Extraction Pumps, Discharge And Injection Piping

RFQ9-WSRE-W01-2-36Q

Questions and Answers

1.  Question: Are any bonds required?

Answer: No.

2.  Question: Is a Health and Safety Plan required for submittal to NASA
    WSTF?

> Answer: Yes. Amendment #2 adds the requirement that only the
> successful offeror submit a written Health and Safety Plan to
> NASA-WSTF. See attached clause, 1852.223-73 Safety and Health Plan
> Alternate I, in full text.

3.  Question: Page 27 - Wet Test: Will NASA WSTF provide a tank at each
    of the six (6) extraction well locations rather than moving one tank
    from location to location?

> Answer: NASA can provide temporary storage for the pump tests at three
> (3) extraction wells at a time. One full day will be required to
> relocate the storage containers to the other three extraction wells.

4.  Question: Extraction Well drawings: The drawings indicate that the
    bolts for wellhead blind flanges will be provided by NASA. The
    specifications (III.A.2) indicate the contractor is to supply bolts.
    Who is responsible for supplying the bolts?

> Answer: Contractor shall supply the bolts for the wellhead blind
> flanges.

5.  Question: Wellhead blind flanges: The drawings show the drop pipe to
    be connected to a coupling installed above the blind flange. NASA
    indicated at pre-bid meeting that blind flanges with drop pipe
    coupling welded to top would be provided. If the welded coupling is
    not placed exactly there will be a problem screwing it onto the drop
    pipe. Will NASA consider providing blind flanges without welded drop
    pipe couplings attached?

> Answer: NASA has removed the welded couplings from wellhead blind
> flanges for PFE-4A and PFE-7; none of the blind flanges have the drop
> pipe coupling welded to them.

6.  Question: The length of drop pipe required in attachment No. 4 to
    set pumps at desired location from grade does not match the length
    of drop pipe shown in each of the drawings. Is the location of pumps
    able to vary several feet in order to account for depth of wellhead
    below grade?

> Answer: Yes, the depth of the pumps can vary by several feet.
> Contractor shall document invert elevation of the pump intake relative
> to the wellhead flange.

7.  Question: Pump motor starters are to be provided by NASA. The
    contractor must connect to the motor starters with a generator to
    test the pumps. Is this still the scenario planned by NASA as all
    motor starters have not been installed to date? What happens if
    NASA-provided starters do not match contractor-provided pumps?

> Answer: NASA will provide electricity and the motor starters for the
> pump tests, and terminate the contractor\'s power cable pigtails at
> NASA's installed points of connection inside the respective PFE
> vaults. In the event a starter / motor set do not match, NASA will
> work with the contractor to resolve the issue.

8.  Question: What is the required length of the horizontal pipe nipple
    shown at both extraction and injection wellheads?

> Answer: For PFE's 1, 2, 4A, 5, 7 and PFI's 1, 2, 3, 4 the contractor
> shall supply a 6" nipple. For PFE 3 the contractor shall supply a 4"
> nipple.

9.  Question: Will NASA declassify permit-required confined spaces as
    has been done for the pipeline project?

> Answer: NASA will downgrade the permit requirements for confined
> spaces for situations where all appropriate criteria have been met.
> While the pumps are operating the well vaults become a potential
> engulfment hazard. Anyone entering the well vaults while the well
> pumps are operating will be required to have a harness and lanyard
> with a retrieval system and meet all other NASA confined space
> requirements. The potential engulfment hazard can be averted using
> NASA's lock-out tag out procedure, allowing the permit requirements to
> be downgraded.

10. Question: What is the desired location and mounting procedures for
    the transducer termination boxes?

> Answer: The transducer termination boxes shall be located adjacent to
> the existing conduit termination box, with exact placement to be
> determined in the field. Contractor shall mount the boxes utilizing
> concrete anchor bolts. Alternate mounting methods may be submitted to
> NASA for approval.

11. Question: What is the material composition of the injection well
    tees installed at wellheads? Cast iron is shown in drawing and
    carbon steel is shown on drawing bill of materials.

> Answer: Material shall be cast iron. Contractor may submit alternative
> materials for NASA approval.

12. Question: Can strain relief connectors be sized down to accommodate
    the pump electrical cord and transducer cord? Strain relief
    connectors are sized with an outside diameter and an inside diameter
    for the cord size. The 1-inch and 2-inch strain relief connectors
    shown in the drawings are too large for the size of cords they will
    accommodate.

> Answer: Strain relief connectors shall be sized to accommodate cord
> size. Couplings shall be fitted with reducers as necessary.

13. Question: Please clarify the wellhead fittings requirement for
    extraction well PFE-5. Is not a 1-1/2-inch x 1-inch reducing bushing
    required to connect the 1-inch air valve nipple to the 1-1/2-inch
    drop pipe coupling? Isn't the 4-inch dia. nipple shown as item #4 in
    bill of materials an error?

> Answer: The PFE-5 drop pipe and associated tee/fittings are 1-½"
> diameter. A 1-½" x 1" reducing bushing is required to connect to the
> 1" diameter air valve nipple. The 4" diameter nipple (item #4) is an
> error and should be 1-½".

14. Question: The Grundfos pumps specified in some cases have different
    outlet sizes than those specified for the associated drop pipes. Are
    reducing bushings desired at the pump outlets in these cases?

> Answer: Yes.

15. Question: A 6-inch minimum/12-inch maximum dimension is shown in
    injection well drawings as a clearance between the air valve and
    ceiling of the vault. What is the dimension from the vault ceiling
    to the top of the well casing? This is required in order to size
    pipe nipples.

> Answer: Contractor shall provide a six (6) inch minimum clearance
> between air valve and ceiling of vault. There will be no maximum
> distance requirement.

The distances from the well head blind flange to the vault ceiling is as
follows:

+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| # WELL      | Distance    |             | # WELL      | Distance    |
|             |             |             |             |             |
|             | (inches)    |             |             | (inches)    |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| PFE-1       | 38          |             | PFI-1       | 38          |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| PFE-2       | 37          |             | PFI-2       | 38.5        |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| PFE-3       | 37          |             | PFI-3       | 38          |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| PFE-4A      | 51          |             | PFI-4       | 38          |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| PFE-5       | 38          |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| PFE-7       | 59          |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+

16. Question: Is NASA open to alternative means of securing the drop
    pipe at extraction well wellheads in order to avoid placing stresses
    on couplings and drop pipe threads?

> Answer: For bidding purposes use the proposed design. In the Best
> Value Criteria, Part IV.E. contractor may submit alternatives to be
> reviewed as part of the selection criteria.

17. Question: Attachment No. 3 of the Specifications, Design and
    Performance Requirements and Hydrologic Measurements, indicates that
    an acceptable make and model of pump for extraction well PFE-1 is
    the Grundfos 300S. The required pump performance of 331 GPM at 703
    feet of head exceeds all of the various pump curves for this model
    of pump. Is this an error or does NASA WSTF still consider this an
    acceptable make and model of pump?

> Answer: The 300S designation for PFE-1 is erroneous. NASA will
> consider any pump make/model meeting the technical specifications.
> NASA procurement process is not based on low bid, but on best value
> criteria.