PWS.pdf

Inspect Slide‐Gate Air Vents

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

North Hartland Lake

Performance Work Statement March 2017

1. SUMMARY

Project consists of the following:

Provide a safe work platform Access three slide‐gate steel air vents (possibly via cutting of one new access opening, through which a video camera may be inserted, on each steel vent that is coated in lead‐based paint)

Inspect by remote video camera the interior of each air vent and provide a digital recording of each inspection

Seal any new access openings by welding

The work site is the concrete intake tower at North Hartland Lake, North Hartland, VT.

Each slide‐gate air vent is approximately 170 linear feet in length and 30 inches in diameter (see record drawings below).

2. BACKGROUND

The slide‐gate air vents have never been inspected since construction of the dam in 1961. The air vents run vertically up the inside of the intake tower and are comprised of common ASTM‐A36 steel with three different material thicknesses.

The lower elevation of the air vents are cast into the base of the control tower from the concrete conduit (top elevation El. 4001) to the gate chamber floor (El. 410). In this section the air vents transition from a rectangular opening at the ceiling of the conduit to a round pipe at the floor of the gate chamber with an inside diameter of 29‐3/4 inches and wall thicknesses of 3/8 inch. The air vents wall thicknesses change over the height of the pipes with wall thicknesses of 3/8 inch, 1/4 inch, and 7 gauge (0.176 inch) between elevations 410 to 438, 438 to 512, and 512 to the centerline of the air vents at El. 568.75 respectively.

The air vents are anchored directly into the concrete control tower with pipe brackets at two elevations: El. 508 and El. 562.5.

There is a service bridge to access the dam control tower (see Figure 1). This bridge is restricted to light duty vehicles and has a load rating of only five tons.

1 All elevations are in ft, NGVD 1929 unless otherwise noted.

Access to the air vents is available on the outside of the intake tower via vent grates (see Figures 2 and 3). The opening between the vertical elements of the grates are approximately 5‐1/4 inches wide.

Though never inspected previously, the Government suspects small woody debris (≤ 4 inches in diameter) may be wedged within the air vents. If encountered, Contractor is expected to avoid or dislodge or attempt to nudge such debris aside to continue the inspection. No cleaning of the air vents is required.

Four record drawings detailing aspects are included in Section 6, Drawings.

3. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

3.1 PRE‐WORK SUBMITTALS

3.1.1 Schedule

Prepare and submit for approval a schedule showing when all required work shall be accomplished within the contract performance period of 90 calendar days. Identify the start and completion dates of applicable work elements and major milestones. Submit schedule within 10 calendar days after notice to proceed (NTP).

3.1.2 Work Plan

Prepare and submit for approval a work plan describing all procedures, personnel, including any proposed subcontractors, proposed methods, equipment, and sequence of work. The Contractor shall be responsible for obtaining any applicable clearances and state and local permits. Electrical service (120V) is available at the intake tower. Neither water nor a rest room is available. The Contractor shall make his own arrangements for these.

Complete and submit within 30 calendar days after NTP.

3.1.3 Accident Prevention Plan (APP) and Activity Hazard Analyses (AHA)

Accident Prevention Plan: The Contractor shall prepare an Accident Prevention Plan (APP) specific to the activities being performed. It shall include an Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA) as described below. All work shall be conducted in accordance with the APP, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Safety and Health requirements Manual (EM 385‐1‐1, most recent edition), and all applicable federal, state, and local safety and health requirements. A copy of EM 385‐1‐1 can be accessed electronically at Headquarters USACE website under publications using the following link:

http://www.publications.usace.army.mil/Portals/76/Publications/Engineer Manuals/EM_385‐1‐1.pdf

Work shall not proceed until the APP has been reviewed by the Government Designated Authority (GDA) and deemed acceptable for use on the project.

USACE will provide a non‐mandatory, fillable template APP. However, the contractor is permitted to submit their own plan, at a minimum it must meet the requirements listed in EM 385‐1‐1.

Template APP.pdf

The APP shall interface with the Contractor's overall safety and health program. Any portions of the Contractor's overall safety and health program referenced in the APP shall be included in the applicable APP element and made site‐specific. The Government considers the Prime Contractor to be the "controlling authority" for safety and health of the subcontractors.

The Contractor shall conduct a safety meeting at the project site on the first day of work, whenever a new activity or phase of work begins, or at least weekly during the progress of work. All safety meetings shall be documented.

The attached safety meeting form or a similar contractor‐prepared form shall be used. Records of the safety briefings shall be submitted to the GDA weekly.

Weekly_Safety_Mee ting.pdf

AHA: An AHA shall be submitted for each major phase of work. A major phase of work is defined as an operation involving a type of work presenting hazards not experienced in previous operations or where a new subcontractor or work crew is to perform the work. The analysis shall define all activities to be performed, identify the sequence of work, the specific hazards anticipated, and the control measures to be implemented to eliminate or reduce each hazard to an acceptable level. Work shall not proceed on a phase of work until the AHAs have been accepted by the GDA. A preparatory meeting shall be conducted by the prime contractor to discuss the AHAs contents with all effected onsite employees. The AHA shall be continuously reviewed and revised to address changing site conditions as appropriate.

AHATemplate-Fillable .pdf

Contractor shall appoint a qualified employee as a Site Safety and Health Officer (SSHO) who shall be on site whenever work is performed.

Documentation of qualifications (e.g. current OSHA 30‐Hour Safety Training, First Aid, and CPR certificates) shall be included with the abbreviated APP.

Note, for this project, the SSHO and superintendent may be one and the same.

3.1.4 Qualifications

Prepare and submit for approval technical qualifications for all applicable workers (e.g. superintendent, SSHO, welder, rigging/scaffolding specialist).

3.1.5 Equipment, Materials, Shop Drawings, and Calculations

Prepare and submit for approval manufacturer’s technical literature for applicable equipment or materials specified. Do the same for any required shop drawings and calculations. Complete and submit within 30 calendar days after NTP.

3.2 COORDINATION

3.2.1 Points of Contact

Coordinate access to the site with Heather Morse, USACE NAE Project Manager, North Hartland Lake, at (978) 318‐8469. Provide as much advance notice as possible.

All submittals shall be provided electronically to USACE NAE Project Engineer, Mike Kaminski, mike.kaminski@usace.army.mil, (978) 318‐8982.

The USACE NAE technical representative shall be Jason Paolino, USACE NAE Design Branch, at (978) 318‐8664.

3.3 QUALITY CONTROL

3.3.1 Superintendence

At all times during the performance of the contract and until the work is completed and accepted, the Contractor shall directly superintend the work or assign an employee as a competent project superintendent who is satisfactory to the Contracting Officer and has the authority to act for the Contractor. Prepare and submit for approval documentation the project superintendent is competent for the work involved with this project.

3.3.2 Preparatory Meetings

Prior to the start of each definable feature of work, the Contractor shall meet with the Government representatives and related employees and subcontractors to review all preparations are ready to include the following:

qualified personnel, approved submittals, availability of correct material and equipment, and the applicable activity hazard analysis.

3.4 SITE CONSIDERATIONS

3.4.1 Clean up

The Contractor shall at all times, keep the premises free from accumulation of waste materials or rubbish caused by work under this contract. At the end of each work day and upon the completion of all work, the Contractor shall leave interior and exterior property in the condition in which it was found just prior to start of work.

3.4.2 No Smoking Policy

Smoking is prohibited within all buildings at North Hartland Dam and within 50 feet of their exteriors.

3.4.3 Security

The Contractor shall be solely responsible for the security of its own vehicles, equipment, tools, and material.

3.4.4 Environmental

The Contractor shall minimize environmental pollution and damage that may occur as the result of its operations. The Contractor shall comply with all applicable environmental Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, especially in the regards to the disposal of lead‐based paint products.

Any delays resulting from failure to comply with environmental laws and regulations will be the Contractor's responsibility.

3.5 ACCIDENT REPORTING

3.5.1 Procedures

All accidents and near misses shall be investigated by the Contractor. All work‐related recordable injuries, illnesses and property damage accidents (excluding on‐the‐road vehicle accidents), in which the property damage exceeds $5,000.00, shall be verbally reported to the GDA within 4 hours of the incident. Serious accidents as described in EM 385‐1‐1 Section 01.D shall be immediately reported to the GDA. ENG Form 3394 shall be completed and submitted to the GDA within five working days of the incident.

ENG_FORM_3394_1

999-fillable.pdf

3.5.2 Monthly Report

The Contractor shall complete the attached “USACE Contractor Monthly Summary Record of Injuries/Illness and Work Hour Exposure” (for prime and its subcontractors) and forward the completed form to the GDA no later than close of business on the 5th calendar day of the following month.

The method of transmission by the prime contractor to the GDA shall be electronically.

Contractor Monthly Record of Accidents a

3.6 INVOICES

3.6.1 Progress Payments

Submit all progress payments to the USACE NAE Project Manager.

4. EXECUTION

4.1 SAFE WORKING PLATFORM

4.1.1 Options

The Contractor shall plan, install, and eventually remove a safe working platform that will be used to access the air vents. For purposes of this contract, the term, “platform”, is anything that constitutes compliant fall protection to access the air vents (e.g. harness, scaffold, temporary floor, etc.). The Contractor has the option to access the air vents from outside the intake tower or from inside.

4.1.2 Credentials, Shop Drawings, and Calculations

4.2 Whatever option is selected, a qualified person in fall protection for the platform system chosen shall submit for approval documentation of her/his training and experience. Training requirements are outlined in EM 385‐1‐1, Chapter 21‐1, Fall Protection, paragraph 21.C.03. The qualified person shall also supervise the design, selection, installation, and inspection of certified anchorages and lifelines.

The Contract shall also submit for approval a diagram of the platform system to be used and its connections along with supporting calculations.

4.3 ACCESS TO AIR VENTS

4.3.1 Options

The Contract has the option to access the air vents from the grates mounted to the exterior of the control tower or to cut an access opening in each of the air vents. Detail in the work plan the option to be pursued and the safety precautions to be employed.

4.3.2 Cutting/Welding and Lead Paint

Should the Contractor select the option to cut access openings, the Contractor shall submit for review and approval an activity hazard analysis how the Contractor shall prevent exposure to the lead in the air vent’s protective coating and how any lead‐based protective coating removed shall be collected, contained, and properly disposed.

4.3.3 Credentials

4.3 Prepare and submit for approval documentation showing the welder is currently an AWS certified welder and has experience and the safety equipment required for cutting and welding steel in lead‐based‐paint environment

4.4 VIDEO RECORDING OF AIR VENTS

4.4.1 Performance

The Contractor shall video inspect and digitally record the entire interior of each of the three, 30‐inch‐diameter, slide‐gate air vents. The video camera shall provide clear, color images of the inside surfaces of the air vents. The camera head shall have the capability to pan 360 degrees horizontally and to zoom into potential corroded or damaged areas in the steel. The video system shall have a color monitor to view what the camera sees in real time. The video system shall have an integrated location capability that displays the location on the monitor and on the recording. The Contractor shall submit product literature of the video system for approval showing the video system meets these parameters. Include screen shots of a similar video inspection conducted by the Contractor or its subcontractor.

4.4.2 Coordination

The Contractor shall coordinate the scheduling of the video inspections and digital recordings of the air vent pipes so the USACE NAE technical representative is able to attend and witness them all.

4.4.3 Recording

The Contractor shall submit for approval recordings of the video inspections on DVD format. USB devices are not allowed. The file format use should be commonly recognized by typical U.S. off‐the‐shelf DVD players. Proprietary file formats are not allowed. Submit two copies of all three inspections no later than fourteen calendar days after the last day of inspection.

4.5 SEALING OF ACCESS OPENINGS

4.5.1 Performance

Should the Contractor choose to cut access openings into the air vents, the Contractor shall return the air vents to the condition found, minus re‐ application of lead‐based paint. Steel plate equal in composition and thickness to what was removed shall be welded to completely close the access openings (e.g. no air leaks) using established welding‐industry standards.

The new steel plate, welds, and any areas where the protective coating has been disturbed by the Contractor shall be treated with MPI 18 primer and applied per the manufacturer's instructions. Topcoat shall be per the manufacturer's recommendation and match the appearance of adjacent surfaces. Submit for review and approval manufacturer product literature showing compliance with the above parameters.

5. FIGURES

Figure 1. Service bridge and intake tower

Figure 2. Slide‐gate air vent grates on intake tower

Figure 3. Slide gate air vent grate from service bridge

Figure 4. Panoramic view of the interior of the control tower showing the three air vents

1. RECORD DRAWINGS