Asked by Apex Mechanical LLC: "Per page 9 of the ITB, section 9 shows a list of documents to be completed with the bid submission package. However, the following forms are missing from the ITB.
-Conflict of Interest Statement
-Certification of Compliance with Wage Payment Status. | Addressed in Addendum 004. | 9/19/2025 2:14:38 PM |
| The Units with more than 1 thermostat such as RAC-2 and MAH-2. Can 1 thermostat be user adjustable and the other be a flat plate? | Answered in Addendum 003. | 9/16/2025 2:42:49 PM |
| I didn't see a lighting controls interface on the JCI as-builts. How do the lighting controls currently integrate? | Answered in Addendum 003. | 9/16/2025 2:30:58 PM |
I'm having difficulty finding if I need to present a formal request for an installer/product substitution or if just asking as a Question suffices for the substitution request. Upload a request in a form or somewhere on this portal that I'm not finding?
FSI had told me verbally we were an accepted nate, but I understand formalities.
Addendum 001 references Section 2, page 13 from the Invite to Bid Narrative - I'm trying to make sure I submit correctly and as expected. | Please submit your substitution request in the Question & Answer section of the portal, just as you have posted this question. It is also formally answered in Addendum 002. | 9/9/2025 11:13:07 AM |
RFI – Tracer Controls Substitution Request
Subject: Request to Approve Tracer Controls (Trane) as Alternate to Specified Niagara 4 Framework
Spec/Drawing Reference:
Division 25/23 – Building Automation (“Acceptable Installers/Integrators,” “Substitutions/Pre-Approval”); Instructions to Bidders – Or-Equal/Pre-Approval Procedures.
Issue:
The bid documents currently specify Niagara 4 framework exclusively for the BAS controls. Trane requests approval to substitute Tracer controls as an equivalent native. Tracer controls are fully BACnet-compliant, representing an open system with no proprietary software barriers, and can be integrated with any third-party controls.
Owner Goal (per pre-bid discussion):
Maintain multi-vendor serviceability and avoid single-vendor dependency over the life of the system.
Question:
Please confirm whether Tracer Controls, provided and integrated by Trane, will be accepted as an approved substitution/equal to the Niagara 4 framework and Trane as an approved vendor for the BAS Controls Upgrade project. Tracer Controls meet bid requirements, are based on an open BACnet protocol, and utilize the Tracer Synchrony web-based interface—which does not require proprietary software or a dedicated workstation, and can be accessed securely via standard web browsers. Please see attached files for supporting documentation on the interoperability and open basis of Trane Controls.
Proposed Resolution (Engineer to approve/modify):
Add to Controls spec:
Tracer Controls provided and integrated by Trane. | This is answered in Addendum 002. | 9/5/2025 2:46:46 PM |
| It is unclear in the project documents if the contractor or the owner will be procuring the commissioning effort for the project. Can you provide clarifications if commissioning is expected to be under the contractor for if the owner will procure commissioning? | This is answered in Addendum 002. | 9/5/2025 1:16:35 PM |
| Will you be accepting native spec for controls - specifically Distech controls. | This is answered in Addendum 001. | 8/29/2025 7:40:04 PM |
RFI-03 Approved BAS Bidder/Integrator: MacDonald Miller Facility Solutions
Subject: RFI 03 – Add MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions as Approved BAS Bidder/Integrator, MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions meets all bid requirements.
Spec/Drawing Reference: Division 25/23 – Building Automation (“Acceptable Installers/Integrators,” “Substitutions/Pre-Approval”); Instructions to Bidders – Or-Equal/Pre-Approval Procedures.
Issue: The bid documents do not list MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions (MMFS) as an approved BAS bidder/integrator. This may limit competitive participation and conflict with the project’s open-access/open-protocol intent.
Owner Goal (per pre-bid discussion): Maintain multi-vendor serviceability and avoid single-vendor dependency over the life of the system.
Question: Please confirm that MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions is added to the list of approved BAS bidders/integrators for this project.
Proposed Resolution (Engineer to approve/modify):
Add to Controls spec:
- Honeywell provided by MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions.
- Siemens provided by MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions.
| This is answered in Addendum 001. | 8/29/2025 12:06:55 PM |
RFI-02 Define "Open Protocol/Open Access" Minimum Requirements
Subject: RFI 02 – Define Open Access/Interoperability Minimums for BAS Supervisor
Spec/Drawing Reference: Division 25/23 Controls – BAS front end requirements
Issue: “Open protocol/open access” is not defined. This can be satisfied superficially (e.g., BACnet integration only) while the supervisor, databases, licensing, and tools remain closed.
Question: Will the engineer include the following minimum, testable requirements for the supervisory platform (these reflect common Niagara capabilities and market expectations for open access)?
Proposed Language (ready for addendum):
The BAS supervisory platform shall, at minimum:
- Multi-vendor ecosystem: Be supported by multiple independent system integrators in the region; not restricted to a single manufacturer’s service channel.
- Licensing & ownership: Perpetual runtime license; Owner is licensee; no subscription required for continued operation. Provide license transfer rights to Owner if service provider changes.
- Engineering tools access: Deliver full administrator credentials and the native engineering tool to the Owner (e.g., Niagara Workbench or equal) so any qualified integrator can edit graphics, logic, databases, alarms, schedules, trends, and drivers.
- Unlocked deliverables: Provide unlocked station/project databases, graphics source files, custom logic/blocks, driver configurations, and backups at project closeout.
- Protocol interoperability: Native BACnet/IP client/server with BBMD/Foreign Device support; support for Modbus TCP/RTU and other common drivers without proprietary gateways.
Impact if Unresolved: Bids may include proprietary supervisors with limited tools access; Owner may be unable to rebid service competitively later. | This is answered in Addendum 001. | 8/29/2025 11:20:04 AM |
RFI-01 Supervisory Software Framework Clarification
Subject: RFI 01 – BAS Supervisory Software “Open Protocol/Open Access” vs. Basis of Design
Spec/Drawing Reference: Division 25/23 Controls – Sections covering BAS front end / supervisory software
Issue: The spec calls for an “open protocol/open access” BAS. It does not identify a basis-of-design supervisory platform. Absent a named framework or detailed equivalency criteria, vendors may propose proprietary or semi-proprietary front ends that limit the Owner’s long-term service options.
Owner Goal (per pre-bid discussion): Avoid being tied to a single vendor and preserve multi-vendor service/support over the life of the system.
Question: Please confirm that the required supervisory software is Tridium Niagara 4.x (Niagara Supervisor with JACE/edge controllers) as the basis of design to meet the open access intent.
Proposed Resolution (Engineer to approve/modify):
Add to Controls spec:
“Basis of Design: Tridium Niagara 4.x Framework. Equivalent platforms may be proposed only if they meet all ‘Open Access/Interoperability Minimums’ in RFI 02 and provide the same multi-vendor service ecosystem.”
Impact if Unresolved: Risk of non-comparable bids, post-award substitutions toward proprietary platforms, potential Owner lock-in, and higher lifecycle cost. | This is answered in Addendum 001. | 8/29/2025 11:15:59 AM |
| Will you consider an nate spec for Distech controls? | This is answered in Addendum 001. | 8/28/2025 3:10:03 PM |
| Will DDC manufacturer/installer substitutions be considered during this bidding process? | This is answered in Addendum 001. | 8/28/2025 1:26:27 PM |