J061--FY22: Triennial Electrical Distribution System Testing

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Source Selection Sensitive Information See FAR 2.101 & 3.104

PROPOSAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FORM

SOLICITATION: 36C24822Q1369 FY22: Triennial Electrical Distribution System Testing

NOTE: ALL PRE-PROPOSAL INQUIRIES SHALL BE SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL TO brittney.pastore@va.gov BY AN EDITABLE USE OF THIS FORM. Please identify, in numerical sequence, each set of inquiries that you send.

Question(s) is/are on the solicitation [ x ]

Question(s) is/are on the drawings, specifications, technical data [ ]

Company Name and Offeror: The Spanos Group LLC

From (person submitting question): __Daniel Rhodes, drhodes@thespanosgroup.com

Date of Proposal Inquiry: ___July 28, 2022____________

Phone Number: ___(760) 458-4505______

Proposal Inquiry: (Type inquiry below)

Proposal RFI #1 Per Site Visit, confirm that Contractor is only responsible for inspecting, testing, and logging/reporting deficiencies. No equipment and/or circuit breakers shall be replaced.

Answer: The previous contract utilized a 10% fee of the contract proposal included in the final cost to cover repairs and replacement of defective parts, breakers, and switches. The contractor secured spare breakers ahead of testing to allow a swap out if the test deemed to remove from service. This prevented a potential life safety situation by re-energizing equipment that has been found defective. This is an advantageous approach for the VA. The VA prefers the contractor to include a plan for this scenario that allows us to stay within Life Safety Code when presented. I refer to the SOW for the actions outside of testing, logging and recording deficiencies. It covers actions required during the process and examples are :

Visual and mechanical inspection

Check insulation, case, and arc chutes for cracks

Lubricate, Clean breaker as necessary and where possible

Perform insulation resistance on breaker to ensure proper operation.

Perform contact resistance

Perform trip time tests on breaker time current devices

Exercise and operate the breaker to ensure proper operation

Clean and inspect breaker cell, interlocks and racking mechanism

Each type of breaker has its own certification requirements in the SOW

Proposal RFI #2 Per Site Visit, confirm that the last system testing cycle did not finish inspecting and testing all the circuit breakers and Contractor should attempt, scheduling permitting, to start testing where the last testing cycle finished.

Answer: The previous testing schedule should not affect this effort. The schedule should be driven by the difficulty of isolating the breaker being tested. This can be defined on the first project coordination meeting. Some breakers will need longer to schedule and more preparation by the facility. The assumption is that the breakers that did not get accomplished were the most difficult to isolate.

Proposal RFI #3 Per Site Visit, previous testing cycles reflect that Contractor was not able to finish inspecting and testing all the circuit breakers within scope, primarily due to the inability of various VA departments not being able to schedule or accommodate Contractor testing schedules. In the event Contractor experiences similar circumstances with the inability in scheduling and/or conducting the inspections/tests in scope, please confirm that Contractor s scope shall be deemed completed for purposes of fulfilling the Contractual Requirements?

Answer: The contractor will not be required to perform any actions on that equipment that depends on the power to be removed to complete, only if the VA determines that the power cannot be secured. The less evasive actions such as inspection and infra-red actions should still be accomplished and everything that was not done shall be logged and in the final report.

Proposal RFI #4 Per Site Visit, some circuit breakers within scope are SquareD. Does a SquareD representative need to be onsite during Contractor testing?

Answer: Historically the Eaton representatives are qualified and certified by the International Electrical Testing Association (NETA) or equivalent certifying organization as Certified Technicians to perform the maintenance on other manufacturers equipment. Since the vast majority is Eaton it is preferred.

Proposal RFI #5 Per Site Visit, can the VA share who would typically be involved in Contractor s scheduling coordination, outside of the VA COR engineers delegated to the project? For example, certain department heads, facilities personnel, etc.

Answer: Generally, the Electric O&M Shop will be deeply involved. Any others affected will be involved in coordination. Removing power to any area on this hospital campus requires coordination.

Proposal RFI #6 Can the VA provide Contractor with example Summary Reports from previous testing cycle projects? Particularly if the VA believes previous summary report formats should be followed for this new project.

Answer: This is generally a newer requirement being performed here. Unfortunately, we do not have a report that incorporates the required information in the SOW from the last project. If the contractor has technical training and demonstrable track records of working experience in maintenance, inspection, and testing of the Electrical Power Distribution Systems and related components in healthcare as required by the SOW, then they should be familiar or able to source the format.

Proposal RFI #7 - Per Site Visit, it was relayed that due to physical space constraints in various electrical rooms and locations of circuit breakers that Contractor should expect to have only one (1) Contractor representative onsite during various scheduled inspections/testing (the Superintendent, for example). Please confirm.

Answer: I do not recall any conversation of this manner. The contractor is required to perform the service within VA Safety and OSHA Guidelines. The service performance is never to only have one person performing any action. All of these actions are inherently dangerous and requires a Superintendent, Safety Representative and utilize NFPA trained Qualified personnel as required by the SOW under Qualifications of contractors. All certifications shall be reviewed prior to work commencing.

Please see SF 1449 solicitation.