SOW for Feed Mill.pdf

Statement of Work: Feed Mill for preparation of animal diets

Management Unit: Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory (ABBL), Beltsville, MD

Background

The Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) will close the aging commercial-grade feed mill located on the East campus and replace the operation with a more efficient, small-scale feed mill to meet specific animal and research needs of the ABBL. Base poultry and swine diets will be delivered to the new feed mill and further processed to formulate a minimum of 17 different age- and research-specific diets. Space within an existing animal building, on the East campus has been identified as the location for the small-scale feed mill. The configuration and layout of the new feed mill has been determined. Because none of the processing and mixing equipment in the existing feed mill is usable, small-scale equipment must be purchased and installed to fit the layout identified for the new space.

Period of Performance

The period of performance is from 9/1/2021 to 8/30/2022. The new feed mill must be fully operational by 9/30/2022. (Approximately after Date of Award)

Scope of Work

This acquisition includes procurement of an integrated feed processing and mixing system with custom-built controls and external bulk feed storage. The integrated system will consist of a weigh hopper, blender, pellet mill, crumbler, bag loader, bag scale, bag sewer, connecting conveyors, augers, control panels and silos. All equipment will be manufactured and delivered to Beltsville, Md., according to the installation schedule. The scope of work also includes customized drawings, models, documentation, and consultations to assist general contractors with installation, and site visits for testing, commissioning, and training for operation of the feed mill. The scope of work includes both equipment and service components.

Specification Requirements

The following describes the minimum specifications for each of the items outlined in the Scope of Work.

1. Feed Mixing and Processing Equipment

1.1. General: Feed mill equipment should be preferably manufactured in the U.S. with USA steel and parts, including steel plates for the base to prevent cracking. Items should have a warranty period. Relevant equipment should be palleted for secure shipment.

1.2. Blender: The blender must be a horizontal model with a 1000-lb capacity, 5-hp motor, ribbon cleaner, 3-minute blending time, manual slide gate, screw conveyor drive and be capable both transverse and circular mixing.

1.3. Pellet mill: The pellet mill must be a flat die mill with a 10-hp low-friction motor, belt-drive system, feed hopper and chute, stainless steel pellet knife, and ultra-dispersion nitrogen cooling system. Custom dies should be available from the manufacturer.

1.4. Crumbler: The crumbler must be of low-profile construction with a 3-hp motor, belt-drive design, adjustable roll gap for varying particle sizes, full-length hinged maintenance door, infeed gate adjustment, and product by-pass switch. No bearing alignment should be required.

1.5. Bag loader: The bag loader system must be capable of weighing and filling 15-25 lb. of feed directly into burlap, paper, or woven plastic bags. The bag loader should have height adjustable legs, a level sight glass, a bagging mount, and an open-mouth manual bag scale with weight adjustment.

1.6. Bag sewer: The bag sewer must consist of a heavy-duty tubular steel frame, an industrial precision sewing head, a 4.5’ long industrial rated conveyor, and an adjustable height bag sensor.

2. Conveyer and Bulk Storage Equipment

2.1. General: All conveyer and bulk storage equipment must provide seamless transitions between the feed mixing and processing equipment.

2.2. Silos: Three 4-ton silos with an external ladder and lid are required. Silos must connect securely to augers to move feed into the building and into the weigh hopper.

2.3. Augers: Flexible augers at least 4.5 inches in diameter with a 3-hp motor and pneumatic turbine vibrator that securely connect to the weigh hopper via a flexible discharge boot.

2.4. Weigh hopper: The weigh hopper should be of sturdy metal construction with internal load cells and dual discharge augers onto discrete conveyer belts.

2.5. Conveyors: Three types of conveyer belts are required – an inclined cooling conveyer, a horizontal reversing belt conveyer, and a horizontal discharge conveyer.

2.5.1. Inclined cooling conveyer must have a 30-degree incline and measure 25 ft in length and 2 ft in width. The conveyer should consist of a channel frame with 6-ft skirted receiving hopper and one extended side, metal skirtboard on both sides and adjustable rubber skirting on the remaining length. The conveyor should have a mechanical splice, a 3-hp motor drive, and a pneumatic vibrator. The conveyor must securely connect the pellet mill to a transition reversible conveyer belt. One inclined cooling conveyer is required.

2.5.2. Horizontal reversing conveyer belt must consist of a channel frame with 6-ft skirted receiving hopper and one extended side, metal skirtboard on both sides and adjustable rubber skirting on the remaining length. The belt should have a 2-hp motor drive, a mechanical splice, a pneumatic vibrator, and be capable of moving approximately 100 cubic ft of feed per hour. Two reversing conveyer belts are required.

2.5.3. Discharge conveyer belt must consist of a channel frame with 6-ft skirted receiving hopper and one extended side, metal skirtboard on both sides and adjustable rubber skirting on the remaining length. The belt should have a 2-hp motor drive, a mechanical splice, a pneumatic vibrator, and be capable of moving approximately 100 cubic ft of feed per hour.

Two discharge conveyer belts are required.

3. Controller Equipment: The controller must be UL-508 listed with a touch screen and custom built to operate the augers, weigh hopper and conveyer belts with variable speed drives, and must conform to the specified layout and type of equipment. This will require a minimum of an E-stop circuit, pellet mill soft start, 3 motor starters and 9 variable-frequency drives.

4. Documentation: The vendor will provide 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional models of the layout for general contractors and engineers, as well as electrical point to point drawings showing all connection points for the control panels. Operating and/or training manuals should be provided.

5. Site visits: A minimum of three site visits will be required.

5.1. Pre-visit: This visit is required to finalize the layout and determine the installation and delivery schedules.

5.2. Systems check: This visit is required to verify electrical connections and test the functionality of the transition equipment motors and sensors.

5.3. Training/final commissioning: This visit is required to train BARC personnel on the operation of the feed mill equipment.

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