National Aeronautics and Space Administration Steam Lines Distribution Phase VIII at the NASA Goddard Space and Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland

Meltech completed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space and Flight Center Steam Lines Distribution Phase VIII in Greenbelt, Maryland.   This project was completed as task order #2 on Meltech’s NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA/GSFC) $75,000,000 Multiple Award Construction (MAC) Contract.

This important NASA project was for the demolition of several segments of underground steam and condensate piping and the subsequent installation of new steam and condensate piping as well as associated excavation, backfill and building connections at NASA/GSFC in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Challenges faced and successfully overcome included the fact that the contract, awarded in late May 2011, had to have all work completed by October 31st, 2011 since steam outages at NASA/GSFC would only be allowed between May 1st and October 31st . All work had to be completed between 7:00 am and 3:30 am in a highly populated work zone requiring special efforts to be taken to reduce noise and provide safe accesses and walk areas. All work had to comply with all OSHA requirements and the current version of the US Army Corps of Engineers Safety Manual (EM-385-1-1) in addition to Meltech’s site endorsed Accident Prevention Plan, Quality Control Plan and Environmental Protection Plan. A Multiple Award Construction modification was required due to unforeseen site conditions. Electric service was not shown on contract drawings and was damaged during excavation of an area considered to be hazard free. As a result the conduit for electric service to steam manholes 4 and 5 had to be cut at points either side of the excavation beyond the damaged conduit, and new polymer concrete hand holes were furnished and installed. New ¾ inch Schedule 40 PVC conduit was provided between the hand holes, new cable matching existing cable was provided and electric circuit was reconnected and tested for continuity between the power source and steam man hole 5.