Advanced Metering and Controls

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is inviting interested suppliers to provide project specific information for Advanced Metering and Controls of our Energy Management System (EMS). The purpose of the EMS is to provide the functional capability for remote energy consumption monitoring and control of USPS HVAC systems nationally through the end of Fiscal Year 2018. EMS is defined in general, as the "monitoring of power consumption (advanced metering/sub metering) and the monitoring and controlling of the environmental parameters associated with a building HVAC system". The EMS solution is to provide the capability to monitor and control HVAC systems across the USPS portfolio. Existing building control systems range in complexity from very simple to sophisticate. Even though it is not the intent of the USPS to replace existing functional building controls which are deemed "sophisticated" if an evaluation determines a replacement/upgrade is a better value then the USPS will take the recommendation into consideration. The proposed solution must be robust and flexible so to accommodate possible building control scenarios such as: 1.) Facilities with only manual controls - In this scenario the EMS shall have intelligent controllers which replace manual controls and provides real-time capabilities that monitor, control, store, and transmit facility energy consumption and operational data over the internet. 2.) Facilities with existing building controls - In this scenario the solution shall integrate with existing HVAC systems unless replacement/upgrade of existing system is a better value to the USPS. The solution shall provide real-time capabilities that monitor, control, store, and transmit facility energy consumption and operational data over the internet. Once installed, the solution shall be flexible for reprogramming to implement various energy consumption and facility operational strategies. The system shall be configurable to count pulses, sense contact status, and provide alarm notification for a variety of input thresholds. In addition the solution will serve as a gateway to transmit real-time data to the USPS's Enterprise Energy Management System (EEMS). The gateway will reside on the Postal Routed Network and must be compliant with all USPS IT requirements. The primary goal is to obtain a level of functionality within the installed system such that the building's energy vital signs, HVAC performance and incoming utility consumption can be monitored by the USPS from a remote location via EEMS. The system will also allow interactive control by designated USPS personnel located anywhere in the country to monitor and adjust temperature, schedules, and settings to ensure the systems are operating at peak efficiency and conforming to allowable temperature ranges established organizationally for our facilities. Below is a summary of the functional features the USPS requires in the solution in order to obtain the information necessary to make informed decisions about the performance of a building; Provide capability to locally and remotely monitor and control HVAC systems such as chillers, boilers, AHU's, RTU's, etc. Monitoring capabilities should include but not limited to; Incoming Building Utilities Electricity - AC current, kW, kWh , voltage Natural Gas - therms Propane - gals Oil - gals Water - gals HVAC Equipment (chillers, RTU's, AHU's, boilers, etc) Electrical consumption Supply and return temperatures Device runtime Device status (on/off) Economizer & damper position Fan speed Sequence of operations Zone temperature readings taken thru-out the facility Control capabilities should include but not limited to; Ability to change temperature set points Ability to change equipment operating schedules All readings should be at a minimum of 15 min interval Real-time access by the USPS via EEMS. Ability to track HVAC performance Provide automated alarm notifications to EEMS Record, store, and trend data for future analysis for 30 days in the event communications are interrupted with EEMS. Use algorithms built into the system to enable controllers to automatically reduce peak consumption (load shedding) according to pre-determined protocols. IP addressable and utilizes an open protocol such as BACnet or Modbus for communications with EEMS Wireless preferred but not required. This Request for Information (RFI) is issued to assist the United States Postal Service (USPS) to better understand and identify suppliers in the marketplace meeting these requirements with a proven history of performance, with an integrated successfully deployed strategy that meets the needs of commercial and government organizations and to better evaluate how these strategies will support USPS EMS requirements. The supplier acknowledges that confidential information might be generated or made available during this Request for Information (RFI) process. In addition to the restriction on disclosure established under the supplier's code of ethics, the supplier specifically agrees not to disclose any information received or generated under this RFI unless its release is approved in writing by the Contracting Officer. The supplier further agrees to assert any privileges allowed by law to defend vigorously the United States Postal Service rights to confidentiality. The information included in this Request for Information (RFI) will be evaluated by the United States Postal Service Purchase Team to determine the feasibility and strategies associated with solutions which provide advanced metering and monitoring and controlling capabilities for HVAC systems. Submission to this RFI shall include the basic information of your company and an. Executive summary of your proposed solution including a budget cost estimate for satisfying the stated requirements. Provide examples of similar projects and provide client references for these projects. The complete submission package should not exceed 30 pages. All questions concerning this solicitation shall be directed in writing in WORD format to Michael Bacha at michael.j.bacha2@usps.gov. Proposals are due on January 18, 2013 by 2:00 pm EST and should be hand delivered or mailed (using one of the fine services offered by the Postal Service) to the attention of Michael Bacha, SM Facilities Construction, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 1246, Washington DC 20260-6201.