What is Technical Bid Evaluation (TBE)?
Technical Bid Evaluation, also known as TBE, is the process of assessing and evaluating vendor bids and proposals from a technical requirements perspective. It involves examining bid documents to ensure that they meet the technical specifications outlined in a Material Requisition (MR) document. This process is essential for selecting the right vendor for a given project.
Steps Involved in Technical Bid Evaluation
The technical bid evaluation process typically involves several steps, including vendor offer review, TBE (Technical Bid Evaluation) and vendor drawing review. These steps are designed to ensure that all technical aspects of the vendor’s bid are in line with the requirements outlined in the MR document.
Vendor Offer Review
The first step in the technical bid evaluation process is the Vendor Offer Review. This involves examining the vendor’s offer to ensure that all of the specifications outlined in the MR document are met. This includes reviewing the price, quality, and delivery terms of the vendor’s offer.
TBE (Technical Bid Evaluation)
The next step in the technical bid evaluation process is TBE (Technical Bid Evaluation). This involves assessing the technical aspects of the vendor’s bid, such as the materials used, the manufacturing process, and the delivery timeline. The TBE process is designed to ensure that the vendor’s bid meets all of the technical requirements outlined in the MR document.
Vendor Drawing Review
The final step in the technical bid evaluation process is the Vendor Drawing Review. This involves examining the vendor’s drawings to ensure that they are accurate and up to date. This includes ensuring that the drawings are in line with the technical requirements outlined in the MR document.
Guide to Vendor Offer Review
When reviewing any vendor offer, it is important to ensure that all aspects of the offer meet the requirements of the material requisition. The following points should be checked in order to ensure the vendor offer is suitable:
Approval:
Check whether the vendor is listed in the list of approved vendors by the client. Ensure that the manufacturer location is as per the approved vendor list.
Scope and Interface Clarity:
Ensure that the scope and interface of the vendor offer is clear. Make sure that the vendor is stamping and complying with the material requisition, specification and table of compliance.
Technical Queries:
Prepare technical queries to ensure that the vendor is compliant with all in-house specifications, guidelines, procedures, work instructions and international codes and standards. Check if the vendor is taking any deviation with respect to the material requisition.
Design Changes:
Cover any design changes as part of the technical queries.
Vendor Clarification:
Respond to any vendor queries for clarification and, if necessary, arrange a vendor clarification meeting.
Closing Queries:
Close any technical queries and clarifications.
Steps for Technical Bid Evaluation
The technical bid evaluation (TBE) process involves several steps that need to be followed in order to ensure a successful bid evaluation.
- Compile Vendor Offers:
The first step in the technical bid evaluation process is to compile all vendor offers into one document. This document can be an Excel sheet or any other format that is suitable to list down all the requirements and specifications. - List Down Requirements and Specifications:
Once all the vendor offers are compiled, it is important to list down all the requirements and specifications for the particular project. This document should include any technical queries, justification letters, deviation and clarification lists. - Evaluate all Deviations:
It is important to evaluate all vendor deviations. All vendor deviations should be approved by the client before any further steps are taken. - Issue TBE for Client Comments and Approval:
The next step is to issue the technical bid evaluation for client comments and approval. This document should include the delivery time and whether each vendor is accepted or rejected. - Issue Purchase Specifications to Vendor:
Once the vendor is finalized, the purchase specifications are to be issued to the particular vendor. This document should include all the details of the project, including the delivery time and any specific requirements or specifications. - Finalize Vendor:
The final step in the technical bid evaluation process is to finalize the vendor. This is done after the TBE is approved by the client and the purchase specifications are issued to the vendor.
Step-by-step Guide to Vendor Drawing Review
Vendor drawing review is an important part of the purchasing process. It is necessary to ensure that the drawings meet the specifications and requirements of the purchase order. The following steps should be followed when reviewing vendor drawings:
Step 1: Review Vendor Drawings against Purchase Specifications
The first step in the vendor drawing review process is to review the drawings against the purchase specifications. This includes ensuring that all design requirements are clearly stated in the purchase specifications and that the drawings meet the requirements. Any discrepancies should be noted and addressed. This is an important step in the process, as any design changes at this stage may incur additional costs for the vendor.
Step 2: Follow Organization Checklists
Each organization will have its own checklists for vendor drawing review. These checklists should be followed closely to ensure that all technical requirements are met and that any mistakes are avoided.
Step 3: Comment on Drawings
The third step in the vendor drawing review process is to comment on the drawings. This includes noting any discrepancies and providing feedback on the quality of the drawings. This feedback should be constructive and should help the vendor to improve the quality of their drawings.
Step 4: Finalize Vendor Drawing Review
Once all of the above steps have been completed, the vendor drawing review should be finalized. The review should be signed off by the responsible personnel and any discrepancies should be addressed. This will ensure that the vendor drawings meet the specifications and requirements of the purchase order.
Types of Equipment, Packages & Piping Components that are normally reviewed
Static Equipment Technical Bid Evaluation
When reviewing technical bids for static equipment, it is important to consider items such as storage tanks, heat exchangers and air coolers, knock-out drums, vessels, columns, heaters, and reactors. Additionally, filters should also be evaluated.
Rotating Equipment Technical Bid Evaluation
When evaluating the technical bid for rotating equipment, gas turbines, steam turbines, centrifugal pumps, positive displacement pumps, centrifugal compressors, and fans & blowers should be taken into consideration.
Packages Technical Bid Evaluation
Compressor packages, flare packages, water treatment packages, separator packages, chemical injection skids, and FMS packages should be reviewed when conducting a technical bid evaluation for packages.
Mechanical Discipline Lead for Vendor Offer Review
The mechanical (static & rotating) discipline should be the lead for vendor offer review, technical bid evaluation, and vendor drawing review for static/rotating equipment and packages. The piping discipline should provide input to mechanical.
Pipe Components for Technical Bid Evaluation
Piping is the primary component for technical bid evaluation for various projects. Pipe, fittings, flanges, gaskets, and bolts/nuts are the main components that need to be assessed. Further evaluation is also required for valves such as gate, globe, ball, butterfly, check, needle, and relief valves. Strainers, such as bucket, tee, and Y-type strainers, steam and drain traps, and couplings are also necessary components that need to be evaluated. Lastly, other specialty items that are required for the project must also be reviewed.
Valve Components for Technical Bid Evaluation
When assessing the technical bid of a project, manual valves, relief valves, and other piping specialty items must all be taken into careful consideration. All the valves should be thoroughly checked for the correct design, size, pressure, temperature, and material specifications. Furthermore, the vendor drawings should also be inspected to ensure that all components are up to standards and can meet the requirements of the project.
Strainer Components for Technical Bid Evaluation
Strainers are essential components in most piping systems and must be evaluated for their performance and quality. Bucket, tee, and Y-type strainers should all be assessed for their design, size, pressure, temperature, and material specifications. Furthermore, the vendor drawings should also be inspected to ensure that all components are up to standards and can meet the requirements of the project.
Steam/Drain Traps for Technical Bid Evaluation
Steam and drain traps are essential components in many piping systems and must be evaluated for their performance and quality. These traps should be assessed for their design, size, pressure, temperature, and material specifications. Furthermore, the vendor drawings should also be inspected to ensure that all components are up to standards and can meet the requirements of the project.
Coupling Components for Technical Bid Evaluation
Couplings are essential components in most piping systems and must be evaluated for their performance and quality. All the couplings should be thoroughly checked for the correct design, size, pressure, temperature, and material specifications. Furthermore, the vendor drawings should also be inspected to ensure that all components are up to standards and can meet the requirements of the project.
Specialty Items for Technical Bid Evaluation
In addition to the standard components, any specialty items that are required for the project must also be taken into consideration. These items should be assessed for their design, size, pressure, temperature, and material specifications. Furthermore, the vendor drawings should also be inspected to ensure that all components are up to standards and can meet the requirements of the project.
Technical Bid Evaluation for Valves
- Vendor Compliance with MR:
It is important to ensure that the vendor complies with the Mandatory Requirements (MR). This is done by having the vendor respond to the Technical Query (TQ) and review the response to determine if it meets the MR. - TQ Preparation:
The Technical Query is prepared to ensure that the vendor understands the requirements and can meet them. The TQ should include all the relevant details, such as the pressure testing requirements, painting requirements, valve ID for full bore valves, and fire safe design requirements for soft seated valves. - Review of TQ Response from Vendor:
The TQ response from the vendor should be reviewed to ensure that the requirements are met. Any deviations should be noted and addressed. - TQ-2, if any:
If there are any additional questions or clarifications needed, then a second Technical Query should be sent to the vendor. - Review of Vendor Deviation, if any:
Any vendor deviations should be reviewed and addressed. The vendor should confirm their compliance and stamp a table of Compliance. - Pressure Testing Requirements:
The pressure testing requirements should be checked to ensure that the valve meets the specified requirements. - Painting Requirements:
The painting requirements should be marked with respect to the line design parameters. - Full Bore Valve Requirement:
For the Full Bore valve requirement, the Valve ID should be checked to ensure it meets the specified requirements. - Fire Safe Design Requirements:
For soft seated valves, the fire safe design requirements should be checked to ensure the valve meets the specified requirements.
Piping Inputs for Technical Bid Evaluation
This section outlines the inputs required from vendors for technical bid evaluation of piping. Vendors are expected to carry out engineering and stress analysis of interconnecting piping between the internal skids of a package, such as a GRC Package-LR Compressor, Air Cooler, Sealing Drums, etc. They must provide maximum allowable forces and moments at the interface flanges and supply piping layout and isometric drawings for all interconnecting piping. Furthermore, vendors must comply with the client/in-house piping specification and Shell standard piping class and provide proper access, platforms and ladders for maintenance and operation of the GRC package. Lastly, vendors must comply with all client requirements, specifications, guidelines, procedures, internal codes and standards. Additionally, they must consider the available area and location for the packages.
Piping Inputs to Static Equipment for Technical Bid Evaluation
TANKS TBE
Nozzle Orientation and Staircase Orientation:
Ensuring adequate Nozzle Orientation and Staircase Orientation is essential for the safe and reliable operation of any storage tank. According to the American Petroleum Institute (API) 650 Annex P, allowable nozzle forces and moments must be calculated to ensure a safe and efficient operation.
Nozzle Load Analysis:
For the safe and reliable operation of any process nozzles attached to the roof of the tank, the allowable nozzle load must be analyzed using a finite element analysis (FEA) method.
Pipe Support Cleat Orientation:
The Pipe Support Cleat Orientation and elevations must be established to ensure a safe and reliable operation of the storage tank. The piping loads at supports must be taken from the tank shell or roof. Additionally, platform access requirements must be determined for any rooftop nozzles.
Underside Elevation of the Tank:
The underside elevation of the tank must be established to ensure a safe and reliable operation of the tank.
Tank and Piping Interface Details:
The Tank and Piping Interface Details must be established to ensure an efficient and safe operation of the tank.
HEAT EXCHANGERS/AIR COOLERS/VESSELS TBE
Nozzle Forces and Moments:
The Nozzle Forces and Moments must be established to ensure a safe and reliable operation of any heat exchanger, air cooler, or vessel. The vendor must comply with the nozzle minimum forces and moments as per the applicable standards.
Pipe Support Cleat Orientation:
The Pipe Support Cleat Orientation and elevations must be established to ensure a safe and reliable operation of the heat exchanger, air cooler, or vessel. The piping loads at supports must be taken from the equipment shell or roof.
Platform Access Requirements:
Platform access requirements must be determined for any top nozzles on the heat exchanger, air cooler, or vessel.
Nozzle Location and Elevations:
The Nozzle Location and Elevations must be established to ensure a safe and reliable operation of the heat exchanger, air cooler, or vessel.
Piping Inputs to Rotating Equipment
Checkout For Technical Bid Evaluation of Centrifugal Pumps.
Checkout For Technical Bid Evaluation of Metering Pump.
Checkout For Technical Bid Evaluation of Centrifugal Compressor.
Checkout For Technical Bid Evaluation of Flare System.