Building Automation System, NLAE Modernization, Ames, IA

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE Background: The USDA, ARS, NLAE was constructed in 1986 as the National Soil Tilth Laboratory on the Iowa State University (ISU) campus. The HVAC and related systems were Johnson Controls (JCI) pneumatic controls and operated the building HVAC systems, heat recovery systems, growth and root environmental control chamber systems, and room HVAC controls for laboratories, offices, and support spaces. The JCI equipment also monitors security, fire, and central utilities provided from the campus systems and alarms are reported to the ISU campus security and/or building automation controls group. Approximately twenty years ago the ISU facilities group replaced the pneumatic systems and controls with the JCI Direct Digital Controls (DDC). The pneumatic controls were upgraded to the current campus standard, which is the JCI Metasys system that operates on the Extended Architecture Platform. The ISU building automation controls group provides automation service management for the NLAE automation systems and maintains the JCI system software on their servers. The NLAE building manager is authorized to assess to the campus BAS to monitor, trend, adjust building automation set-points in the NLAE building. The control programming for the building resides in a combination of local controllers and the JCI Metasys servers outside of the building, where it is also backed up. The building JCI controls are connected to the campus servers via a dedicated Ethernet connection. ISU maintains the expertise to manage and program the JCI Metasys EA system for all campus buildings (more than one hundred), including NLAE. Intent to Sole Source Project Scope Description: This Notice of Intent to Sole Source is issued for informational purposes only. The USDA, ARS intends to procure the BAS portion of the overall contract to JCI. At the completion of this project, all of the pneumatic controls in NLAE will have been converted to JCI Metasys control that will conform to the ISU standards for building automation, assuring USDA will retain the current relationship with ISU to monitor and support the existing building automation systems in the building and to be able to provide back-up service without USDA purchasing additional hardware, software, and/or requirements to provide additional specialized training to USDA or ISU personnel. The programming and hardware for the project generally includes HVAC systems, including VAV box controllers, VFD controllers, pump controllers, thermostats humidistats, fume hood controls, fans for supply, return, exhaust, and heat recovery, steam actuators, chilled water control valves and chilled water control systems for plant growth and root (rhizotron) environmental growth chambers. All points will be programmed into the central campus building automation system and configured in accordance with the ISU Building Automation Standards. All hardware will be fully compatible with the ISU requirements. The statutory authority permitting the sole sourcing of the proprietary products manufactured by JCI is in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1), "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." This is specifically implemented by FAR 6.302-1(c)(1), "Application for brand-name descriptions." An acquisition or portion of an acquisition that uses a brand-name description or other purchase description to specify a particular brand-name, product, or feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer." Johnson Controls are sole source and proprietary products.