Mod 0004 to Solicitation 36C26325Q0774
Questions and Answers;
Please confirm that the preferred design would be reverse osmosis (RO) with pretreatment, followed by continuous electro deionization (EDI), into a storage tank, with service deionization tanks installed as a backup/bypass for the RO/EDI. Correct
• The specifications note a “5-filter endotoxin filtration system.” Can you please clarify what specifically this refers to? Is the request for five endotoxin filters in a single assembly? The intention is to provide equipment necessary to meet the requirements of AAMI ST108. Yes, it was expected that the filters would be in a single assembly, however an alternate configuration may be proposed as long as water quality standards are maintained.
• The specifications note “Anti-scale chemical feed pretreatment to allow for pH adjustments.” If the department will be supplied with soft water, is anti-scalant necessary? Also, anti-scalant would typically be used to inhibit hardness formation, not as a direct means of pH adjustment. Please clarify the intent of this statement. The anti-scale tank is requested in case the facility water softeners fail. In normal operation, it would not be needed. The second tank is intended to be a Chlorine Destruct tank per previous Q&A.
• Critical Water product quality is required at better than 0.1 Meg (10 uS) but worse than 0.5 Meg (2 uS). This is a very tight specification. It should be noted that if there are any current or future sterilizers with stainless steel integral steam generation they will require >1 Meg water per IFU and would not be able to receive water from this system. Will the government accept a system that will deliver better than 0.1 Meg quality so that it is aligned with the Critical Water standard as well as equipment IFU requirements? Per AAMI ST108, critical water is to have conductivity < 10 uS/cm. The water conductivity requirements have also been verified by the SPS equipment manufacturer (Steris).
Mod 0003 to Solicitation 36C26325Q0774
Questions and Answers:
- Price Schedule Line 7: (3) Filters are listed but the bid specs say (5) filter endotoxin filtration system. Are we to price three (5) filter assemblies? Price 5 filters.
- Price Schedule Line 15: There are 2 Chemical Pre-treatment Tanks listed. Is one an Anti-Scalant tank and one a Chlorine Destruct or two Anti-Scalant tanks? One should be an Anti-Scalant tank and the other a Chlorine Destruct tank.
- Price Schedule Line 16: (2) Demand Control Modules. I’m not seeing info on the bid specs re: these modules. Am I missing it or can you provide detailed info? The intention for these modules was to provide the necessary information to the VFD to regulate the distribution pump.
- Per ST108 requirements, there should be a Remote Alarm Assembly inside the SPD Dept to indicate when the water quality is bad. I do not see this on the bid specs. Should this be quoted as well? Yes, provide a display showing conductivity with audio/visual alarm and mount on the exterior of the closet. A pathway and wall box will be installed by the VA.
Mod 0002 to Solicitation 36C26325Q0774
Updated RFQ Due Date: 6/04/2025 @1000CST. Send to Becky.delossantos@va.gov
Mod 0001 to Solicitation 36C26325Q0774
Questions are Due: 5/23/2025 @1000 CST. to Becky.delossantos@va.gov
St. Cloud VA, 4801 Veterans Drive, St. Cloud MN, 56303 has a requirement for a Critical Water System that meets all requirements of AAMI ST108.
The system must be in the configuration of a reverse osmosis (RO) system that includes a deionization process and a UV Sterilized recirculation loop.
The recirculation loop will be installed by a separate contract. It will be 1.5 inches in diameter, schedule 80 PVC with a total loop length of approximately 250 feet.
The contractor and critical water system must meet the following:
- Must have extensive knowledge of AAMI ST108 application.
- Companies supplying equipment must have a minimum of 5 years of experience installing and servicing critical water systems for healthcare.
- Must be a vendor of both EDI (Electronic Deionized Systems) and Type 1 mixed bed DI tanks for backup.
- System must include Electronic DI of up to 3 gallons per minute.
- Minimum system production rate of 3 gallons per minute.
- Minimum storage tank volume of 250 gallons.
- Minimum peak delivery rate of distribution loop shall be 40 gallons per minute.
- Variable frequency drive (VFD) to regulate distribution pump.
- UV sterilization capable of handling 30 gallons per minute.
- 5 filter endotoxin filtration system.
- Anti-scale chemical feed pretreatment tanks to allow for pH adjustments.
The system offered by the contractor must, at a minimum, deliver critical water with the following qualities:
- Water quality greater than 0.1 megohm, but less than 0.5 megohm
- pH between 5.0 and 7.5
- Total Alkalinity - < 8 mg CaCO2/L
- Total Hardness - < 1 mg CaCO2/L
- Conductivity - < 10 µS/cm
- Chlorides - < 1 mg/L
- Bacteria - < 10 CFU/mL
- Endotoxin - < 10 EU/mL
- Total Organic Carbon - < 1.0 mg/L
- Manganese - < 0.1 mg/L
- Copper - < 0.1 mg/L
- Iron - < 0.1 mg/L
- Aluminum - < 0.1 mg/L
- Nitrate < 1 mg/L
- Phosphate < 1 mg/L
- Sulfate < 1 mg/L
- Silicate < 1 mg/L
- Zinc < 0.1 mg/L
The system shall also include an in-line conductivity monitor with the minimum following characteristics:
- Four monitoring ranges
- LCD wall-mounted display and controls
- Ability to display water temperature
- Adjustable high and low setpoints
- Local visual light on the display to indicate when water is outside setpoints
- Local audible alarm to indicate when water is outside setpoints
- Set of dry contacts to allow connection to BAS for remote alarms
- Programmable alarm delay time
- 120V AC power cord
Space and Utility Requirements
The Critical water system must be installed into a closet that is 16’8” wide x 4’2” deep. Two sets of double doors will provide access to this space. Each set of doors measures 6’0” wide and 7’0” tall.
The Owner will provide the following utilities to support the critical water system :
- ¾” domestic softened water supply, tempered to 72-76 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Floor sink in the back right corner of the closet.
- Dedicated 480V, 3 phase, 15 amp circuit, disconnect and hard-wired whip connection to VFD for distribution pump.
- Dedicated 208V, 1 phase, 20 amp circuit and NEMA 6-20 receptacle for electronic DI.
- Dedicated 120V, 1 phase, 20 amp circuit and receptacle for RO system.
- 120V, 1 phase convenience receptacles for monitoring systems.
INSTALLATION
Contractor shall furnish all necessary labor, tools, equipment, and transportation necessary to install critical water treatment system in the space described above.
Contractor is responsible to assemble, install, start-up and sanitize the new RO system.
Upon award, Contractor shall coordinate with the Post-award POC for this project to establish work schedule within the contract Period of Performance and coordinate security badging for contractor personnel who will work on site to perform the installation.
The contractor’s personnel, while on VA property, shall adhere to all requirements and
regulations that govern the VA Health Care System and its property.
St. Cloud VA Contractor badge shall be worn by all Contractor employees while working on VA premises.
Installation shall be performed during normal business hours Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, excluding Federal Holidays, unless otherwise authorized by the VA POC.
Contractor shall adhere to the VHA tobacco-free campus policy.
PLACE OF PERFORMANCE
St. Cloud VA Medical Center
4801 Veterans Drive
St. Cloud, MN 56303-2015
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE
INSTALLATION: 07/15/2025 TO 09/15/2025
