J--Inspection of Boilers and Feedwater Deaerators, Inspection and Testing of Safety Devices, Testing and Calibration Boiler Plant Burners, Controls, Instruments, and Data Management

Sources Sought Announcement: This is a SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY , it is neither a solicitation announcement nor a request for proposals or quotes and does not obligate the Government to award a contract. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. Responses to this sources-sought must be in writing. The purpose of this sources sought announcement is for market research to make appropriate acquisition decisions and to gain knowledge of potential sources capable of providing the services described below. Documentation of technical expertise must be presented in sufficient detail for the Government to determine that your company possesses the necessary functional area expertise and experience to compete for this acquisition. Responses to this notice shall include the following: (a) company name (b) address (c) point of contact (d) phone, fax, and email (e) DUNS number (f) Cage Code (g) Tax ID Number (h) Type of business, e.g. small or other, as appropriate and (i) must provide a capability statement that addresses the organization s qualifications and ability to perform as a contractor for the work described below in italics. Statement of Work: Below are the requirements that the vendor must complete: Requirement 1: Inspection of Boilers and Feedwater Deaerators 1. Introduction: Most Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) have a central high-pressure boiler plant to provide steam for heating and air conditioning, domestic hot water, kitchens, and sterilization. Boiler plant safety, reliability, efficiency and equipment longevity are paramount concerns of NAVAHCS management. Boilers and feedwater deaerators are pressurized devices containing steam and hot water. They can fail catastrophically causing injuries and death and massive property damage. Regular inspections by experts are an essential part of a program to address these concerns. This Statement of Work describes the requirements for the boiler inspections and feedwater deaerator inspections to be performed by Qualified Professional Inspectors under contract. The Boiler Plant (Building 111) is located on the facility grounds of the Northern Arizona VA Medical Center, 550 N US Highway 89, Prescott, AZ 86313. Qualified Professional Inspectors as defined below shall perform internal and external inspections on high pressure (over 15 psig) steam boilers and internal inspections on feedwater deaerators and other pressure vessels. Non-destructive testing of feedwater deaerator pressure vessels shall be performed by certified non-destructive testing technicians as defined below under the guidance of the Qualified Professional Inspector. 2. Qualified Professional Inspector is defined as any one or combination of: A boiler inspector who has a valid commission from the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NB). A boiler inspector who has qualified by passing a written examination under the laws, rules and regulations of a jurisdiction of a state. A boiler inspector who is regularly employed as a boiler inspector by a jurisdiction which has adopted and administers one or more sections of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code as a legal requirement, and has a representative serving as a member of the ASME Conference Committee. A boiler inspector who is regularly employed by an insurance company which has been licensed or registered by the appropriate authority of a State of the United States to write boiler or pressure vessel insurance. 3. Qualifications for Non-Destructive-Testing Technicians: The technicians shall be certified as being qualified Level II technicians in the non-destructive testing methods to be utilized. The certification shall be in accordance with the requirements of the American Society for Non-Destructive Testing (ASNT). 4. Reference Materials: The Qualified Professional Inspector shall demonstrate familiarity with and ready access to the current versions of the following codes and manuals: ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code: Section I - Power Boilers Section IV - Heating Boilers Section VI - Care and Operation of Heating Boilers Section VII - Care of Power Boilers ASME B31.1, Power Piping Code ASME CSD-1, Controls and Safety Devices for Automatically Fired Boilers ANSI/NB-23, National Board Inspection Code NFPA 85, Boiler and Combustion Systems Hazards Code VHA Boiler Plant Safety Device Testing Manual, 4th Ed. 5. Inspection Requirements: Annual internal and external inspections are required for each boiler. Internal inspections of the feedwater deaerator pressure vessel are required every six years (or more frequently if welding repairs have been performed). At least two weeks notice to NAVAHCS is required prior to an inspection. Also, the inspection must be scheduled for periods when NAVAHCS determines that the boilers that will be inspected internally will not be needed for steam supply and when the Contracting Officer s Representative (COR) or his/her designate is available on site to monitor the inspections. To maintain steam service, typically only one boiler at a time will be scheduled for internal inspections per inspection visit. Thus, multiple visits per VAMC facility will be necessary every year to inspect all the boilers internally. Feedwater deaerator pressure vessel inspections must be scheduled during periods of low steam demand. Coordinate the inspection schedule with the COR so that NAVAHCS can prepare the boilers and feedwater deaerator for the inspections in advance and have personnel available to monitor the inspections. The COR is: To Be Announced Boilers scheduled for internal inspection will be prepared for the inspection by NAVAHCS prior to the scheduled arrival of the inspector. This includes cooling the boilers to near ambient temperature and having all manways, handholes and furnace access doors open; the boilers cleaned of loose materials waterside and fireside; electrical lock-out, tag-out in place; connecting piping isolated; proper illumination provided; compliance with confined space access requirements including having safety personnel present in the boiler plant. Similar advance preparations will be made to the feedwater deaerator when it is scheduled for internal inspection. NAVAHCS will comply with any other requirements of the inspector that are considered reasonable by NAVAHCS and have been presented in writing at least two weeks prior to the scheduled inspection. The boiler and feedwater deaerator inspections shall comply with the guidelines in the current issue of the NATIONAL BOARD INSPECTION CODE, Part RB, Inservice Inspection of Pressure-Retaining Items, and ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VI or VII as applicable. In addition to those guidelines, the inspections shall comply with all NAVAHCS requirements as listed in this document. The inspector must completely enter the internal spaces of the boiler or feedwater deaerator and visually inspect all internal surfaces that can be accessed. Methods for testing safety devices shall comply with VHA Boiler Plant Safety Device Testing Manual, 4th Edition. Summary of the minimum inspection requirements for boilers: Review the boiler history including: operating conditions, date of last inspection, current inspection certificate, ASME stamping on boiler, National Board registration number, history of repairs and modifications. Review boiler logs, water test reports, and reports on tests performed on the burner controls and interlocks. Assess the external parts of the boilers and boiler accessories and piping and valves for safety, accessibility, proper maintenance and operation, cleanliness, and compliance with codes. Inspect for evidence of leakage of combustion gases or fluids, externally and internally, including all gaskets. Inspect foundations for signs of stress such as cracking or movement. Inspect boilers externally and internally for defects including bulges, blisters, cracks, wasted or eroded material, warping, general corrosion, grooving and pitting, damaged insulation. Inspect all accessible internal surfaces for waterside and fireside deposits, including scaling, sediment, debris, carbon deposits. Examine all stays and stayed plates. Inspect gas side baffles. Inspect internal drum surfaces and steam separating internals. Inspect soot blowers and verify proper alignment. Inspect tubes, tube ends and tube alignment. Check for sagging tubes. Verify that all nozzles of internal piping such as feedwater admission and bottom blowoff collection are clear with no obstructions. Inspect seating surfaces of manways and handholes. Check that boiler structure is plumb and level with no excessive deformations. Check for missing items such as bolts and nuts. Examine all valve and pipe connections to the pressure vessel. Inspect refractory including burner throat, expansion joint, bull ring, furnace seals, furnace walls and floor. Verify proper alignment of burner assembly. Inspect furnace for evidence of flame impingement. Perform mechanical and electrical inspection of disassembled low water cutouts (disassembly by VA). Inspect piping connected to the boilers for evidence of leakage, provision for expansion, provision of adequate support, proper alignment, evidence of detrimental conditions. Inspect piping to the water column, low water cutoffs and alarms, gage glass. Verify that interior of piping is clear of obstructions. Provide recommendations for non-destructive testing when the inspections indicate that this is necessary to assure continued safety and reliability under current operating conditions. L. Summary of the minimum inspection requirements for feedwater deaerators: Review the feedwater deaerator history including: operating conditions, date of last inspection, current inspection certificate, ASME stamping, National Board registration number, materials of construction, extent of postweld heat treatment, history of repairs and modifications. Assess the external parts of the feedwater deaerator and accessories and piping for safety, accessibility, cleanliness. proper operation, and compliance with codes. Inspect for evidence of leakage. Verify that non-condensable gas vent line is open and proper orifice is provided to permit venting of gases. Inspect support structures for proper integrity and allowance for thermal expansion. 8) Internal inspections (6-year intervals unless otherwise recommended because of welding repairs): Visually inspect all visible pressure vessel surfaces for corrosion, material thinning, deposits, and weld cracking. Inspect spray nozzles and trays. Certified American Society for Non-Destructive Testing (ASNT) Level II technicians shall perform non-destructive tests using the wet fluorescent magnetic particle (WFMT), ultrasonic testing (UT), and any other necessary non-destructive tests. Completely examine all accessible welds utilizing the WFMT test method. Properly prepare the surfaces before testing. Determine pressure vessel material thickness by UT. Thickness measurement locations shall be selected by dividing the storage tank heads into quadrants and taking measurements at each quadrant on two imaginary rings in each head (eight measurements total) . Measurement locations on the shell shall be on each of the quadrants, on four to six locations along the length of the shell (16 to 24 measurements total). The technician may recommend fewer or more tests to the owner, providing justification. Typically, the pressure vessel section containing the deaerator trays and sprays is not accessible for non-destructive testing. The experience is that this section, which is mainly exposed to steam, is less vulnerable to weld failures and material thinning than the storage section which contains condensate and make-up water. d. Calculate maximum allowable working pressure rating of vessel based on thickness measurements. Calculate depletion rate of material thickness. 6. Report Requirements: Provide complete written report fully describing all inspections and tests performed, findings, and recommendations. The condition of all items inspected shall be stated whether acceptable or deficient. All deficiencies shall be fully described along with recommendations for methods of correction. Utilize National Board Forms NB-6 and NB-7, or other similar forms acceptable to owner. Provide sketches and photographs as necessary and as requested by owner to show areas identified as not acceptable for continued service or requiring repair. Include test data and calculations. Show locations and extent of all non-destructive testing by sketches. Furnish report within one week of each facility inspection in Microsoft Word format by email to the COR. All safety-related deficiencies shall be immediately reported to the COR during the inspection visit. Provide recommendations on need for re-inspections after correction of deficiencies. Cost of re-inspections shall be extra cost negotiated with VA Contracting Officer. Requirement 2: Inspection, Safety Device Testing and Calibration Boiler Plant Burners, Controls, Instruments, and Data Management 1. Introduction: Most Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) have a central boiler plant to provide steam for heating and air conditioning, domestic hot water, kitchens and sterilization. Boiler plant safety, reliability, efficiency and equipment longevity are paramount concerns of NAVAHCS management. Malfunctioning burners or controls can cause catastrophic events resulting in injuries and death and massive property damage. Inaccurate or inadequate data management and monitoring systems can fail to warn of unsafe or inefficient performance. Regular inspections, testing and calibration by expert technicians are an essential part of a program to address these concerns. This Statement of Work describes the requirements for the inspection, testing and calibration of the boiler plant burners, controls and instruments by qualified technicians. 2. Technician Qualifications: Technicians shall have completed at least a one-year trade school and have five years successful experience in this field. The experience shall be largely with institutional and industrial boiler plants similar in design to the VAMC plant. The VAMC facility manager/engineer may define and accept equivalent qualifications. Technicians shall demonstrate familiarity with and ready access to the current versions of the following references: NFPA 85, Boiler and Combustion Systems Hazards Code. VHA Boiler Plant Safety Device Testing Manual, 4th Edition. Technicians shall be equipped with portable electronic flue gas analyzers and other test instruments necessary for the required tests and calibrations, all calibrated within one month of the site visits. At facilities with programmable digital controls, the technicians must be capable of programming the controls and have the appropriate hardware and software for this. 3. Inspection, Testing and Calibration Requirements: Technicians shall provide all tools and labor necessary to perform inspection, tuning, testing, calibrating, and adjustments of burners and boiler and boiler plant controls as specified below. This shall be done every 12 months in accordance with a schedule provided by VAMC. VAMC may extend the schedule for burners in limited service. Instrumentation, monitoring and data management systems as listed below shall be calibrated every 12 months. Provide at least two-weeks notice to the Contracting Officer s Representative (COR) prior to performing the work. Work cannot be scheduled during heavy steam load periods. Only one boiler at a time can be out of service for the inspection, testing and calibration procedures. Work must be conducted when the COR or his/her designate is available on site to monitor the work. VAMC will have the boilers that are to be serviced prepared for the technicians upon their scheduled arrival. This includes having the boilers clean of soot and loose scale; fully warmed and at normal steam pressure; steam exhaust silencer system operable; all boiler, burner and fuel train pressure gages and thermometers calibrated; fuel meters in accurate operation (pressure/temperature correction factors provided, if applicable); boiler steam flow, stack temperature and flue gas oxygen instruments operating. VAMC will comply with any other requirements of the test personnel that are considered reasonable by VAMC and have been presented in writing at least two weeks prior to the scheduled testing. The inspections, testing and calibrations shall comply with: The recommendations and requirements of VHA Boiler Plant Safety Devices Testing Manual, 4thEdition. The written recommendations of the equipment manufacturers. The requirements and recommendations of NFPA 85 Boiler and Combustion Systems Hazards Code including applicable appendices. Burner performance requirements in this document. A summary of the work is as follows: Review boiler plant log sheets and alarm and trouble reports. Review records that show combustion performance (flue gas oxygen and carbon monoxide). Perform overall visual inspection of systems. Verify that systems comply with referenced codes and VAMC requirements stated in this contract. Operate burner(s) on each fuel from low fire to high fire and back to low fire in at least six increments and record combustion performance (flue gas oxygen, carbon monoxide, NOx where applicable), fuel train pressures, atomizing train pressures, burner pressures, stack temperatures, boiler steam output. Compare the combustion performance data with VAMC requirements (see below) and previous readings. If necessary, adjust the fuel flow and combustion air controllers, control valves and dampers to obtain the required performance. Record the new performance data. Verify accuracy of instrumentation listed below. Verify that all devices are properly selected for the application in terms of type, size, set point range, performance, code approval. Calibrate all instruments that are not within manufacturer s specifications for accuracy. Immediately inform COR of any recommended repairs or modifications. All of interlocks and safety devices to be inspected and tested on each boiler/burner/equipment, are contained in the VHA Boiler Plant Safety Devices Testing Manual, 4th Edition, along with testing procedures. Required burner performance (natural gas and fuel oil): Turndown (ratio of maximum and minimum firing rates): 10/1 8/1 5/1 4/1 (Refer to original burner specification). Achieve, but do not exceed, boiler maximum steam flow output rating. Measure fuel input at minimum and maximum firing rates. Maximum carbon monoxide: 200 parts per million (ppm) Maximum NOx: _____ (Refer to original burner specification). Flue gas oxygen: 2.5 4.2% (Up to 5.2% at loads below 40% of maximum steam output; no upper limit at minimum firing rate; oxygen can be one percentage point higher on oil firing on single-point positioning systems). Flue gas oxygen (low excess air burners): 1.0 2.0% (Up to 2.5% at loads below 40% of maximum steam output; no upper limit at minimum firing rate; oxygen can be one percentage point higher on oil firing on single point positioning systems). No visible smoke, except on heavy oil fuel maximum opacity is 20%. Comply with local emissions regulations. Flames shall be stable with no pulsations, shall be retained near burner, no blow-off or flashbacks, no constant flame impingement on refractory or waterwalls. List of instrumentation and controls to be inspected and calibrated: Steam flow transmitters (all). Steam flow recorders/computer readout. Flue gas oxygen sampling, analyzing and recorder/computer readout. Boiler and economizer stack temperature transmitters and recorder/computer readout. Master steam pressure and combustion controllers. All pressure and temperature sensors and transmitters. All signal processing and readout devices. 4. Report Requirements: Provide complete written report of the inspection fully describing all tests performed, all findings, and recommendations. The report shall have two sections the first section will be in a table form that with four columns: The first column labeled FUNCTION did the device pass or fail. The second column labeled Device list the device number and description in accordance with the VHA Boiler Plant Safety Devices Testing Manual, 4th Edition. The third labeled Deficiencies-Recommendations The fourth column labeled corrective actions list any corrective actions taken during the inspection. Furnish report within one week of each facility inspection in Microsoft Word format by email to the COR. Provide hard copies of data sheets and flue gas analyzer strip printouts to the COR within one week of visit. All safety-related deficiencies shall be immediately reported to the COR, Boiler Plant Supervisor and/or Chief Engineer during the inspection visit. Important Information: The Government is not obligated to nor will it pay for or reimburse any costs associated with responding to this sources-sought synopsis request. This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. The Government will in no way be bound to this information if any solicitation is issued. The VA is mandated by Public Law 109-461 to consider a total set-aside for Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business set aside. However, if response by Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business firms proves inadequate, an alternate set-aside or full and open competition may be determined. No sub-contracting opportunity is anticipated. The North American Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 238290 ($15M). Notice to Potential Offerors: All offerors who provide goods or services to the United States Federal Government must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov and complete Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). Additionally, all Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses or Veteran Owned Businesses who respond to a solicitation on this project must be registered with the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Veterans Enterprise VetBiz Registry located at http://vip.vetbiz.gov. All interested Offerors should submit information by e-mail, mail, or ground carrier to: Southern AZ VA HealthCare System, 3601 S. 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85743 or by e-mail to contact@example.gov. All information submissions to be marked Attn: Stephanie Naron, Contracting Specialist, and should be received no later than 3:00 p.m. MST on September 4, 2018.