Z2DA--689-24-0130, Boiler Plant PRV Stations #1 and #2

IFB 36C24124B0047 Amendment 0005

IFB 36C24124B0047 Amendment 0004

IFB 36C24142B0047 Amendment A0003

CONTINUATION PAGE 02

36C24124B0047

RFI s and REPONSES

Question 1. Please confirm that threaded fittings will not be allowed on this project.

Response f)-Butt weld all piping above 2-1/2 and above, Butt weld or socket weld all piping 2 or less diameter. Raised faced flanges or unions are required to permit ease of removal and servicing working parts without disturbing connecting piping. If threaded pipes required (shall be Schedule 80), request shall be in writing to COR for approval.

Question 2. Please confirm that the stations will need to be fabricated off site and tied in and installed during a weekend steam shutdown.

Response d)- All work shall be performed off site. Prefabricate all piping, perform radiographic testing of 100% of the butt-welded joints and pressure test all piping (including header, spool pieces, steam trap assembly piping, etc.) offsite. All piping shall be assembled onsite at the VAMC, ensure to leak test all joints after the tie-ins.

Response e)- Complete the steam PRV stations installation tie-ins during one steam shutdown. Steam shutdown shall only occur between May 1st through September 30th. 30 days advance notice required. Maximum duration- not to exceed Friday 7:00pm to Sunday 7:00pm. Cool down and reheat times shall be included in this time frame, approximately 2 hours each.

Question 3. Please confirm that prefabricated piping and fittings will have to be X-Ray welded.

Response q)- Perform radiographic testing of 100 percent of the welds. All radiographs shall be reviewed and interpreted by an ANST Certified Level III radiographer, employed by the testing firm, who shall sign the reading report.

CONTINUATION PAGE

36C24124B0047

This amendment is issued to provide additional information for project 689-24-130, and to provide RFI responses. The bid due date is hereby extended to August 23, 2024, at 11 AM EST.

Each of the steam pressure reducing stations shall have a main station inlet and station outlet shut off valves. Valves shall meet the applicable VA specifications.

Asbestos abatement:

The awarded contractor shall identify asbestos by a state licensed Asbestos Inspector utilizing a certified laboratory for sample testing. A report shall be generated and provided to the contractor for scope and a copy shall be provided to the VA for verification, justification, and records. The testing shall identify the extent of the scope of abated materials in relation to the area of work. The contractor shall be responsible for the removal of ACM material on the anticipated pipe and provide clearances of at least 3 from any anticipated cuts and welded connections to existing pipe. The means and methods of removal can be determined by the contractor, the abatement subcontractor, and the VA. All hazardous materials shall be abated & disposed as required by the applicable codes & standards.

              The VPIH project manager oversight shall be responsible of the General Contractor, shall be hired by the General Contractor and shall report to and be paid by the General Contractor and shall be a separate entity of the hired abatement subcontractor. The general contractor shall, in coordination with the subcontractor and VA, determine the best course of action of removal of ACM materials, removal of the piping, and reconstruction of the PRV s in the project. Determination shall include but not limited to time, methods, costs, and disruption to the VA s normal operations. Staff safety of the operators and others, and potential disruptions to the processes and procedures of the boiler plant shall be key in the processes which may require night and/or weekend work schedule.         Â

              With the inclusion of traditional asbestos specification with the other specifications to the project says that the project has asbestos, and the contractor is to be aware of this. The identification of some asbestos is easily made as many of the existing piping within a certain height are with fiberglass insulation. Other piping can be seen as having fiberglass insulation and potential ACM insulation beneath, and other piping can be seen with air-cell insulation, known to be traditionally >1% ACM. The contractor shall be able to identify some ACM with VA placed stickers. The inclusion of the asbestos specification should place a known burden to the contractor s responsibility of ACM within the project. The addendum shall place the burden of identifying the ACM within the project area to the contractor. Due to regulations for ACM by state and federal, and most likely the contractor s need to recycle the metal, ACM on the piping shall need to be removed. Due to the expected timeline of the project and need to have the pipe removed and replaced, abatement and movement of the existing pipe with ACM removed for clearances and removed for recovery of the pipe shall be two separate actions. With safety in mind for the contractors working the abatement, a steam shutdown involving the PRVs ACM removal may need to be taken. Also, with the time required for the abatement and to provide clearances for work to continue, the window of opportunity within the original scoped period of for the project of the PRV replacement is greatly impacted and the planned Friday-Sunday period of performance will not fit within for both actions of abatement and replacement. There might be a way to complete which might require coordinated staging and methods and processes that may not be a traditional for abatement removal.

              The work of the VPIH consultant in no way relieves the Contractor from their responsibility to perform the work in accordance with contract/specification requirements, to perform continuous inspection, monitoring and testing for the safety of their employees, and to perform other such services as specified. The VPIH during asbestos abatement oversight shall be licensed by the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health as an Asbestos Project Monitor with project oversight by a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) accredited by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH).

1.           Written Reports:Â

a.           A written report shall be generated to summarize work activities and detail the findings of each inspection.

b.           The asbestos inspection report shall include quantities and locations of asbestos-containing materials identified, sample location diagrams, photographs of each homogenous area and any damaged materials as documentation of present conditions, sample log and results, as well as the completed laboratory analysis.

c.           The lead inspection report shall include locations and components of lead-based paint, a sample location diagram, sample log and results, as well as any laboratory analysis.Â

d.           Two (2) hard copies and one electronic copy of the final report shall be provided, with electronic copy in PDF format. All data tables must be provided in Microsoft Excel format. All sample locations must be identified on a print and marked in the field.

2.           Abatement Specifications:

a.           A State licensed Project Designer shall review all inspection results and visit the site if regulated or hazardous materials have been identified in the impacted area.Â

b.           Develop a written specification in accordance with the VA Master Spec for abatement of all asbestos-containing materials to be impacted by the renovation work and lead compliance during abatement and renovation for each area that requires asbestos and/or lead abatement.Â

c.           The specification shall include the quantity and location of asbestos-containing materials to be removed and CAD drawings shown containment locations.Â

d.           The materials for constructing the containments shall be outlined as well as methods of asbestos removal and disposal requirements, engineering controls during abatement.

e.           Regulatory requirements specific to the site and final clearance criteria shall be detailed.Â

f.           The specification shall also provide appropriate guidance related to the lead compliance and disposal of lead-contaminated demolition debris, and other regulated or hazardous materials identified in the project impacted areas.Â

3. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

RFI s-

Question 1. Is this project subject to VA s no cost cast Iron materials on steam or condensate systems requirements?

Response- Cast Iron is not allowed. VA prohibits cast iron valve, pipe, and fittings in any part of a pressurized steam and condensate return systems.

Question 2. Is this project requiring Buy America compliance?

Response- Construction materials shall meet the domestic content requirements to comply with the Buy America Act (See FAR Subpart 25.2).

Question 3. Is there any steam flow specification for the regulating stations or is the existing steam station regulating valves CV s to be utilized as a template for sizing the offered solution?

Response- There is no know steam flow as of now, I believe existing valve s can be utilized or field visit can confirm the loads. Please ensure all current VA design manual, specification and details are followed not the existing configuration.

Please refer to the SOW for more references.

REFERENCES BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

DVA Steam, Heating Hot Water, and Outside Distribution Systems design manual, May 1, 2024, Volume 1 STEAM BOILERS (Steam Generating Systems)

DVA HVAC design NOVEMBER 1, 2017, rev. March 1, 2024.

DVA Steam Pressure Reducing Station detail.

DVA Steam Trap Assembly detail.

ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code.

ASME B31.1-Power Piping.

Question 4. What is the delivery expectation for all materials offered?

Response- The PRV stations need replacement as soon as possible. All work under this contract shall be completed within 365 days following the award of the contract and the issuance by the VA of the Notice to Proceed letter. Completion of the contract includes inspection of all installed project features by the VA COR or designated alternate representative to ensure compliance with all VA requirements.

Refer to description contained in attachment S02 Final Statement of Work Boiler Plant Steam Pressure Valve (PRV) Station #1 and #2 Replacement Project 689-24-130 Boiler Plant PRV Stations #1 and #2 Replacement