NOTICE OF INTENT - Sole Source Siemens HVAC Building Automation and Temperature Controls for the Chilled Water Plant Replacement and Utility Upgrades Project at the VA West Haven Campus

Under the authority of FAR 6.103-1, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers intends to require, on a sole source basis, a brand name requirement for the Siemens HVAC building automation and temperature controls systems in the Chilled Water Plant Replacement and Utility Upgrades Project at the VA West Haven Campus.

The existing VA West Haven campus utilizes Siemens Controls for the existing Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Plant. A New Boiler Plant project is being designed to use Siemens Controls. The new temperature controls system for the chiller plant will be connected to this system. Utilizing Siemens Controls will provide a single controls option for the overall campus steam and chilled water generating equipment. This will allow VA West Haven personnel to monitor the new chiller plant along with the remainder of the boiler plant and CHP plant at a single location.  

The Siemens Controls building automation system is a network of sensors, and control devices that provides the required infrastructure to control and monitor Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Telecommunications (MEPT) systems throughout the plants. The system’s ability to communicate and monitor devices is achieved by the proprietary nature of the network, which is common in the industry. For the system to work at an acceptable level of performance, fast and reliable communication among devices and annunciation of alarms must happen in seconds. When new MEPT systems are installed and spaces are created within the plants, the Siemens Control’s system must be expanded to ensure proper communication with the existing plant user interface. This procurement will require the installation of various equipment, including but not limited to the following: sensors, controllers, actuators, communication protocols, and user interfaces. Device quantities may change as design develops. Part numbers are not included as they have yet to be determined and they may change based on delegated design submittals. 

If Siemens HVAC building automation and temperature controls systems are not sole sourced, then the new chiller plant will not be connected to the utility plant-wide system, requiring installation of a separate stand-alone system. To achieve communications interconnection between systems, if doing so is possible, would require involvement from multiple system manufacturers and introduce significant complications to system functioning as well as any future system modifications.

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. It is a market research tool being used to determine the availability of other qualified sources that can meet the requirements identified above and inherent with the referenced Siemens Controls system. The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources as a result of this notice of intent. All responses received within 15 days of the posting of this notice of intent will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government to require the brand name for the Siemens Controls system for the Chilled Water Plant Replacement and Utility Upgrades procurement based on this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to allow alternate system manufacturers.

Submit responses within 15 days of the posting of this notice of intent via email to: tyler.s.maryak@usace.army.mil and CC erin.e.bradley@usace.army.mil (list "W912WJ26X1B65 – Siemens" in the subject line of the email).