RFI QandA 9.22.2022.pdf

Questions and Answers to Request for Information (RFI) questions.

The cabinet depth specification was set as the maximum which would allow chambers to be placed back-to-back with adequate access and air space around the chambers, and between parallel aisles – so an increase of 0.6 inch per chamber would mean an extra 1.2 inches with the chambers back-to-back, reducing working space and/or reducing ventilation. I’m not an engineer, so I don’t know how significant an effect that might be. However, my lab building currently has no air conditioning, and our ultralow freezers are struggling because the heat is not being dispersed; two freezers belonging to another lab broke down as a result. Reducing the space between chambers could result in similar stress upon the growth chambers.

Regarding the light intensity, there is a target noted in the “Specs-SOW from PM Growth Chamber.docx” file – “a maximum of 750 μmol m-2 s-1 Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD) in the Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) range (400-700 nm) in two tier mode [minimum growth height 31” per tier], or a maximum of 1500 μmol m-2 s-1 PPFD in tall plant mode [minimum full growth height 65”], with light intensity measured at 6” below the light canopy at 25℃ and averaged across the light canopy.

The lighting intensities are to allow separate dimming of PhysioSpec Indoor broad spectrum and PfrSpec far-red spectrum, are to be controlled via the control panel or remotely by the Ethernet connection via LAN or internet; light intensity to be user-controlled by dimming over the range of 10% to 100% of the maximum output for dual-tier or single tier set-up, as appropriate.

-End-