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THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This is not a solicitation for bids, proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to obtain information regarding th... THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This is not a solicitation for bids, proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement. The responses received from interested contractors will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Network Contracting Office (NCO) 20, is conducting market research to identify potential sources which can provide the following services Boiler Life Study Puget Sound VAMC Introduction: 1. VA medical centers provide critical health care which requires reliable steam supply for sterilization, domestic hot water, kitchens, and building heating/air conditioning. Boilers serving VA medical centers must be reliable, safe and efficient. The age of boilers is often a major indicator of reliability. The VHA Directive 2003-050, BOILER PLANT OPERATIONS, assigns useful life expectancy , in years, to the boiler plant equipment. The Directive requires that retention of equipment beyond the useful life expectancy must be based on an engineering evaluation of the reliability, efficiency and cost effectiveness of continued operation. 2. Summary of Requirements: When boilers reach the end of their expected lives, VAMC engineering personnel should review the condition of the boilers as reflected in the operational records, maintenance and repair history and in the reports of the annual boiler inspections. If there is no clear indication on whether the boilers should be retained or replaced, an engineering evaluation of life expectancy should be commissioned. If a boiler plant has multiple similar boilers, the VAMC engineering personnel may choose one boiler as representative for evaluation. A professional engineering firm that specializes in life expectancy evaluations should be contracted to evaluate the boiler by means of visual inspection and non-destructive testing utilizing experienced boiler inspectors and non-destructive testing experts. Their report must describe all conditions found and include sufficient information that VAMC engineers can make decisions on retaining or replacing the boilers. A professional evaluation by an engineering firm may not be justified for smaller boilers that are relatively low cost to replace or rebuild. Small and mid-size fire tube boilers fit this category. 3. Qualification Requirements for Inspection Personnel: The inspections shall be supervised on-site by a Qualified Professional Inspector , 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. 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 that has adopted and administers one or more sections of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code as a legal requirement, and has a representative serving as a member of the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Conference Committee. A boiler inspector who is regularly employed by an insurance company that has been licensed or registered by the appropriate authority of a state of the United States to write boiler and pressure vessel insurance. B. Non-destructive testing personnel shall be certified to American Society for Non-destructive Testing (ASNT) Level II, who are experienced in evaluating boilers. 4. VAMC Responsibilities for Preparation of Boiler for Inspection: All preparation work shall be done prior to arrival of inspection personnel. Coordinate preparation work with the requirements of the inspection firm. All records of maintenance and repair activities, water treatment logs, operational logs, inspection reports, and all histories of prior problems shall be readily available during the inspection. Records for three years are suggested. Remove all manway and handhole covers, access panels. Remove all drum internals. Clean all fireside and waterside surfaces. Remove insulation from water tube boilers steam and mud drum ends and from locations where pipes are connected to the boiler. Arrange for ladders, lifts and other devices necessary to allow access to the boiler. Arrange for all confined space requirements including personal protective equipment and safety personnel. Furnish copies of the original National Board (NB) Manufacturer s Data Report inspection form that was prepared for the boiler when it was new and NB Report of Repair forms if boiler pressure vessel repairs have been performed. 5. Inspection Requirements: Visually inspect: All welded and threaded pipe connections to the boiler shell or drum for signs of leakage or defects in the welded areas. Defects should be non-destructively tested. Boiler support structure for proper alignment, evidence of sagging, shifting or misalignment. Boiler casings for signs of warping, misalignment and overheating. All furnace tubes and all accessible convection tubes for alignment, evidence of corrosion, erosion, bulges, sagging, defective or deteriorated welds. Exposed surfaces of steam and mud drum in furnace, particularly ligament areas between tubes, for evidence of corrosion, cracking, scale buildup, other defects. Refractory for cracking, shifting, sagging, bulging or general deterioration. Internal areas of steam drum and mud drum (inside boiler shell in fire tube boilers). Welded outlet connections. Surface of drums for pitting or surface discontinuities. Ligament areas between tube holes for cracking. Each tube end and internal surface of representative number of tubes for pitting, erosion, corrosion and excessive scale buildup. Utilize fiber optic inspection equipment to inspect interior of tubes. Clean and inspect shell or tube sheet between tube holes for cracking. B. Non-destructive testing: Ultrasonic thickness testing of representative samples of all components. Note: A specific number of tests at various areas should be specified. Ultrasonic thickness testing of all areas visually noted to have corroded or eroded. Magnetic particle testing of all areas where indications of defects have been found visually. Metallurgical analysis of representative samples of boiler metal if there are indications or a record of overheating. C. Calculation of maximum allowable working pressure and remaining life expectancy: Utilize ASME Code formula. Remaining life calculation based on original material thickness, current material thickness, evaluation of other factors in the condition of the boiler. Obtain sufficient material thickness measurements to accurately reflect the condition of the entire boiler. 6. Report Requirements: Provide oral report of condition of the boiler to VAMC engineering management at the conclusion of the inspection. Provide six hard copies and electronic version of report. Provide complete narrative, test results, photographic views of deteriorated areas. Calculate remaining life based on calculated present maximum allowable working pressure vs. original maximum allowable working pressure when the boiler was new. Describe all deteriorated areas; provide expert judgment on need for repairs and repair methods. Provide expert judgment on cost effectiveness of retaining the boiler in service. Potential candidates having the capabilities necessary to provide the above stated equipment with installation are invited to respond to this Sources Sought Notice via e-mail to Laura Davis at laura.davis5@va.gov no later than April 8, 2020, 5PM PDT. No telephone inquiries will be accepted. RESPONSES SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: company name, address, and business size; point of contact name, phone number, and e-mail address; capability statement and if the services are available on a current GSA Federal Supply Schedule contract. NAICS Code 541380 is applicable to determine business size standard. Any questions or concerns may also be directed to Laura Davis via e-mail. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This Sources Sought Notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. The Government will treat any information received as proprietary and will not share such information with other companies. Any organization responding to this Sources Sought Notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. The Government may or may not issue a solicitation as a result of this announcement. There is no solicitation available at this time.