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API Internal 77525 (tank FAC-123)

DLA-Energy has requested USACE conduct API 653 internal inspection at Eareckson Air Station, Alaska on 1 facility in accordance with all laws standards, federal regulations, as well as any state and local regulations and guidelines.

Question Set 1

1. No commercial flights travel to Shemya. Travel is provided through JBER. Does the Government cover the cost of those flights or is there a charge back to the contractor. If there is a charge, how much is it?

The contractor will be charged. The current round-trip travel from JBER to EAS is $4178.00 (subject to change).

2. Lodging and meals on the island is all controlled through the military. Will lodging and meals be provided on Shemya or charged back to the contractor?

The contractor will be charged. Lodging, including meals, is $225.00 per day.

3. The weather on Shemya is notoriously bad and flight schedules to the island are extremely undependable. Should the contractor provide a standby rate to account for weather delays or inflate their price to cover the risk of flight delays?

Please propose accordingly, adjustments will be made as the project progresses.

Question Set 2

1. The RFQ requires that 100% of the floorplate be scanned (5.1.3). That is achieved using Mag-Flux Exclusion (MFE) testing. An MFE machine is relatively heavy and bulky (larger than a hand carry item). 1.5.8 suggests that large equipment needs to be shipped on a dedicated cargo flight and needs to be shipped to JBER “a minimum of 90-days prior” so that it arrives on time.

The MFE assessment generally only takes a couple of days for a tank this size. But 90-day shipping restriction means that the machine will be stranded and unavailable for use on other projects for 3-months. The MFE charges for 90-days is pretty extraordinary. Is there a more timely way to get equipment out there or should the contractor include a 90+ day cost for MFE or other large equipment?

Response: Cargo gets shipped out every 2 weeks to Eareckson, with food taking priority (sometimes half of the aircraft cargo space). There typically is a backlog of cargo needing to get shipped out there. To ensure your equipment gets transported out there prior to the inspection, it is recommended to have it at JBER 90 days prior to the inspection. Cargo transportation back to JBER is typically made on next flight available.

*******The Proposal Due Date Has Been Extended 7 Days From 13 OCT 2023 To 20 OCT 2023.*******

Question Set 3

1. Equipment shipping (Solicitation Section 1.5.8) – According to the solicitation, “All equipment initially needs to be shipped to JB Elmendorf-Richardson 90 days prior to allow for ample time for transport”
   
   
   
   
   1. How long after the 90 days will it take to get from JB Elmendorf-Richardson to Eareckson AS? Equipment may take up to 90 days to arrive from JBER to Eareckson.
   
   
   2. Who will offload the Contractor’s equipment? The installation? Once the equipment arrives at JBER, TMO will ensure the equipment gets loaded on the cargo aircraft. At Eareckson, the carrier will unload the equipment.
   
   
   3. Will the installation store the Contractor’s equipment until personnel/crew arrives? Yes, JBER TMO will store the equipment indoors until shipping out. At Eareckson, the equipment will wait until personnel arrive. This equipment may be stored outside until ready to use.
   
   
   
   


2. Is there water available for tank cleaning? Hydrant or spigot? Water is available. There is a building at the tank with water, and there are hydrants available. The hydrants are a little on the rusty side.

1. 
   
   
   
   1. If the facility does not take the wash water/fuel, then a barge may be needed to transport the material. Is there a military barge that can transport? If so, where would it go to (JB Elmendorf-Richardson?) so that the Contractor can have a company pick it up? Approximately 150 gallons of disposal will be required to dispose of. If it is a small amount, less than three 55 gl drums, it shouldn’t be an issue to incorporate that into the existing waste streams. If it is greater than 150 gallons, then the contractor will be responsible for disposing of the waste.
   
   
   2. Will the facility load the wash water/residual fuel (drums or totes) onto the barge? The contractor will be responsible for coordinating the removal of loading wash water/residual fuel.
   
   
   3. Are there any testing requirements for the fuel/wash water prior to leaving the facility? The waste will need to be tested for HW characteristics.
   
   
   
   


2. What are the hotel accommodations on Eareckson AS? Due to limited space availability lodging must be pre-coordinated. Lodging, including meals, currently is $225.00 per day.


3. What are the vehicle accommodations on Eareckson AS? Is the Contractor able to rent a truck for equipment or will the base be accommodating assistance? No car rental on the island. Usually contractors on the island will rent out an extra vehicle. Will have to coordinate prior to arriving. .

Coating Condition Survey (CCS) (Solicitation Section 5.1.4) –

1. 
   
   
   
   1. Can the Coatings Inspector be NACE Level II or III certified instead of SSPC certified as a PCS? NACE Level II is acceptable.
   
   
   2. Can you confirm that coatings sampling is part of the PWS and samples will need to be taken? Confirmed that samples need to be taken.
   
   
   3. If yes to b., how many samples? Three samples.
   
   
   4. If yes to b., where are the samples being taken from? One on the exterior, one on the interior shell within 3 feet of the bottom, and one on the shell above the floating pan.
   
   
   5. If yes to b., will the areas to have samples taken/paint removed, require to be recoated? Yes.
   
   
   6. If yes to b., are there specification available on the paint needed for recoating? Exterior is UFGS 09 97 13.27 and Interior is 09 97 13.17.
   
   
   
   

If yes to b., can the required paint for recoating (Haz Mat) be shipped to JB Elmendorf-Richardson for transport? Yes, paint can be shipped to Eareckson.

***Proposal Due Date 20 OCT 2023***

Question Set 4

• In the Questions set 3, it is mentioned that “No car rental on the island. Usually contractors on the island will rent out an extra vehicle”. Can you elaborate more on that so we include it in the quote.

There is no official car rental such as hertz, budget, or enterprise on the island. The in-place gov’t contractors usually will rent out an extra vehicle as needed for visitors. JBER 611 CES will help coordinate.

• We have less than 3 similar projects completed. However, our subcontractor has a wealth of experience and they worked in this area before. Can we use the subcontractor’s experience as a response to the experience requirement for evaluation?

Please reference page 66/67 #2 in the solicitation and propose accordingly.

• Because of the 90 days equipment shipping process, we would appreciate knowing when an award is to be expected in order to keep the equipment available for this project.

Award is expected late Nov – early Dec.

***Proposal Due Date 20 Oct 2023***

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