ITB 21-024 Air Purification System For Local Buses - Addendum 1 - Final.pdf

ITB 21-024 – Addendum #1

SALEM AREA MASS TRANSIT DISTRICT

INVITATION TO BID

ITB 21-024

AIR PURIFICATION SYSTEM FOR LOCAL BUSES

ADDENDUM #1

Salem Area Mass Transit District is providing information and making changes / additions / modifications / revisions as an Addendum to ITB 21-024.

The following changes, clarifications and SAMTD responses to questions posed to date are hereby provided to all proposers:

1. Question: Are occupants on the bus exposed to and inhale the H2O2 gas and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their byproducts that the system creates as specified in specification part 2, 1.1., or are these systems for unoccupied buses?

Response: The proposed system is intended to be used and provide active air and surface protection in transit bus applications while the buses are occupied by passengers and the Operator.

2. Question: Specification part 2, 1.3 refers to properly sized systems. Are you expecting the same size system to be used for the 25', 35' and 40' buses, or are the systems to be custom-sized for each bus?

Response: This solicitation involves 2 different styles of buses that are differentiated by their HVAC systems. Equipment proposed should be interchangeable between a 35’ and 40’ bus. The 25’ buses have a different non-ducted A/C system which may drive the need for a different air purifying unit than would be proposed for 35’ and 40’ buses.

3. Question: Specification part 2, 1.2 states the system shall produce 20 ppb to 50 ppb of H2O2.

In specification part 2, 1.10, the system is not to generate levels above 0.1 ppm when sized appropriately for the HVAC system.

a. What is the minimum ppm level you are wanting us to design for inside each sized bus?

b. Is the system required to measure and monitor ppm of H2O2 to ensure that the desired level of H2O2 exists inside the bus?

c. Is the system required to measure and monitor ppm of H2O2 to verify it does not exceed 0.1 ppm inside the bus?

d. How many times shall our design calculations assume that bus doors open on each bus size (25', 35', 40') and doesn't infiltration of outside air into the bus change based on outdoor temperature (seasonal)?

Response:

a. The system shall not generate H2O2 levels above 0.1ppm (1/10 of OSHA limits of 1ppm) when sized appropriately for HVAC system.

b. No. Verification from a 3rd party lab to verify that the proposed equipment is capable of providing desired levels of protection for the operating space will suffice.

c. No. Verification from a 3rd party lab to verify the proposed equipment is capable of providing desired levels of protection for the operating space will suffice.

d. This would depend upon the route for each vehicle. Current data in not available.

4. Question: Are there outlets inside the buses for these air purifiers?

Response: No. They will be hard wired into the buses existing electrical system.

5. Question: Are the air purifiers going to be mounted?

Response: This depends upon the unit being proposed.

6. Question: Is supplier installation required?

Response: No.

7. Question: 1.12. Specs say the working temperature of the system shall be -30C to 65C (-22F to 149F). Our product is -20C to >+50C … is this acceptable?

Response: Yes.

8. Question: 2.1 specs state the system must be able to tie into vehicle power and signal supply directly with provided wiring harness (ex. 12V dc, 24V dc, 37.5V dc). Our system is available in 12V and 24V Only. Will this be acceptable?

Response: Yes. In 35’ and 45’ buses there are 12V and 24V options for installation. In smaller buses there are only 12V options for existing wiring.

9. Question: There are references throughout to “labor” so just need to clarify – does this ITB need to include installation or just supply of the system (parts)?

Response: Installation is not required.

10. Question: If no labor/installation is involved, does the vendor need to be licensed to do work in the State of Oregon?

Response: The successful bidder to the solicitation must be licensed to do business in Oregon through the Oregon Secretary of State Corporate Division in order to execute a resultant contract. A link to their website is provided here https://sos.oregon.gov/business/pages/default.aspx.

11. Question: RFP Scope Section 1.1 states: “The system must use a UVC light with a quad-metallic hydrophilic catalyst to generate H202 and reactive oxygen species (ROS) to sanitized against various microbial species. This can be done with Photohydrdoioinization (PHI Cell) or equivalent technology”

This information is being provided in support of our request below:

October 8, 2021

RFAE supporting information for acceptance of Ionization as an equal to PCO specifications for air cleaning.

Ionization has literally been in use since the dawn of time. It occurs in naturally, and is a principal cleaning method of the lower troposphere.

HISTORY: Ionization has been in use for air cleaning purposes for decades in fixed building applications both domestically and internationally. Ionization is by far the most adaptable technology and CCT has a suite of products specifically designed for treating the indoor air space on transit vehicles. Unlike many companies today who are reacting to the opportunistic application of fixed building technologies to the mobile market, CCT began offering its current technology in 2015 and was designed specifically for application to the heavy-duty transit vehicle space. Prior to selecting ionization, CCT investigated all of the current air cleaning technologies including PCO for the transit space. Both PCO and Ionization have air cleaning benefits, however ionization offers advantages in transit applications which PCO is unable to achieve. Ultimately ionization was selected as it is the most adaptable, least maintenance and least lifecycle cost option for application to transit vehicles.

Ionization is used for air cleaning purposes in numerous commercial applications and accomplishes this without the use of UV bulbs or added chemicals. Commercial applications include hotels, casinos, waste water treatment plants, office buildings and more. These applications allow for the added benefit of energy savings due to the ability to prove ability to meet the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) test procedures minimizing contaminants of concern. The use of UV bulbs in transit applications require applications engineers to protect technicians from exposure which could cause retinal or skin damage, but must also be protected as to not shine on HVAC components not rated for exposure (examples include but not limited to insulation and wiring).

https://sos.oregon.gov/business/pages/default.aspx

REACH OF BENEFITS: PCO creates ROS which are short lived; so short that some ROS do not have equipment capable of measuring the lifespan. As such, ROS are mostly benefit the air just downstream of the equipment (in the ductwork) and unable to reach all areas in the space. In contrast, ionization (a precursor to ROS) not only benefits the ductwork, but continues throughout the entire air space to offering cleaning benefits; primarily in the air, but has also been tested to show benefits to on surfaces. Positive and negative ions react with each other throughout the space and therefore the benefits are wherever the ion concentrations are enhanced.

RFI: PCO technologies have not demonstrated the ability to meet the higher Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) requirements of specific transit bus rail and and aeronautical test procedures.

Aside from affecting various components, one of the chief considerations is the technology does not affect systems governing guidance and safety systems. Ionization technology has been tested to meet bus, train and aeronautical applications.

MAINTENANCE COSTS and PROVEN EXPERIENCE: PCO requires routine annual replacement of UV bulbs. This adds both equipment and labor costs to the transit authority operating the system.

The systems are not originally built to run from 12 or 24Vdc and consequently require transformers to change voltage to specific ratings. PCO was not originally designed to handle the thermal shock, vibration, or voltage swings common to transit applications. Questions remain as to the long-term reliability of PCO products on mobile applications in comparison to ionization. In 2021, CCT ionization products have 7 years of heavy-duty US Transit bus experience and the product components were all selected and designed for use in the transit bus space. Aside from visual checks, ionization only requires maintenance refurbishment once every 4 years. CCT is the only company with so many years of documented reliability in transit.

Ionization testing: There have been decades of international testing of ionization against various pathogens. In general, ionization and its efficacy are a factor of the concentration which can be demonstrated in the space. CCT has demonstrated the critical nature of understanding the airspace and how installation location dramatically effects the output. CCT has installed and tested its components on every major bus TVEM (Transit Vehicle Equipment Manufacture) including Gillig, New Flyer, NABI, Proterra, BYD, Eldorado, NOVA bus and even on Alexander Dennis double decker buses). As part of those installations and with special equipment, CCT is able to test the concentrations to optimize the output in each application. The suite of CCT products available to transit, paratransit and Rail are able to offer solutions to all of the various bus air handling system designs.

For additional information regarding the efficacy and testing of ionization we recommend the following reading which is available online:

Gerhard M. Artmann, Shu Chien (Eds.) Bioengineering in Cell and Tissue Research DOI:

10.1007/978-3-540-75409-1, Copyright Springer 2008. Chapter 26: Air Purification Technology by Means of Cluster Ions Generated by Plasma Discharge at Atmospheric Pressure.

We request use of ionized air as an approved equal principle technology. For many years, PCO and ionization compete head to head in building applications across the country. Both offer air cleaning benefits and both have decades of pathogen testing.

Response: A deviation from the original scope of work to include active air purification technology may be evaluated. Please ensure your data includes PPM for ionization or and ozone creation as well as acceptable OSHA limits for areas occupied by bus passengers.

12. Question: RFP Scope Section 1.2 states: “The system shall have 3rd party testing by nationally recognized labs to verify H2O2 production at 20-50 PPB and support all virus and bacteria test claims.”

Ionization has been tested by international organizations for decades. These results help validate the technology, and the balance between concentrations and efficacy. We request ability to offer International testing and science backed articles with the submittal.

Response: We will review your proposal against minimum required specifications. Please be advised of the requirement of the purifier to be operating while the bus is in motion and is occupied. Ionization in occupied spaces carries additional OSHA concerns.

13. Question: On the 40’ and 35’ buses with the Thermoking units – What is the model year of those buses?

Response: The model years include 2007 Gillig, 2010 Gillig, 2018 Gillig, 2019 Gillig, 2005 Orion 7.

14. Question: On the Paratransit Cutaway buses and the minivan style vehicles – what type of HVAC systems are in those vehicles?

Response: These all have the OEM Chevy/Ford HVAC as well as various types of standalone or split systems such as TransAir or TransCold.

All other specifications and terms and conditions remain unchanged.

By: Daniel M. Knauss Procurement & Contracts Manager

Salem Area Mass Transit District 555 Court Street NE, Suite 5230 Salem, Oregon 97301 October 11, 2021