7910--VA Phoenix Walk Behind Scrubber

The Amendment #0001 against the Solicitation #36C26224Q1103 is issued To post vendor s RFIs and VA s response, refer to page 4 for Q&A. To post revised salient characteristics, refer to page 4 and 5. To extend the offer due date from 5/10/2024 10am Pacific Local Time to 5/14/2024 10am Pacific Local Time. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged. 36C26224Q1103 VA Phoenix Walk Behind Scrubber Q&A Question #1: There are two battery options for the scrubber described: 242 Ah and 310 Ah. Does VA have a preference? What is the battery size needed? Answer: VA Phoenix does not have any preference on battery size as long as the charger is a part of the package at no additional cost to the Government. Question #2: Does VA require Lead Acid or AGM Battery? Answer: VA Phoenix requires floor scrubbers to have AGM battery types in order to have a longer life (less battery replacement) and less charge cycle for its usage. Question #3: The specifications call for a walk-behind unit that is capable of cleaning 38,900 sq ft per hour. For a 26-inch scrubber, this would require the operator to walk behind the machine at a speed of 3.4 mph for the full hour to achieve this. Since that is beyond the abilities of most janitorial equipment operators, we need clarification that this 38,900 sq ft cleaning specification is required. Since it is rare for an operator to walk more than 2.5 mph while cleaning a floor, and most equipment manufacturers build their equipment to match that, we believe this number is much higher than it needs to be. We feel a number closer to 25,000 sq ft is still high, but probably closer to actual usage. Answer: VA Phoenix agrees with the vendor s concern and comments. Therefore, the minimum cleaning rate shall be changed to 25,000 sq ft per hour from 38,900 sq ft per hour. Question #4: The specified max brush pressure required is 170 lbs. That is an extremely heavy force for a floor scrubber, that will strip a floor to the bare finish and damage most flooring materials. Most manufacturers of floor scrubbers max out their down pressure at less than 120 pounds with operators rarely using more than about 50 pounds. We would ask for clarification on this number as only one manufacturer that we know of makes a machine this size with that pressure. Answer: VA Phoenix agrees with the vendor s concern and comments. Hence, the maximum scrub option shall be removed from the requirement/salient characteristic. Minimum brush pressure shall be decreased to 50lbs. Question #5: Most manufacturers of floor scrubbers make machines that have brush speeds of 200 RPM. That is more than three times a second. There is no scrubbing benefit to having a higher spinning brush. Beyond 200 rpms, the machine gets into burnisher territory where you are stripping the floor, not scrubbing it. Answer: VA agrees with the vendors feedback. The salient characteristic shall be revised to: Walk Behind Scrubber must have a minimum of 200 RPM rotation for efficient cleaning. Question #5: Will VA accept refurbished equipment? Answer: The equipment must be brand new. In summary, following is the updated salient characteristics: B.2 SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS Walk Behind Scrubber must be a walk behind. Walk Behind Scrubber must be a battery powered with greater than 60 mins runtime. This must be verified through a product brochure or written confirmation from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Walk Behind Scrubber must have AGM Battery for a longer battery life (less battery replacement) and less charging cycle for its usage. Walk Behind Scrubber must come with a charger. Walk Behind Scrubber must have a minimum cleaning rate of 25,000 sq ft per hour. Walk Behind Scrubber must have a brush pad pressure minimum of 50lb. Walk Behind Scrubber must have a dba rating of 71 or less due to noise pollution. Walk Behind Scrubber max height of 45 for safety issues. Anything higher, the using personnel won t be able to see around the scrubber. Walk Behind Scrubber must provide cleaning width minimum of 26 . Walk Behind Scrubber must have a minimum of 200 RPM rotation for efficient cleaning. Walk Behind Scrubber must have a 21 Gal solution tank or bigger. Walk Behind Scrubber must have a disc scrub head type. Walk Behind Scrubber must be brand new.