The Contractor shall provide 2 Boiler Plant Operators for the Hot Springs VAMC in Hot Springs, South Dakota.
Candidate profiles -
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- Candidate cover page
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Supplier Chat Respond By Date : 01 / 25 / 2025
TOPR Respond By Date : 01 / 28 / 2025
Operate boiler plant with 4 boilers with capacity of 55,000 pounds of steam per hour. Boilers are fired by # 2 ultra-low sulfur fuel oil to produce saturated or superheated steam required to meet challenging load demands. The operator maintains efficient combustion levels and ensures compliance with air emission laws and / or regulations. The operator use electronic, hydraulic, and pneumatic controls, and zone charts in conjunction with meters, gauges, and DDC computer generated data to determine adjustments or corrections necessary for proper boiler operations or changing load requirements. The operator adjusts firing controls for the correct air fuel mixture and to adjust fuel feeds and air drafts to get the best combustion efficiency by using combustion testing equipment, opacity readings and adjusts fuel feeds and the volume and velocity of draft and other firebox variables to achieve maximum combustion efficiency with changing load demands or variation in fuel quality. Check, repair and adjust equipment; including boilers, reverse osmosis water unit, burners, combustion controls, flow meters, fuel handling equipment, steam driven and electric feed water pumps, chemical metering pumps, feed water heater and water softener. Repair and replaces major steam and water piping assemblies. Operate emergency electrical generator to meet plant electrical requirements when the main electrical source is unable to provide power. Analyze boiler feed water, boiler water and condensation using standard chemical tests. The operator determines the treatment and chemicals to be used to control chemical concentrations, remove impurities and entrapped gases or stabilize fluctuation water conditions in the boiler. Test domestic hard and soft water and insure that there is a proper supply of treated hard and soft water supply to the Medical Center by monitoring the water tank levels to assure proper fire protection. The operator operates and maintains the Medical Center's water supply pumps, water softeners, and chlorinator. Clean tools, machines, and equipment and keeps work area clean and orderly. Provides safe working environment by adhering to safety control guidelines and reporting unsafe conditions.
HOURS OF PERFORMANCE
The Boiler Plant Operator will work shift work in conjunction with the other Boiler Plant Operators to sustain a 24 hr / 7 Days a week operation. The operators typically work 8 hours shifts. The shifts are 8 : 00a to 4 : 00p, 4 : 00p to 12 : 00a, and 12 : 00a to 8 : 00a. Typically, the operators are assigned a specific shift to work.
SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE
The Operator must have knowledge of steam generation, VA and manufacturer's recommended procedures for water tube and fire tube boiler operation and safety codes. A thorough knowledge of technical manuals on plant operations is essential. Must be able to use, read and understand the various testing instruments, record data on plant operations, compute quantities, efficiencies and furnish accurate information for necessary reports.The Operator must have knowledge of the three 40, 000 gallon fuel oil tanks totaling 120,000 gallons of fuel oil and leak detection system. Due to the large volume of fuel oil the Operator must be very familiar with the Spill, Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan. The Operator must have knowledge of #2 fuel oil, above ground fuel oil storage tanks, fuel oil delivery procedures, heating fuel oil tanks in the winter months, day tanks, fuel oil pumps, and fuel oil meters. The Operator is responsible for knowing the requirements and regulation for tank truck loading / unloading and procedures for spill containment to protect the overland flow towards storm sewers.The operator must know how to adjust firing controls for the correct air fuel mixture and to adjust fuel feeds and air drafts to get the best combustion efficiency by using combustion testing equipment and opacity readings. The operator must be able to operate such auxiliary equipment such as feed water pumps, domestic water pumps, water softener, reverse osmoses unit, fuel delivery systems, boiler fuel monitoring system, fuel oil heating system and computer control system.The operator must have knowledge in boiler safety inspection directed by VHA boiler safety manual and testing procedures and lock-out / tag-out procedures and confined space procedures to help ensure a safe working environment.The operator collects samples of boiler water and following prescribed methods must be able to run test to determine boiler water quality. From the test results the operator must have the ability to determine the correct amount of boiler chemical to add help with corrosion control and scale formation.The operator must have knowledge of the entire plant system in order to locate problems and determine action necessary to maintain adequate steam and domestic water production. The Operator shall have knowledge of gaseous chlorine systems for potable water disinfection. This includes knowledge of the parts per million dosing necessary for production of safe potable water. Operator supports the facility legionella prevention program by maintaining proper chlorine residuals within the potable water system. In the event of legionella detection, the operator shall have the knowledge to safely increase chlorine residuals in support of legionella eradication efforts and not exceed EPA standards for safe drinking water chlorine residuals.The Operator must be able to obtain a South Dakota Rural Water License for Basic water treatment.Must have the knowledge of and the skill required to arrange, locate, plan, and lay out the installation, modification, fabrication and repair of various new and existing piping systems and related equipment. Must have skills necessary for figuring pipe, joint and valve sizes needed to support pressures of the system, aligning pipes, valves, fittings and joints for accurate match, and install proper bracing and supports to control movement and vibrations, also allow for proper expansion and contraction of piping. Assists in more difficult repairs and maintenance during shutdown periods and with equipment overhaul.Must be able to prepare boilers for internal and external boiler inspections.The operator must have skills in the use of tools and equipment such as measuring tapes, sliding square, plumb bobs, drills, grinders, hand and power thread tools and cutters, pipe wrenches, sand blaster, welding equipment, hand tools and other tools of the trade.Skill in reading and analyzing information from gauges, meters, analog displays and computer generated data to determine the operation status of the plant. Because the primary source of fuel is # 2 fuel oil, the operator will be required to use pollution control equipment, monitoring or adjustment to ensure compliance with air emission law and / or regulations. The operator must complete all requirements for the SDDENR Title 5 air permit. The requirements include logging the operation logs of each boiler, fuel usage, O2 trim adjustments and boiler stack opacity.The Operator will assist with project design and planning with projects affecting the boiler plant.RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervisor provides a frame work in order to make independent decisions for the operation and maintenance of the combustion and pollution control adjustments, trouble shooting techniques and equipment maintenance and repair procedures that may be accompanied by diagrams, drawings, operating manuals or special facility procedures. Familiar with the total plant layout including drawings / circuit diagrams, # 2 fuel oil supply system. Make independent decisions and judgments regarding operations. Use a variety of standard mechanical and basic electrical processes. Primary responsibility for checking boilers and auxiliary and pollution control equipment. Initiate immediate action to prevent interruptions to plant operations. Supervisor is available to provide technical assistance on difficult or unusual issues. Work is checked through occasional observation of operational efficiency, production reports and adherence to established operating techniques.Physical Effort
Frequently work in confined areas in and around boilers. Requires moderate to strenuous effort and long periods of walking, standing, climbing, bending, and crouching. Frequently lift and carry boiler parts and chemical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds unassisted. Occasionally, and with assistance, carries items weighing over 40 pounds.
Working Conditions
Mainly works indoors, but occasionally work outside for short periods of time. Subject to high temperatures, constant noise, rotating machinery, soot, dirt, grease, chemicals, oil and fumes. Subject to cuts and abrasions from the use of tools and equipment and burns from acids, caustics, hot water, steam and contact with boilers. Work on catwalks and ladders.
Occupational Health Testing MMR vaccine or titer
Hep B vaccine or titer
Varicella vaccine or titer
TB skin test, bloodwork, or Chest X-ray
Flu shot
