walk. There is a bike shop that provides rentals.

Used bikes can be found on Facebook swap and shops. Contractors could ship in contractor’s container.

12) Is there a cost to us for transportation to/from island on the contractor plane?

Transportation is at the contractor’s expense, and contractors must fly commercially to get on/off Kwajalein. Currently, United is the only option for traveling to/from the USA and Kwajalein.

13) Are we able to bring ATV’s/Golf Carts in our containers for on base transportation?

Yes. Be advised that no maintenance would be available from the base automotive for these vehicles.

14) For shipping to the island, is there a specific port we need to get our containers to?

Kwajalein Port information:

PORT_ID PORT_NAME CTRY_CD

TJ1 KWAJALEIN ATOLL RM

15) Do we have to perform these inspections one tank at a time, or can multiple tanks be out of service at once?

Facility 936 (Tank 13) is the only tank that needs to be taken OOS for inspection. The remaining tanks can be done concurrently.

16) It shows 9 tanks for inspection. (5) Internal Out of Service and (4) External In-

Service. Would it be possible to pump the 20,000 gallons in tank 13 into one of the other empty tanks after they have been cleaned and inspected? Or does the government plan on moving the fuel to a different location?

It may be possible to transfer the remaining fuel to other tanks provided that we have available space on the other tanks. However, the remaining fuel will need to be disposed of and may be up to 20,000 gal so please plan accordingly.

See Question #29 for updated guidance.

17) Is there access to a vacuum truck on the island for pumping the tanks out?

No, the contractor will be responsible for bringing a vacuum truck.

18) Who is responsible for disposing of the waste from the tank cleaning process? Does the government have a disposal facility on site?

The contractor would be responsible for removing and disposal of the waste fuel. There is no on-island disposal capability.

19) Should we assume that we could do all of the cleaning and inspections during one single mobilization?

Yes, Facility 936 (Tank 13) is the only tank that needs to be taken OOS for inspection.

The remaining tanks can be done concurrently.

20) We assume we would we fly into Hawaii for a layover. Are there civilian flights to Kwajalein Atoll or would military transportation be required? If military transportation is required how long would the layover be?

Transportation is at the contractor’s expense and contractors must fly commercially to get on/off Kwajalein (those that qualify to fly Space A OCUNUS may do so at their own expense utilizing the ATI). Currently, United is the only option commercially for traveling to/from the USA and Kwajalein.

21) Is there civilian lodging on the island or will the government provide the lodging?

There is lodging available, like a motel. Government will not provide lodging. Lodging must be coordinated well in advance to arrival. Daily lodging is currently $130 per night but is subject to change. American Express cards are not taken on Kwajalein.

22) What type of food service is available for personnel?

There is a dining facility available. There is also a Burger King, Subway, Hunts Brothers Pizza, and American eatery all located close by.

23) Will tanks required for cleaning and inspection be available back-to-back?

Yes.

24) Are vacuum trucks available on island or just contractor provided pumps?

No, contractor is to provide required pumps.

25) Where is contaminated fuel being disposed?

The contractor is responsible for disposing of contaminated fuel off of the island.

26) Are any wiper seal replacements required?

No, no tanks have IFRs.

27) Are we able to purchase diesel and/or gas on the island?

Yes, both gas and diesel are available for purchase on the island.

28) Is it all private cargo for shipping, or is there military transport for civilian used equipment? If private cargo, who is the contract carrier if one?

Matson Shipping for commercial shipping containers is the standard method of shipping.

Military shipping is an option but rarely used due to how difficult the process is.

29) We would like clarification on the 20k gallons of fuel in the tank. One of the answers said to expect to ship the fuel off the island and another one of the answers said we could transfer the fuel to one of the other tanks for temporary storage. Will we be able to transfer the fuel to another tank for temporary storage?

Yes, fuel can be temporary stored. The contractor would have to provide the temporary storage. Clean fuel can be returned to the tank. Waste fuel will have to be removed from the island.

30) Would the contractor be allowed to burn off all waste fuel onsite through a stack burner? If so, are there any special requirements, regulations needed to allow for the burn?

All waste fuel will need to be removed from the island.

31) Can the waste fuel be resold (by the contractor) for re-use instead of disposal?

All waste fuel will need to be removed from the island.

32) Are the internal conditions known for the four (4) tanks which have not been in services since 2017?

No known current conditions.

33) What are the plans for the four (4) tanks (out of service since 2017) if the internal conditions so severe that cleaning cannot be achieved to allow for the internal inspections?

The intent is to get a current assessment of the condition of these tanks.

34) Can fuel be temporally stored during the inspection and returned back into tank when complete?

Yes, fuel can be temporary stored. Clean fuel can be returned to the tank.

35) Is there a company at the port who could assist with moving a conex to the job site.

Is so, could we get a contact?

Here’s the follow on. Freight shipped to Kwajalein either air or ship will be placed in a warehouse upon arrival. The contractor who shipped the freight will be notified and it will transported to the appropriate location once needed.

Moving Connex’s on-island is coordinated through CPT Mcgee and the Shipping/Receiving department. Currently the lead at shipping and receiving is Lee, Brian C CTR (USA) brian.c.lee26.ctr@army.mil, 808-580-3444.

36) Per the Solicitation - 5.1.2 Tank cleaning shall be done in accordance with UFGS 33 01 50.55. Clean 100% of the internal shell and fixed roof for tanks without floating roofs.

Does the entire internal shell and internal roofs of these tanks need to be cleaned? Normally for inspection purposes, we are only required to clean the floor and first shell course.

Tanks 956, 957, and 958 should be 100% cleaned since they had diesel stored in them and are expected to be dirtier than normal.

37) For Q&A #36 – Is the scope confirmed that only tanks 956, 957 and 958 (diesel) are going to be 100% cleaned? Please confirm the cleaning requirements for Tanks 935, 936 (jet fuel). Is the requirement for these to clean the bottom and first shell course only?

Yes, diesel tanks 956, 957 and 958 are to be 100% cleaned to get a thorough inspection performed. Tanks 935 and 936 are only cleaned to bottom and first shell course.

38) For Q&A’s #29 and #34 – Is it preferred to temporarily store the fuel onsite, then return the clean fuel into tank 936 or remove and dispose?

The fuel in question is below the suction line and highly likely to not be re-usable to our (the base’s) need. The preferred method is disposal/removal from island. If fuel is to be stored, a certified clean frac tank is to be used and fuel needs to be tested as on spec, before return to service.

a. Can the USACE confirm the amount of 20,000 gals or could there possibly be more? If more than 20,000 gals, multiple frac tanks would be needed.

Yes, there could be more than 20,000 gal. This is an estimated amount.

b. Can a frac tank (or tanks) be placed outside of the tank 936 containment if frac tank is in typical frac containment? Is there room for 2 frac tanks and containments near tank 936 and stable ground for setting the tanks?

Frac tanks are okay as long as they are double walled with a provision for containment on the ground.

c. Is there any requirement for the frac tank prior to storing fuel? Certified clean, internally lined, etc.?

Yes, if storing good fuel and returning to service, frac tank needs to be internally certified as clean, and fuel needs to be tested as on spec before return to service.

39) If lodging on Kwajalein is full and daily flights to Ebeye and Roi are required, are these flights at the cost to the contractor?

This inspection is to be coordinated well in advance to utilize lodging on Kwajalein so there should be no need for daily flights.

a. If so, what is the cost per round trip or each way?

Information is unavailable

b. What times are the flights daily?

Information is unavailable

40) Can we confirm if there is a requirement for a bid bond for this solicitation?

There is no requirement for bonds.