Questions and Answers 2.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture

Research, Education and Economics Agricultural Research Service

June 2, 2021

IN REPLY

REFER TO: Solicitation: 12305B21R0010 Replace Chiller

Governments Responses to Questions

1. There are (5) frequency drives called out in the scope of work. Do these drives need by passes and or disconnects?

• The equipment will require a mechanical bypass and disconnect.

Base Chillers #2 & Optional Chiller #1 Major Required Equipment Listed:

Base Chiller #2

• Replace (1) existing chillers with Daikin Water-cooled Magnetic Chillers to match existing tonnage:

• Recover refrigerant and oil from existing chillers and dispose of according to EPA regulations.

• Demo existing chillers, rig, and remove from site.

• New chillers will require a partial "knock-down" configuration to rig into the building and onto existing house-keeping pads.

• Chilled water and condenser piping will be modified to accept new direct digital control valves (on the outlet piping only).

• Install VFDs on (2) chilled water pumps and (3) condenser water pumps.

• Evaporator insulation; 3/4" evap. & cold surf.

• Extended warranty - entire unit; extended 4 years parts & labor.

• Refrigerant warranty; 5 years.

Cooling Tower

• Replace cooling tower fan motors with variable frequency drive (VFDs) compatible motor and drive components (Existing motors are not VFD compatible).

• Install (2) VFDs on cooling tower fan motors mounted to the exterior of the tower structure with all necessary wiring.

• Replace pneumatic bypass valve with new DDC bypass valve and wire into new controls package.

Controls:

• Install local chilled water plant controls for automatic control of chillers, valves, pumps, and cooling towers.

• Controller Communications; BACnet IP/Ethernet.

• Includes all necessary low voltage wiring, conduit, and sensors.

• Energy Manager Controls Metrics - Provides analytics on energy usage and reporting.

Optional Items (included in this proposal):

• Install VFDs on (2) chilled water pumps and (3) condenser water pumps.

Optional Chiller #1 Replace (1) existing chillers with Daikin Water-cooled Magnetic Chillers to match existing tonnage:

• Recover refrigerant and oil from existing chillers and dispose of according to EPA regulations.

• Demo existing chillers, rig, and remove from site.

• New chillers will require a partial "knock-down" configuration to rig into the building and onto existing house-keeping pads.

• Chilled water and condenser piping will be modified to accept new direct digital control valves (on the outlet piping only).

• Extended warranty - entire unit; extended 4 years parts & labor.

• Refrigerant warranty; 5 years.

2. There is no control work listed for the cooling tower other than a new drive to be installed for the CT's fan motor. Is this correct?

• No, the tower control and valves will need to be integrated into the proprietary Daikin Chiller Plant Control System. This system shall be required to control the chillers operations and communicate with the Siemens System jointly. This is to be supplied and installed as part of the Governments Requirement.

3. Please confirm that there are no control work or control sequence modifications required for statement of work page 2 "variable frequency drives on the condenser water pumps, condenser relief water control".

• No, the system requires a local proprietary Daikin Chiller Plant Control System that feeds back to the Siemens panel. All valve control, pumps, Cooling Tower, and Chiller sequencing will be handled by this control sequence. This is to be supplied and installed as part of the Governments Requirement.

4. Please clarify the statement of work for the following: Within the statement of work, for Chiller#2 the last sentence states "that the contractor is to reuse the motor starters for the pumps that are being replaced." However, under the Requirements for Chiller #2 notes, "The contractor shall provide variable frequency drives on the condenser water pumps and chilled water pumps as well as the fan motor for the cooling tower."

• Variable frequency drives will need to be installed and the equipment requires to have a mechanical bypass and disconnect for the case of reusing motor starters.

5. Will a copy of the sign-in sheet or list of eligible contractors be provided before the bid date?

• Please find enclosed a copy of the Sign-In Sheet.

6. Smardt Chiller Group is a leading manufacturer of oil-free centrifugal chillers. Will Smardt be an acceptable manufacturer for the Chiller(s)? Smardt promotional materials are attached for reference.

• The Smardt Chiller Group is not an acceptable manufacturer; the chiller is required to be a Dual Compressor Magnetic Centrifugal Water Cooled 258-Ton Chiller which Smardt can’t provide.

• Smardt doesn’t have a local service office and substitutes local mechanical contractors as a service presence. They are still having problems with the equipment and it takes a long time to get them repaired.

7. The scope of work for this project is calling for the contractor to “Supply and Install Daikin Dual Compressor Magnetic Centrifugal Water Cooled 258-Ton Chiller.” If we are to supply a Dual Compressor Mag Bearing Chiller, the only acceptable chiller manufacturer would be the Daikin.

• Yes; (Daikin Applied) is the preferred Chiller Vendor or an Approved equal manufacturer that meets all requirements as specified in the Daikin Chiller stated in the SOW. The Contact person: Ryan Ford, Owner Sales Representative, Daikin Applied, Cell (240) 375-1113, Office (301) 298-5136, Email Address:

ryan.ford@daikinapplied.com | www.DaikinApplied.com

8. Would the USDA consider a variable speed screw chiller if it can show equal or greater efficiency to a magnetic bearing chiller?

• No, they lack redundancy and require significant piping changes resulting in higher installation costs. In the last 6-8 years all of the new Chillers have been Dual Compressor Magnetic Centrifugal Water Cooled Chiller and the plan is to continue in that direction.

9. If bid option #1 to replace Chiller #1 is accepted, would it be possible to remove and replace both chillers at the same time or would one chiller need to still be operable during the time of construction?

• If the installation is being performed during non-cooling season yes both chiller can be removed and replace at the same time, otherwise the contractor will need to keep one chiller available at all times. I know that the work will be performed after cooling season so remove both chillers.

10. The length of the existing pad will need to be extended for the new chillers, is the height of the existing pads sufficient?

• The chillers need to be installed with respect to service clearances specified by the manufacturer.

11. Please confirm that the existing concrete pad does not have to be modified to accommodate the new chiller system.

• The concrete pads need to match the equipment footprint. The existing concrete

Chiller Pads are 78” wide X 144” deep x 4” thick.

mailto:ryan.ford@daikinapplied.com https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.daikinapplied.com%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C71f96d9d261141d858ff08d845261f7e%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C637335377639261022&sdata=aaNcqDBtVDZa%2BdTsL6yS%2BwOU36aesNWIrxPjWhewJYg%3D&reserved=0

12. Please provide USDA point of contact at Siemens.

• The Contact Person for Siemens is: George Coyle, Account Executive, Siemens

Industry, Inc., Smart Infrastructure, Mobile 301-440-9241and Email:george.coyle@siemens.com.

13. Please confirm that the air separator, at the chilled water system, also needs to be replaced along with the chiller and piping.

• The contractor shall replace the existing air separator with the same unit in size, manufacturer and model number or the upgraded model if the existing model is obsolete and not in production.

14. The scope of work for this project is calling for the contractor to “Supply and Install Daikin

Dual Compressor Magnetic Centrifugal Water Cooled 258-Ton Chiller.” If we are to supply a Dual Compressor Mag Bearing Chiller, the only acceptable chiller manufacturer would be the Daikin.

• Yes; (Daikin Applied) is the preferred Chiller Vendor or an Approved equal manufacturer that meets all requirements as specified in the Daikin Chiller stated in the SOW. The Contact person: Ryan Ford, Owner Sales Representative, Daikin

15. Would the USDA consider a variable speed screw chiller if it can show equal or greater efficiency to a magnetic bearing chiller?

• Yes; (Daikin Applied) is the preferred Chiller Vendor or an Approved equal manufacturer that meets all requirements as specified in the Daikin Chiller stated in the SOW. The Contact person: Ryan Ford, Owner Sales Representative, Daikin

16. If bid option #1 to replace Chiller #1 is accepted, would it be possible to remove and replace both chillers at the same time or would one chiller need to still be operable during the time of construction?

• If the installation is being performed during non-cooling season yes both chiller can be removed and replace at the same time, otherwise the contractor will need to keep one chiller available at all times. I know that the work will be performed after cooling season so remove both chillers.

17. The length of the existing pad will need to be extended for the new chillers, is the height of the existing pads sufficient?

• The concrete pads need to match the equipment footprint. The existing concrete

Chiller Pads are 78” wide X 144” deep x 4” thick.

18. A&P Remodeling has been back and forth with our Daikin Applied rep and was notified that they are no longer providing a chiller price for this project. We are extremely interested in providing a proposal for this solicitation, however, we are in the middle of a cross road and would like some guidance. Can you please spec a new chiller the USDA would like to use.

• The Government Contacted Daikin Applied and it was a miscommunication, but they will provide a proposal to all contractors requesting a proposal from them. The Contact Person for (Daikin Applied) is: Ryan Ford, Owner Sales Representative, mailto:george.coyle@siemens.com mailto:ryan.ford@daikinapplied.com https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.daikinapplied.com%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C71f96d9d261141d858ff08d845261f7e%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C637335377639261022&sdata=aaNcqDBtVDZa%2BdTsL6yS%2BwOU36aesNWIrxPjWhewJYg%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.daikinapplied.com%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C71f96d9d261141d858ff08d845261f7e%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C637335377639261022&sdata=aaNcqDBtVDZa%2BdTsL6yS%2BwOU36aesNWIrxPjWhewJYg%3D&reserved=0

Daikin Applied, Cell (240) 375-1113, Office (301) 298-5136, Email Address:

19. “12305B21R0010+Amendment+0002”, Section L.3 item b. Experience/Qualifications (Pg.

48):

The third paragraph of this section requires “The offeror shall document prior experience in specifying, purchasing, using, and installing biobased products. The offer shall provide a list for all relevant contracts over the past two years involving the specification, purchase, and/or use of biobased products. The offeror shall include a list of the biobased products specified, purchased, used, and installed.”

• The Chiller replacement Project has no items within the manufacturing or installation process where biobased materials could be used. This requirement has been removed from the solicitation.

20. It appears that the biobased requirement refenced in multiple areas within the RFP documents does not fall under the chiller replacement scope of work nor specifications as listed in the

“REV.+#1+SOW+FOR+BUILDING++#001+258+TON+CHILLER+#2+REPLACEMENT”

document. According to the outlined scope of work and site visit notes, no biobased products are scheduled for this project. Please advise if USDA will remove the requirement for biobased products.

• The Chiller replacement Project has no items within the manufacturing or installation process where biobased materials could be used. This requirement has been removed from the solicitation.

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.daikinapplied.com%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C71f96d9d261141d858ff08d845261f7e%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C637335377639261022&sdata=aaNcqDBtVDZa%2BdTsL6yS%2BwOU36aesNWIrxPjWhewJYg%3D&reserved=0