Questions_Answers_-_Amendment_0001_.pdf

Attachment to Solicitation No. W912BU-17-T-0011 Amendment 0001

Questions & Answers Concerning the Solicitation

The following is a compilation of all questions that were submitted by potential Offerors via correspondence as of Friday 3/7/2017:

Question 1

When reviewing the specification, we noticed there are two crane pedestals (upper and lower) called out for the cranes. There would be a significant cost savings if these pedestals were made out of one continuous piece (16’ in length) and welded into the hull. We do this all the time on other vessels, and the pedestals could be shipped earlier than the cranes if desired. There would then be only one bolted connection at the turntable bearing.

Let us know if this would be an acceptable alternative. Thank you.

Answer 1:

The contract was revised to specify:

a. C004 e) The pedestal shall extend from the poop deck up through the boat deck such that the slewing gear is located approximately 6’6” above the boat deck level

b. The distance from the poop deck level to the boat deck level is 9’

This change is also reflected in C005, C010, C017 and the Proposal Technical Feature requirements.

Question 2:

The specification section C006 “Crane Required Capacities” calls for the crane to be rated for lifts while under way and gives the conditions for the lifts. Will these lifts be onboard lifts (to and from the barge)? Are any of the lifts going to be off-board (to or from another vessel or from the water)?

Answer 2:

The cranes will operate in calm water only, and will perform off-board and on-board lifts Section C004 and Section C006 were revised to reflect this. As a result, the following changes were made in the solicitation:

1. (C004) Added that the cranes will perform calm water lifts only, both onboard and off board.

2. (C006) Added that the lifts are as follows:

a. Offboard lifts in calm water only

i. 99% of offboard lifts are from a protected dock in calm water

ii. 1% of offboard lifts (rare) are to (or from) another vessel while underway in calm water

b. Onboard lifts while underway in calm water only.

3. (C004) Entire section was revised to show correct wording from API-2C

a. Fully revolving 360 degree radius wording was removed from C004 because it is already covered in C011.

b. Temperature requirement changed and moved to C004. See Answer 4 for details on this change

4. Section 004 was revised to reflect a 1 ft. significant wave height instead of 6 ft. max wave height.

Question 3:

The specification section C007 “Crane Hydraulic Power Unit” calls for the HPU to be on the rotating works and continues to require the reservoir to be incorporated in the pedestal. We strongly disagree with the pump suction inlet being well above the reservoir fluid level and having the suction line going through a rotating swivel. Any leaks or damage or extreme cold weather will result in cavitation and destruction of the pump. We highly recommend that where ever the HPU is located that the reservoir fluid level be above the pump inlet so the inlet has a flooded suction. Can the HPU (motor & pump) be located on the pedestal with the reservoir located inside the pedestal so we have a fully flooded suction inlet for the pump at all times?

Answer 3:

Section 007 and Section 008 were revised to state that the HPU and reservoir are to be deck-mounted on the poop deck near each lower pedestal. The following was added to the Section 007 and 008 of the solicitation:

1. (Sec 007) HPU and reservoir shall be configured so it can be remotely deck mounted (on poop deck level) w/ maximum 5 x 5 x 6 total footprint (NOTE: reservoir was in pedestal previously and HPU was on rotating works previously)

2. (Sec 007) HPU and reservoir to have weather tight removable enclosure

3. (Sec 007) Hydraulic reservoir sight glass shall be configured such that the hydraulic level is visible from the exterior of the removable enclosure

4. (Sec 007) Hydraulic reservoir shall have an electric heater.

5. (Sec 008) The crane is no longer considered “self-contained” since the HPU and reservoir are now located remotely.

Question 4:

The specification section C007 “Crane Hydraulic Power Unit” calls for stainless steel hydraulic fittings and hose ends. It also calls for densyl tape on all connections. Typically we see customers ask for one or the other, not both. Was it intended to ask for both? 316 stainless fittings usually have no problems with corrosion in salt water and so do not require the tape.

Answer 4:

Please use both stainless steel fittings and Densyl tape.

Question 5:

In section C004 Purchaser Supplied Information Prior to Purchase, item l) where, a. maximum ambient temperature, 120°F, b. minimum ambient temperature -15°F.

Are these temperatures the “Operating Temperatures”?

I ask this question because if we build the crane to the ABS Lifting Appliance Guide with a minimum operating temperature of -15°F we have to perform charpy testing on all critical materials and possibly need to add heaters to the winch and slew drives per the Lifting Appliance Guide. This would add an additional cost to the crane that may not be necessary. If you list the crane service temperatures as 120°F to 15°F you can avoid the cold weather material and testing expense. This would greatly reduce the need for a unnecessary complicated design. From my experience living in, on and around the Columbia River(all my life) we rarely if ever see temperatures below 15°F let alone having to work a crane in these conditions.

Answer 5:

To avoid the added costs, the solicitation was revised to require cranes rated for a temperature of +15°F to +120 °F. The following revisions were made:

1. Moved temperature requirement from C004 to C006

2. Changed temperature requirement from an operating temperature of (-15°F to 120°F ) to

(+15°F to +120 °F).

Question 6:

Regarding the subject Solicitation, on December 23rd of last year, we submitted an information package that included details of a crane model that complied with the requirements of the related Sources Sought Notice, then titled “Fixed Marine Stores Cranes W912BU-17-ESSAYONS_cranes 122316.”

Of concern are two items found in the subject Solicitation “Statement of Work” posted last Friday, February 17 that were not part of the Sources Sought Notice “features.” We note the change items below, discuss points of concern, and respectfully make suggestions that may be beneficial, should you decide our points are worthy of your consideration.

We also offer a suggestion on a third point regarding parts that we often provide, and which NOAA, who we are presently delivering a crane to, recently took advantage of.

Item #1:

Section C002 Regulatory Standards, states:

* “Cranes shall be designed and built in accordance with API 2C 7th Edition and shall be supplied with the API 2C Monogram

* Cranes shall be designed and built in accordance with ABS Guide For Lifting Appliances “

Section C003 ABS Review & Third Party Verification of API-2C states:

“The contractor shall have ABS review the cranes for ABS compliance.

The contractor shall also have ABS perform a Third Party Verification of the cranes for API-2C Compliance

The Contractor shall provide to the Contracting Officer’s Representative, approved and stamped copies of all drawings and documents reviewed by the ABS, with all comments resolved (if applicable).

The documents shall clearly indicate that ABS verified the cranes meet both standards.”

Discussion, item #1:

Addition of the API-2C monogram is the main point of concern - it provides little or no contribution toward verification of ABS and API-2C compliance and prevents us from participating.

Full ABS certification is the appropriate and comprehensive method to comply with the requirements of Section C003 concerning verification and compliance. Full ABS certification will also verify the requirements stated in section C002, “Cranes shall be designed and built in accordance with API 2C 7th Edition” and “Cranes shall be designed and built in accordance with ABS Guide for Lifting Appliances.”

Supply of the API monogram does not verify compliance of any of the requirements of Sections C002 and C003. Because the requirements noted in Section C003 are all part of full certification, the inclusion of the API 2C monogram requirement is moot.

API does not certify cranes, the task of certification is typically undertaken by classification societies such as ABS. The API 2C monogram does not verify or guarantee that a crane is actually designed and built to API 2C specifications, only that the manufacturer has demonstrated to API their capability to do so.

As stated in our submission for the Sources Sought Notice, because our factory designs and manufactures marine cranes that deliver to all parts of the world, we design to any well-known set of rules, including those of API, and certify by any major classification society, including ABS. Historically, more than 2/3 of the cranes produced by our factory have been classification society certified. ABS and all other classification societies that have certified cranes produced in our factory belong to the International Association of Classification Societies, members of which have similar standards and generally recognize each other’s certifications.

API is narrowly focused on the petroleum industry. Our cranes are targeted towards all marine applications: offshore petroleum production, military, research, dredging, aquaculture, aids to navigation, transport, etc. We only manufacture lifting equipment for marine applications.

We design and manufacture cranes for all types of vessels and marine equipment, not just for the petroleum industry. Most of the cranes we produce are class society certified, and meet or exceed the requirements of API-2C.

Our factory is ISO 9001:2008 certified, certification updated yearly (by class society DNV/GL).

Individual processes, such as welding, non-destructive testing, corrosion protection, flushing and cleaning of hydraulic systems, etc., follow established quality control procedures, an example being we use only Lloyd’s certified welders.

Less than 2 weeks ago we performed factory load tests, witnessed and certified by an ABS Surveyor, on a crane presently in transit to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship Ronald H.

Brown, certified by ABS to meet the following requirements:

All of the above makes the API medallion effectively redundant for us, therefore, the factory has not undertaken the process of obtaining it. Despite our known capabilities manufacturing cranes that meet or exceed API-2C standards, if the API medallion is a requirement, we are excluded from participating in this Solicitation. This reduces competition, and removes from consideration a high value source of the solicited equipment.

Of the below suggestions, a) would allow us to participate. Suggestions b) and c) may be slightly superfluous, but go towards ensuring we and all other vendors will comply with the intent of the language in these Regulatory Standards and Verifications sections of the solicitation.

Suggestions, item #1:

a. Section C002: remove “and shall be supplied with the API 2C Monogram”

b. Section C003: add the words, “and certify” so that the first line reads, ““The contractor shall have ABS review and certify the cranes for ABS compliance

c. Section C003: replace the word “of” with the words, “and certify” so that the second line reads, “The contractor shall also have ABS perform a Third Party Verification and certify the cranes for API-2C Compliance.”

Answer 6

The API-2C monogram license demonstrates competency and provides a further level of confidence in the contractor. MDC has had previous projects where the solicitation required API-2C cranes, but the cranes delivered were discovered to be non-compliant with API-2C.

This is why MDC requires the Monogram.

Question 7

If the cranes are intended to perform lifts while the vessel is in wave heights as noted above, the crane capacities may need to be reduced or limited in order to comply with the requirements of ABS and API-2C. This is because the movement of the vessel subjects the cranes to added forces and stresses while lifting a load, which is specifically addressed in each of the noted specifications.

ABS and API-2C specifications also make distinctions regarding whether a lift is onboard or offboard.

Unless otherwise noted, we will assume any offboard lifts will be undertaken while at a dock or in calm seas, and that any other lifts will be onboard.

If the cranes will not be operated in the above noted wave heights, the lowest cost cranes will satisfy the requirement, and no further action is needed.

If the cranes will be operated in wave heights of up to 6ft, there are 2 possible alternatives:

1. the crane can be of a larger design, sized to allow lifting in the up to 6 ft wave heights

2. the crane can be equipped with an “offshore” mode switch, that will limit the load that the crane will lift when the vessel is operating in up to 6ft waves.

Either solution 1 or 2 above will add cost.

Suggestion, item #2: Specify one, and only one, of the following to be added to Section C004 of the Solicitation:

a. the cranes will not perform lifts when the vessel is operating in wave heights of up to 6ft

b. the cranes will be sized to allow lifting of maximum specified loads when the vessel is operating in waves of up to 6ft

c. the cranes will be equipped with a switch that will limit the load that the crane can lift when the vessel is operating in waves of up to 6 ft

Answer 7

Section 004 was revised to reflect a 1 ft. significant wave height instead of 6 ft. max wave height. The cranes will only be operated in calm water. See Answer 2 for a description of the changes.

Question 8.

Section C020 LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDER

“An approved service provider and parts supplier shall be identified within 600 miles of the location of final delivery. The manufacturer shall indicate the name and location of the supplier along with a designated contact person in their proposal.

In addition to the crane parts manual submitted, the contractor shall provide a recommended list of common service items for maintenance shop stock.”

Discussion, item #3:

We often provide a parts kit that includes a comprehensive set of parts to cover most contingencies.

This means that needed parts are instantly at hand, extremely helpful in an emergency. Most such parts can be installed by any reasonably competent mechanic, including vessel engineers. The parts can be stored on board the vessel or at the vessel’s home base.

Suggestion, item #3:

Consider incoporating the spare parts kit into this section of the Solicitation. Wording could be added so that the Solicitation reads, “In addition to the crane parts manual submitted, as a separate option, the contractor shall provide a recommended list of common service parts to be maintained on board the vessel, with pricing.”

ANSWER 8.

The requirements of C020 are needed to ensure ease of maintenance. A spare parts kit is desirable. Thus no changes are required for this comment.