J041--Solicitation | WNY BUF/BAT Chiller & Boiler Water Treatment

This amendment answers the following vendor questions after the site visit on 03/13/2024 and makes changes to the SOW. A revised SOW is provided in the attachments. All additional questions shall be submitted by 03/20/2024 at 10:00am EST.

The solicitation quote submission deadline has been moved to 03/22/2024 at 10:00 am EST.

Vendor Questions

Question: It sounded like the new tower system and the tower system that is to remain operational in Bldg 20 will both be operational year-round. Is that correct? Or is one or both of these systems being drained for the winter? (In Buffalo, that is).

Answer: Building 20, cooling tower 3 utilizes a remote sump for a walk-in cooler that will remain filled all winter, the tower pumps only come on at 50 degrees and above. We hope to keep at least one tower full for the building 1 system for usage on the occasional warm winter day when cooling is necessary for our critical areas.

Question: I see in part 2g of section B.2.6 that it states that a third-party needs to document makeup water quality, system water chemistry, and corrosion byproducts. Does that mean that we need to send samples out to a third-party lab every month, or is your water treatment provider considered the third party?

Answer: A water sample must be taken from the cooling tower system at least one time each month that the unit is operational and sent to an environmental-accredited laboratory for HPC testing. (ES-2019-001, pg 15).

Question: I.e Boiler Chemical. Can replacement porta bins be brought directly into boiler room and pumped into the bins in the containment or does the boiler chemical have to be pumped in from outside?

Answer: The boiler chemicals can be brought in from the loading dock, down the elevator and into the boiler plant main floor. The sulfite is on the mezzanine level and is currently pumped in from outside the boiler plant by the grounds offloading dike thru a permanent hose that is mounted inside the man door.

Question: For the Buffalo plant, can we get steam production by season?....and which boilers are in use by season?

Answer: Boilers 1,2,3 are predominantly used during the cold months, and boiler 4 is our summer boiler but does run during cold weather to supplement sometimes. All four boilers are kept in hot standby yearlong and are fired regularly to keep warm when not the main running boiler. See attached SOW for steam produced per month.

Question: Do you track the water usage (makeup) for the tower systems? We d like to know how much is typically used in a year for both Buffalo and Batavia.

Answer: The are currently not being tracked by the VA.

Question: What is the total volume of water in the tower systems? Especially the new tower system in Buffalo.

Answer: Approximately 44,000 gallons.

Question: Could we get some clarification on your expectations for tower cleanings?

Answer: Semi-annual preventive maintenance (PM) as part of the start-up/shutdown process, including Cleaning of the sump and fill: the system must be disinfected, cleaned and re-disinfected immediately prior to initial startup following commissioning or any shutdown period of greater than one month or at intervals not exceeding 6 months (ES-2019-001, pg 14).

Question: Will we be given an opportunity to present our findings / recommendations in person?

Answer: Written proposal only.

Question: One question I have is regarding the current chemical containment bins on site. Are all chemical containment bins part of this bid? Do any on site at either location need to be replaced as part of the bid?

Answer: All equipment including containment be the contractor s responsibility to furnish, install, and maintain.

Question: Do dip slides need to be sent to an environmentally accredited lab?

Answer: Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC): A water sample must be taken from the cooling tower system at least one time each month that the unit is operational and sent to an environmental-accredited laboratory for HPC testing. (ES-2019-001, pg 15)

Question: It also looks like the spec is calling from remote wireless data monitoring for the towers (that is reasonable), but it also says that remote monitoring should be set up for the chilled water side of each tower system. I've never seen that done and am not sure what we would even monitor in a closed loop system. Can you provide any insight as to what you're looking for?

Answer: This was a typo. See SOW edits below.

SOW EDITS

B.3.7.14.a shall now read the following:

Remote monitoring is to be set up on the condenser.

B.3.7.14.h has been added to read the following:

Monitoring system shall be able to effectively communicate with our building management system.

B.3.12.2 Guiding Documents, shall now read:

The following documents are applicable to this Scope of Work (SOW) to the extent specified

herein. While every effort has been made to ensure the completeness of this list, document

users are cautioned that they must meet all specified requirements of applicable documents, whether they are listed here or not.

a. VHA Master Construction Specifications:

i. 23 08 00 Commissioning of HVAC Systems

ii. 23 21 13 Hydronic Piping

iii. 23 21 23 Hydronic Pumps

iv. 23 25 00 HVAC Water Treatment

VHA DIRECTIVE 1061(1)

VHA Engineering Standard ES-2019-001

The above directives, guides, handbooks, and drawings form a part of this document to the extent specified herein. Unless otherwise specified, the latest revisions available shall be used. Copies of related Department of Veterans Affairs directives, guides, and handbooks are available from the Office of Construction and Facilities Management website:

http://www.cfm.va.gov/til/index.asp

ASHRAE 188-2018

NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA)

Should a conflict exist between VA requirements and nationally recognized codes and standards, the conflict must be brought to the attention of the VA. The resolution of conflict must be made by the VA Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).