NASA/LaRC is hereby soliciting information about potential sources for Development of a Electrical Power Distribution Asset Condition Assessment
Description:
Condition Assessment of LaRC’s Electrical Power Distribution System including development of a Capital Investment Plan for near term and long range system improvements. NASA LaRC is seeking information on offerors capabilities and experience in performing Electrical Power Distribution Asset Condition Assessments on installations similar in size and complexity to NASA LaRC.
Background:
NASA LaRC is one of NASA's 14 centers across the US. Its mission is to conduct cutting edge aerospace and aeronautic research and development for the agency. NASA LaRC was founded in 1917 and consists of over 200 facilities including world class wind tunnels on an 800 acre campus in Hampton, VA. Being the first of the NASA centers, it has a mature infrastructure, which includes a complex electrical distribution system with many components that have been in service for over 40 years.
The scope of a future LaRC assessment would accomplish the following goals; 1) assess the condition/reliability of all electrical distribution equipment and recommend actions to replace, repair, refurbish, etc., 2) assess the electrical distribution system configuration for weaknesses in system topology compared to current industry design practices, 3) assess current protective device schemes and operational practices for adequacy and recommended improvements, 4) assess the need for and identify the possible benefits of the use of a SCADA or centralized control and data collection system, 5) identify current technologies that should be considered for future system improvements to address current industry best practices, recent code changes, safety, and operational and maintenance improvements (i.e. GIS equipment), 6) assess the condition of NASA LaRC's Stratton and Back River Substations for adequacy and recommend required and beneficial improvements, 7) assess NASA LaRC's list of currently planned electrical system projects and in-house system condition assessments for adequacy and alignment with the independent electrical distribution system assessments, 8) identify current practices in place at NASA LaRC that are robust and should be maintained or continued (i.e. possibly the use of PILC cable for underground distribution feeders), and 9) document the results of the independent assessment for use as a 10 year master plan for electrical system improvements at NASA LaRC.
In addition, specific work elements should be included in a comprehensive Condition Assessment including:
1. Development of the methodology for the Asset Condition Assessment.
2. Identification of all the electrical assets that need to be included in the assessment from the connection to the local utility to the unit substations feeding each building and major HV distribution equipment in major facilities.
3. Development of long term asset degradation and end-of-life criteria used to evaluate the condition of each asset.
4. Review of existing electrical system documentation and maintenance records and procedures.
5. Evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the LaRC electrical distribution system regarding reliability, ability to utilize existing alternate power feeds during power outages, maintenance requirements, etc.
6. Review and utilization or integration of existing electrical distribution system efforts such as deliverables from a current NPFA 70E Compliance Project, the Areospace Test Program Office condition assessment activity, MAXIMO upgrades and proposed utilization, LaRC’s Electrical Special Interest Group’s (ESIG) prioritized list of projects, etc.
7. Assessment of the Stratton and Back River Substations and recommendations for improvements at each substation.
8. Assessment of current or emerging technologies related to safety, reliability, and maintenance and recommendations for utilizing at LaRC.
9. Assessment of LaRC current maintenance practices and their impact on assets regarding degradation and end-of-life periods and development of recommendations for improvement.
10. Development of near term and long term recommendations for improvements to the LaRC Electrical Distribution System.
11. Determination of the type and amount of on-site support service contractor (ROME) support required for the development of the Asset Condition Assessment and CIP.
12. Development of recommendations for integration and utilization of existing ETAP model and database, GIS database and interface, and MAXIMO.
13. Developing format requirements for the final Asset Condition Assessment and CIP documentation.
14. Development of a composite health index for initial grading of assets and system for continued use.
15. Identify and prioritize high value assets based upon their impact to the center work force, agency programs, etc.
RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS
Interested parties should provide corporate capability statements and detailed descriptions of relevant work experiences (including scope of work and SOW’s if possible).
The requested responses are for information and planning purposes only. NASA does not intend to post information or questions received to any website or public access location. NASA does not plan to respond to the individual responses. Feedback to this RFI may be utilized in formulating the Government’s acquisition strategy and documents.
All responses should be provided in MS Word document format, both hard and electronic media. Font should be Times New Roman, size 12. Responses should not exceed 25 pages and should reference “RFI-LaRC-KW.” Responses must be received no later than July August 8, 2008, to, ATTN: Tim Stubbs, Contracting Officer, NASA Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 224, Hampton, VA 23681.
This preliminary information is being made available for planning purposes only, subject to FAR Clause 52.215-3, entitled “Solicitation for Information and Planning Purposes”. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal, Invitation for Bid, or Request for Quotation, and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract. Moreover, the Government will not pay for the information submitted in response to this RFI, nor will the Government reimburse an Offeror for costs incurred to prepare responses to this RFI.
No solicitation exists at this time; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation.
POINT OF CONTACT
Tim Stubbs, Contracting Officer NASA/LaRC (757) 864-2460
