Triennial Circuit Breaker and Feeder Testing

1. VAAR 852.219-75 in the solicitation has box (iii), special trade construction contractors (75 percent), marked, while the requirement is coded J061 under NAICS 238210 and FAR 52.219-14 is also included. Please confirm that the 75 percent special trade limitation in box (iii) is the limitation that applies to this award. Confirmed. This requirement is solicited under NAICS 238210. The applicable limitation on subcontracting is VAAR 852.219-75(c)(iii), 75 percent for special trade construction contractors. Offeror must comply with that limitation and submit the signed certificate. 2. The SAM.gov notice shows no set-aside, while the solicitation includes VAAR 852.219-73 (total set-aside for certified SDVOSBs). Please confirm that this requirement is a total SDVOSB set-aside. Confirmed. This is a total SDVOSB set-aside per VAAR 852.219-73 and SF1449 Block 10. NCO 21 will update the SAM.gov notice to reflect the set-aside. Offerors must be certified SDVOSB in SBA Veteran Small Business Certification at time of offer. 3. Section B.1 states that invoices are submitted upon Government inspection and acceptance. Will VA accept two invoices, one after acceptance of field testing and one after acceptance of the coordination study and final report? Yes, the VA will take two invoices. Station/contracting will review these invoices for approval. 4. Amendment 0001 added Attachment C27, Single-Line Schematics. Please confirm whether C27 and the Facility Single Line Diagram together define the full quantities to be tested (MV switches, MV cable runs and vaults, liquid-filled and dry-type transformers, circuit breakers 225A and above, and feeders), or provide an equipment list with counts. Please also identify the buildings covered by "Day 12 + TBD, new facilities since 2017." In the past, a copy of 1-line diagrams was updated with color coding of each test component and a sheet with all quantiles and locations. This should be done to ensure vendor and FMS understands what scope is. 5. For the coordination study and arc flash analysis, is the 2024 study model available to the contractor, and in what software? Is there a required software platform and CAD version for the deliverables? Yes. However, I was just informed that our 2020 circuit breaker testing is the performed format which we can provide. 6. Must the coordination study and arc flash analysis be sealed by a Professional Engineer, and if so, must the engineer be licensed in Nevada? Yes engineering seal is required. No, it does not need to be Nevada. In the past, the previous vendor has had an engineer on staff who did this. 7. Please confirm that the five years of experience in the Contractor Requirements section is verified as a responsibility matter after quotes, and that the quote itself consists of price, the signed VAAR 852.219-75 certificate, amendment acknowledgments, and the items listed in FAR 52.212-1(a). Confirmed. Contractor Requirements Para 7.3 [5-year experience] will be evaluated as part of responsibility per FAR 9.104 after quotes, not as part of technical acceptability. For quote submission, see FAR 52.212-1(a) as supplemented by Addendum: price on B.2 Schedule, signed SF1449 Block 30 if required, acknowledgment of amendments per B.1 Para 4, signed VAAR 852.219-75 certificate, and proof of SDVOSB certification status. See also 52.212-3 if not in SAM. 8. Will VA facility electricians perform switching for the outages, and will VA provide temporary power or generator support where emergency branch equipment is de-energized? It is preferred that be in the vendor’s scope of work. But verbiage should state that it will be done with Electrical supervisor or designee’s authority at time of switching. Vendor should be responsible for the switching of the medium voltage system (25KV). This would be the P/Q switch in Boiler plant yard, medium voltage switches, and transformers in/on the facility down stream from the P/Q switch. VA electricians may assist with switching for 600 volts and less to aid in the testing. This must be arranged in the presented schedule to ensure proper VA staff is available. 9. What is the anticipated award date and the targeted notice-to-proceed window, so offerors can hold test crews for the night schedule? Anticipated award is within 2-3 weeks after the 11/9/2026 due date, subject to evaluations. NTP is intended ASAP after award per SOW 8.1. Offerors should plan to start coordination within 1 week of NTP. We will not require crews to be held prior to NTP. 10. Will a site visit be offered before the quote due date, and if so, will attendance be optional? VA high encourages site visits to visit equipment types, locations, and quantities. This has not been a bidding mandate to attend, but is encouraged. 11. Is there a deadline for questions, and will answers be issued by amendment? Submit questions NLT 11/02/2026 12PM PST to alex.arter@va.gov. Answers that affect the SOW or terms will be issued by formal amendment to all offerors. Administrative clarifications may be answered by email. 12. The quote submission method and address, and the question deadline. Quotes shall be submitted by email to alex.arter@va.gov. Quotes are due November 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM Pacific Time. File size: split emails if over 20MB. Submit questions NLT 11/02/2026 12PM PST to alex.arter@va.gov. Answers affecting SOW/terms/pricing will be issued by formal amendment. 13. Whether a site visit at the Ioannis A. Lougaris VAMC (Reno) will be held, and its date. A site visit is planned. Attendance will be optional. Date/time and meeting location will be issued by amendment once coordinated with Engineering. Offerors are encouraged to attend to verify existing conditions. No energized work will be performed during the site visit. 14. Breaker and feeder quantities by voltage class (LV/MV), and whether protective relay testing and arc-flash label updates are in scope. From the previous tests. There are: 11 MV Switches 10 MV Transformers 477 Circuit Breakers 570 Feeder Cables 27 LV Transformers Protective relay testing and arc-flash label updates are in the scope. The arc-flash label updates are to have their associated room numbers on them and must be done with professional engravings (i.e. no hand drawn labels). 15. Planned outage windows, and whether shutdowns must be after hours or on weekends. Yes. Per SOW 8.6, Electrical Testing shall be performed during Off Hours - 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM, weekends, and federal holidays. Photography work shall be performed during Normal Hours (Mon-Fri 6AM-6PM). The sequencing in SOW 8.1 shall be used as the basis for pricing. Final outage windows will be coordinated with the COR 2 weeks in advance per SOW 8.7 to minimize impact to patient care. 16. Required standard and deliverables (for example, NETA MTS and VHA Directive 1028 reporting). The required standard and deliverables are to be adhered to the most concurrent American National Standard: Standard for Maintenance Testing Specification for Electrical Power Equipment and Systems (ANSI/NETA MTS) as well as the VHA Directive 1028. This can be found in section 7.1 and 7.14 in the SOW. Additional code requirements can also be found in this section.