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THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR INFORMATION ONLY. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS AND NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FROM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. The purpose of this notice is to conduct ma... THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR INFORMATION ONLY. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS AND NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FROM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. The purpose of this notice is to conduct market research and obtain information from qualified businesses with special interest in seeking: VA certified Service Disabled Veteran owned Small Business (SDVOSB), VA certified Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) and Small Business (SB) concerns. No solicitation is being issued at this time. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary; the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government. The Department of Veterans Affairs Battle Creek VA Medical Center (BCVAMC) in Battle Creek, MI requires water treatment maintenance for the Boiler/Combined Heating and Power Plants at the Medical Center in Battle Creek, MI. The appropriate NAICS Code 221310, Water Supply and Irrigation, Size Standard $27.5 Million Responses: Please submit your response in accordance with the following instructions: Responses shall be no more than10pages in length. Responses are due by7/28/2021 at 15:00 PM EST. Responses shall be submitted via email. Emails cannot exceed 10mb Subject line of the Email shall include this Sources Sought Notice Number Firm Name BCVAMC Water Treatment Maintenance. If your response contains proprietary information you will place Proprietary Information in front of the Sources Sought Notice Number. No marketing materials are allowed as part of this Sources Sought Notice. The Government will not review any other information or attachments included in your submission that is not listed herein or exceeds the10-page limitation. Contractors Federal Supply Schedule Contract that carries the desired services If you do not have a Federal Supply Schedule contract, you shall state open market Provide the Schedule Provide expiration date of your Contract Provide your GSA/FSS/SAC Contract Number Provide the SIN for water treatment maintenance If any of the items are not on your GSA/FSS contract you will mark which items are open market. Contractor Point of Contact to include: Name Title Phone Email Company Information to include: Name Address DUNs Number Tax ID Number Business Size Provide information as to what water treatment maintenance are provided by your company. Provide how your company invoices for services in the commercial marketplace. Business Size/Type: Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), 8(a), Hub Zone Small Business, Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), Small Business, or Large Business. All prospective Contractors are reminded that in accordance with FAR 4.11 they shall be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database and shall complete annual Representations and Certifications in SAM prior to any offer. SAM is located at http://www.sam.gov and consolidated the capabilities of CCR/FedReg, ORCA, and EPLS. There is no cost to use SAM. FOR SDVOSB/VOSB ONLY: Please note that if responding as an SDVOSB or VOSB, your company must be registered and verified in the VA s Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database, which is available at: https://access.va.gov/accessva/?cspSelectFor=vemsPlease include a copy of your VetBiz certification with your response. Contractor shall include 3 past contracts for the same or similar services. Contractor shall include at minimum: Name of Company Company POC Company POC phone Company POC email Dollar amount of contract Contract number Period of Performance Description of services provided Contractor shall include any relevant comments about the attachments, if applicable. Contractor shall provide a public price list/contract price list for the services described herein. Contractor shall provide a detailed response to include your firm s ability, capability, and responsibility to deliver the services presented in this Sources Sought Notice. Contractor shall provide if they plan to sub-contract all or part of the work, and to what firm to include the subs duns number and business size. Determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Bid Schedule Item # Description Quantity Unit Unit Cost Total Price 1 Maintain Automated Feed System to treat Boiler Water/Feed Water 12 Months 2 Maintain Automated CHP Cooling Tower Feed System 12 Months 3 Maintain Continuous Monitoring System 12 Months 4 Waterside inspection of boilers, feedwater deaerator and condensate storage tank 1 Each 5 Provide/maintain Storage Tanks 12 Months 6 Monthly testing, calibration, inspection, maintenance 12 Months 7 Chemicals (*based on estimated annual 700,000 gallons softened makeup for the boiler plant) and unknown make-up for Cooling Tower treatment. 12 Months 8 Annual Cleaning of Tower Sump, Fill and Basin 1 Each 9 Boiler Plant RO System Cleaning & Membrane Replacement 1 Each 10 Pump House RO System Clean & Membrane Replacement 12 Months 11 Pump House Softener Salt Service 12 Months 12 Training 13a Building 22 Tower Chemicals 12 Months 13b Building 22 Tower Cleaning 1 Each PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF WORK Part I: General Information Introduction The Department of Veterans Affairs Battle Creek VA Medical Center (BCVAMC) in Battle Creek, MI requires water treatment maintenance for the Boiler/Combined Heating and Power Plants at the Medical Center in Battle Creek, MI. Background BCVAMC is a medical facility providing both inpatient and outpatient services to Veterans. The Boiler/Combined Heating and Power plants utilize chemically treated water to enhance Boiler Operation and Optimization. Boiler water treatment focused on the removal or chemical modification of substances potentially damaging to the boiler. Varying types of treatments are used to remedy scale, corrosion, or foaming problems. BCVAMC utilizes boiler steam for food preparation, heating, and humidification. The goals are safety, reliability and longevity of the steam and condensate piping and equipment in the boiler plant, in the steam distribution system and in the various buildings of the VA facility. Scope Contractor shall provide all necessary chemicals, test kits, test reagents, corrosion coupons, test equipment, labor, supplies and technical services for maintenance and chemical treatment of the Combined Heating and Power (CHP) plant boiler and Cooling Towers, Building 22 Cooling Tower, and for the Boiler plant boiler water/feedwater and steam to be maintained at specified results at the BCVAMC in Battle Creek, MI. VAMC boiler plant employees will be responsible for continuous feeding of chemicals and performing water tests with oversight by the contractor. Chelant-based chemicals are not permitted. Currently there are three 110-gallon bulk chemical containers and one 75-gallon chemical container with required secondary containments in the natural gas plant. There are two 110-gallon bulk chemical containers with requirement secondary containments in the CHP plant. Applicable Documents CFR 21.173.310, BOILER WATER ADDITIVES PERMITED IN PLANTS WHERE STEAM CONTACTS FOOD. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR) All chemicals utilized must conform to FDA guidelines. In addition, the chemicals shall conform to all local, state, and federal government regulations on water pollution and have appropriate EPA registration. VHA Directive 1061 Prevention of Health Care-Associated Legionella Disease and scald Injury from Water Systems Standard Part II: Work Requirements Technical Requirements - Contractor shall provide all necessary chemicals, test kits, test reagents, corrosion coupons, test equipment, labor, supplies and technical services for maintenance and chemical treatment of the Combined Heating and Power (CHP) plant Cooling Towers, Building 22 Cooling Tower, Pump House RO and Softener System, and for the Boiler plant feedwater and steam. CHELANT-BASED CHEMICALS ARE NOT PERMITED. Total hardness in feedwater shall be less than one part per million (ppm). Advise VA personnel on proper softener //and reverse osmosis// monitoring and operation. Dissolved oxygen in the feedwater shall be 7 parts per billion (ppb) maximum with oxygen scavenger treatment temporarily suspended. If it exceeds 12 ppb, provide recommendation to boiler plant supervisor that deaerator must be inspected and repaired. Prevent embrittlement of boiler pressure vessels. Condition the boiler sludge to obtain effective bottom blowoff. Boiler residual of sodium sulfite, 30-60 ppm. Boiler phosphate residual, 20-40 ppm. Total dissolved solids (TDS) in boilers as high as possible, but not to exceed 4000 ppm. Total alkalinity in boilers 800 ppm maximum (1/5 x solids TDS). Maximum suspended solids in boilers 350 ppm, maximum silica 250 ppm. Boiler polymer dispersant residual as recommended by supplier. There shall be no "pitting" corrosion. There shall be no scale and deposit formation in the boilers. Moisture content of the steam shall not exceed one percent. Perform condensate conductivity tests at a steam trap near the boiler steam outlet (at a point with no amines) to evaluate the moisture content of the steam. If necessary, utilize an antifoam agent to limit solids carryover in the steam from the boilers and to control boiler priming, foaming, and misting. Control boiler water chemistry to minimize blowdown and thus improve efficiency. Provide steam amine treatment to provide condensate pH of 8.0 - 8.5 at each condensate receiver throughout the facility and in the condensate storage tank in the boiler plant. Feed the amines into the boilers instead of the steam header to achieve even dispersal throughout the distribution system. Control corrosion rates. Steel corrosion rates shall be less than 2.0 mils per year. Copper corrosion rates shall be less than 0.2 mils per year. Establish layer of magnetic iron oxide (black or dark gray in color) on all steel surfaces as a corrosion barrier. Contractor shall perform the following tests monthly, at a minimum, provide complete written reports with all test results and recommendations, and review reports with plant supervisor: Condensate return systems: pH, hardness, dissolved iron and copper, total dissolved solids (conductivity), amine. Condensate conductivity at a steam trap near the boiler steam outlet. Test the condensate for pH at representative samples of condensate receivers throughout the facility at least twice per year. Vary the sample sites every year. Make-up water including soft water, water from reverse osmosis, water from dealkalyzer: pH, alkalinity, hardness, total dissolved solids, suspended solids, and silica. Boiler feedwater: Dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, hardness, total dissolved solids, suspended solids, and silica. Feedwater dissolved oxygen shall be tested twice per year with oxygen scavenger chemical treatment temporarily suspended so that feedwater deaerator performance can be evaluated. Boiler water: Total dissolved solids, suspended solids, sulfite, phosphate, and alkalinity. Continuous blowdown systems: Check calibration and settings monthly. Chemical feed systems: Advise plant supervisor on adjustments to maintain proper chemical dosage and feed rates and blowdown rates. Contractor shall periodically verify the proper operation of non-chemical water treatment systems which serve the boiler plant including: Feedwater, deaerator, water softener, reverse osmosis (RO), dealkalyzer, continuous blowdown, and condensate vacuum system water softener and RO systems. This shall include inspecting salt level and RO filter conditions. Contractor shall provide complete written reports with all test results and recommendations, and review reports with plant supervisor: Contractor shall visit the plant weekly during the first three months of a new contract. After three months, visit the plant monthly, perform tests listed above and review daily logs of tests performed by boiler plant personnel and discuss the test results with the plant supervisor. Contractor shall provide recommendations on treatment methods and consult on boiler plant and steam and condensate distribution systems problems as requested. Contractor shall operate (or continuously maintain a contract with) a state certified laboratory to perform complete scientific analyses of water chemistry, deposits, metallic materials affected by corrosion and provide recommendations for correction of problems related to the chemical and mechanical water treatment program. A Professional Chemist shall supervise the laboratory. Contractor shall send water samples to the laboratory as necessary to resolve problems and questions. Contractor shall make additional visits at the request of the plant supervisor to handle problems. Contractor shall conduct waterside inspection of boilers, feedwater deaerator and condensate storage tank at least once per year. Contractor shall coordinate the boiler and feedwater deaerator inspection with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), to coincide with an inspection by the Qualified Professional Inspector (boiler inspector). VA personnel will prepare equipment for inspection. Contractor shall provide recommendations on wet and dry boiler lay-up procedures, including monitoring, of boilers not in service. Contractor shall provide recommendations on proper operation of continuous boiler blowdown systems and boiler bottom blowoff procedures. Contractor shall test corrosion coupons from condensate lines once per year and provide report to the COR. VA personnel will install, remove, and deliver the coupons to the water treatment specialist. Contractor shall provide on-site chemical storage containers with secondary containment and provide bulk delivery service which delivers the chemicals directly into the onsite storage containers with no assistance necessary from VA employees other than to provide access. All suitable existing chemicals shall be utilized prior to the use of any new chemicals. Submit MSDS sheets for all chemicals utilized during the performance of services under this contract. The MSDS sheets will accompany delivery of the chemicals. All chemical containers shall be labeled with complete information on contents and shall be returnable. Containers with missing labels shall be removed from the site. All containers remain the property of the contractor and must be immediately removed from; the site when they are no longer needed at the site. Contractor shall provide complete written instructions, supplemented by oral instructions and demonstrations, to boiler plant personnel for their performance of routine water tests and for feeding the chemicals into the systems. The instructions shall cover all aspects of safe chemical handling and safe and accurate testing, and proper chemical feed quantities and methods to suit the plant operating parameters and water treatment performance requirements. Contractor shall provide three two-hour training sessions within two months of the start of a new contract. The first session shall be within one week of the start of the contract. Contractor shall provide one two-hour training session annually. Contractor shall report any deficiencies or problems noted with VA test results or with the water treatment specialist's test results immediately to the COR. If problems are found, corrective actions must be recommended immediately to the COR, within two hours, and with COR's concurrence provide chemicals as necessary, and perform tests as necessary to confirm that desired results are achieved. General Requirements Contractor shall assign a water treatment specialist who has a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering the physical sciences from an accredited college or university. Contractor shall respond to routine communications within 48 hours. Contractor shall provide emergency response, including a site visit if requested, within 4 hours of request, 24 hours a day, and 365 days per year. Contractor shall maintain a toll-free (800) telephone number, e-mail, and pager system for 24-hour access. All on site work shall be coordinated with the COR at least seven (7) days prior to performance of services. Situations requiring more frequent analysis and/or special testing other than the specified requirements may arise. Contractor shall not perform any extra cost work without written authorization from the contracting officer. Provide information on the normal time delivery time for chemicals. Provide method for emergency chemical deliveries. The plant personnel will perform routine testing for chemical residuals, conductivity, hardness, alkalinity, pH, chloride, silica, iron and copper, and other tests as recommended by the water treatment specialist BCVAMC will arrange for an internal inspection of each boiler by the boiler plant supervisor and the contractor's (chemical supplier) field representative. A visual and written record of the condition of each of the boilers shall be signed by the contractor and the COR. Upon completion/termination of the contract, a similar inspection will be conducted. Any deterioration in the boiler conditions attributable to the contractor's program shall be corrected by the contractor at no additional cost to VA. The COR/Boiler Plant Supervisor will monitor contractor performance by: Direct observation of contractor performance Direct observation of equipment operation Results of water testing Deliverables Provide complete written reports with all test results and recommendations, and review reports with plant supervisor. A written report of each analysis and inspection shall be submitted immediately upon completion of each analysis and/or inspection to include a summary report of treatment recommendations based on the analysis report. Each report shall be submitted in duplicate to the boiler plant supervisor and the COR. Part III: Supporting Information Security The C&A requirements do not apply, and a Security Accreditation Package is not required. Contractor shall be required to complete VA Privacy Training. Travel None Place of Performance: Battle Creek VA Medical Center, 5500 Armstrong Road, Building 300, Battle Creek, MI 49037 Government-Furnished Property None Qualifications of Key Personnel Contractor's staff shall be fully qualified Field Service Representatives to work on the equipment. "Fully qualified" is based upon training and on experience in the field. The Field Service Representatives must have successfully completed a formalized training program Hours of Work: Hours of work are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Federal holidays are New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, and any other day specifically declared by the President of the United States to be a national holiday.