The purpose of this amendment to the solicitation is to:
Extend response due date to 8/26/2026
Respond to questions.
First set of questions:
1. Project Sequencing
RFI 1 - Hydrostatic Test Sequence
The Statement of Work requires hydrostatic testing of Boiler No. 2; however, the required timing of the test is not clearly defined. Establishing the condition of the boiler pressure boundary before burner work begins will reduce the risk of performing substantial work on a boiler that has not yet passed the required pressure test.
Requested VA Response: Please confirm whether the hydrostatic test must be completed, witnessed, and accepted before burner replacement work or other irreversible modifications begin. If a different sequence is intended, please identify the required sequence.
VA Response: The hydrostatic test must be completed, witnessed, and accepted before burner replacement work or other irreversible modifications begin.
2. Existing Safety and Equipment Conditions
RFI 2 - Boiler No. 2 Main Steam Safety Valves
The inspection information and field observations indicate that the two Boiler No. 2 main steam safety valves are leaking. Existing valve data also indicates that the valves are not properly sized under the VHA Boiler and Associated Plant Safety Device Testing Manual, 8th Edition (BEI) capacity criteria and are iron-bodied. The BEI 8th Edition calls for approximately 80% of boiler steam capacity at the lower set pressure and at least 100% at the higher set pressure; the proposed replacement valves are to have carbon-steel bodies.
Requested VA Response: Please confirm whether the base contract is to include removal and replacement of both Boiler No. 2 main steam safety valves with properly sized carbon-steel, ASME-stamped and National Board-certified valves, including required installation and testing. If the work will be completed separately by the VA, please identify the required completion sequence. Please also confirm whether separate additive prices are requested for the same work on Boilers No. 1 and No. 3.
Supporting Information: See Attachment A - Boiler No. 2 Main Steam Safety Valve Replacement.
VA Response: The base contract does NOT include removal and replacement of both existing Boiler No. 2 main steam safety valves. This will be addressed on a separate contract.
RFI 3 - Economizer Safety Relief Valves and Tube Leakage
The available inspection information identifies deficiencies with the Boiler No. 2 economizer safety relief valves and leakage from the existing economizer tubes. These conditions may affect safe operation and final acceptance of the repaired boiler.
Requested VA Response: Please confirm whether replacement of the economizer safety relief valves and repair of the leaking economizer tubes are included in the base contract or will be completed separately by the VA before Boiler No. 2 startup and acceptance testing.
Supporting Information: See Attachment B - Boiler No. 2 Economizer Repair.
VA Response: The base contract does NOT include the replacement of the economizer safety relief valves and repair of the leaking economizer tubes are included in the base contract. This will be addressed on a separate contract. The timeline of this repair is unknown at this time. If, by chance, the economizer repairs are NOT completed before Boiler No. 2 startup and acceptance testing, the required safety testing for the economizer in the VHA Boiler and Associated Plant Safety Device Testing Manual will be waived.
RFI 4 - Forced Draft Motor Interlock Switches
The existing Forced Draft Motor Interlock Switch (FDMIS) arrangement does not appear to satisfy the BEI 8th Edition testing requirements for independent current proving on all three motor phases and safe access for required functional testing.
Requested VA Response: Please confirm whether correction of the Boiler No. 2 FDMIS deficiency is included in the base contract or will be completed separately by the VA before startup, commissioning, and BEI testing.
Supporting Information: See Attachment C - Boiler No. 2 FDMIS Deficiency Correction
VA Response: The base contract does NOT include the correction of the Boiler No. 2 FDMIS deficiency.
3. Propane and Controls Integration
RFI 5 - Emergency Stop System Integration
The new propane header must interface with the facility Emergency Stop system. The existing point of connection and E-stop controls cabinet could not be verified during the site visits, and the available drawings do not clearly identify the required interface.
Requested VA Response: Please identify the existing E-stop system point of connection and provide any available control drawings. If no suitable point of connection exists, please confirm whether the contract is to include a new VA-compliant E-stop panel and all required system integration.
Supporting Information: See Attachment D - Emergency Fuel Shutdown System.
VA Response: There is no new E-Stop to be required to be installed on this contract. There are existing E-Stop buttons located in the plant (one in the control room, one on the Boiler Plant Master, and one on each boiler control panel) which will operate the propane valve.
RFI 6 - Master Control Panel and SCADA Integration
The propane header must interface with the existing Master Control Panel and SCADA system. During the walkthrough, MicroMod advised that the existing Master Control Panel has insufficient available I/O for the propane-system interface. MicroMod further advised that an upgraded Red Lion platform could be configured with the additional I/O and communications capability required for this integration.
Requested VA Response: Please confirm whether the contract scope includes all required I/O hardware, Red Lion HMI or communications-platform upgrades, programming, graphics, and Master Control Panel/SCADA modifications necessary to provide a complete and operational propane-system interface.
VA Response: Contractor shall furnish and install an electro mechanical gas shut off valve (Maxon or approved equal) upstream of the fuel pressure regulator and downstream of the gas filter/strainer to protect the downstream safety shut off valves.
RFI 7 - Boiler No. 2 Human-Machine Interface
During the recent walkthrough, it was observed that the Boiler No. 2 control cabinet no longer has a functional Human-Machine Interface (HMI). A working HMI is required to interface with the existing MicroMod loop controllers and to configure, monitor, start up, test, and commission the Boiler No. 2 combustion-control system. A direct hardware swap is not adequate because current Red Lion models do not duplicate the obsolete unit's side-button arrangement; the existing screens and graphics must be re-engineered and converted for the new display.
Requested VA Response: Please confirm whether the contract scope will be revised to include furnishing, engineering, programming, graphics conversion, installation, integration, testing, and commissioning of a new Red Lion HMI compatible with the existing MicroMod loop controllers and associated boiler-control equipment.
Supporting Information: See Attachment E - Boiler No. 2 HMI Replacement.
VA Response: The VA will need more time to provide response
4. OEM Responsibilities
RFI 8 - Victory Energy Scope
Our interpretation is that Victory Energy's role is limited to OEM engineering support, interface review, refractory recommendations, and commissioning assistance, and does not include furnishing additional equipment or performing redesign services.
Requested VA Response: Please confirm this interpretation or identify any additional equipment, engineering, onsite services, commissioning activities, or redesign responsibilities required from Victory Energy.
VA Response: The Interpretation of Victory Energy s role is correct with the following clarifications (in bold). Victory Energy s role is limited to OEM engineering support, interface review and recommendations, refractory recommendations to include demolition and installation instructions and engineering details and shop drawings, and commissioning assistance, and does not include furnishing additional equipment or performing redesign services.
Second set of questions:
1. Boiler #2 Touchscreen Item 1.f: The Boiler #2 touchscreen is currently missing. Please confirm whether a new touchscreen is required to be furnished and installed as part of the project scope.
VA Response: A new touchscreen is NOT required to be furnished and installed as part of the project scope.
2. Combustion Tuning Item 1.e: Item 1.e states that the Contractor shall test all safety devices and tune the combustion on Boiler #2 using the testing methods specified in the VHA Boiler and Associated Safety Device Testing Manual, Eighth Edition. However, the Eighth Edition provides testing procedures for boiler safety devices but does not appear to prescribe methods or criteria for combustion tuning. Please clarify the required combustion tuning procedure, performance criteria, and applicable standard to be followed.
VA Response: Combustion tuning shall be performed in accordance with the burner manufacturer s (Webster) procedures and performance criteria. Recordings for all parameters shown in Attachment C Boiler Combustion Test Data must be taken in 20 minute intervals.
3. NOx / Emissions Acceptance Criteria: The contract documents do not appear to identify specific NOx emission performance targets or acceptance criteria for Boiler #2. Please provide the required NOx emission limits and any other applicable emissions requirements that must be achieved during startup and commissioning.
VA Response: The NOx emission performance targets and acceptance criteria shall be in compliance with the standards set forth by the manufacturer of the burner (Webster) and boiler industry standards.
4. Additional Gas Train / Control Components: Based on the anticipated testing and control requirements, please confirm whether the following components are required to be added to the project scope:
o One (1) 6-inch Maxon gas valve on the main gas line located outside of the boiler plant.
o Fireye Nexus combustion control system for Boiler.
Please confirm whether these components and associated installation, wiring, programming, integration, testing, and commissioning are required under the current contract scope or should be treated as additional work.
VA Response:
a.) One (1) 6-inch Maxon gas valve on the main gas line located outside of the boiler plant and associated installation, wiring, programming, integration, testing, and commissioning is NOT required under the current contract scope.
b.) A Fireye Nexus combustion control system for Boiler and associated installation, wiring, programming, integration, testing, and commissioning is NOT required under the current contract scope.
