USDA Forage Animal Production Research Unit (FAPRU) Notice of Intent - Sole Source

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Louisville District will be soliciting proposals for the Forage Animal Production Research Unit (FAPRU – Lexington Campus Facility) as a new research facility for the United States Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS). The project site is in Lexington, Kentucky on the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (UK-CAFE) campus. As part of the construction contract solicitation, the USACE intends to include the following sole source requirements:Fire Alarm System - The campus standards require the use of a fire alarm control unit that is compatible with the campus fiber network. The campus fiber network allows real-time status of all fire alarm systems on campus and is utilized for responding to emergency and non-emergency/maintenance conditions. The campus fiber network is only compatible with certain Simplex fire alarm control units. USDA-ARS makes every effort to integrate with

the local partner. It facilitates consistency throughout the campus, speed and efficiency of response in emergency situations and ease of maintenance. The local partner, University of Kentucky, has an established proprietary fire alarm campus fiber network. The campus fiber network is only compatible with Simplex fire alarm control units. In addition to compatibility with the campus fiber network, the use of a Simplex fire alarm control unit ensures that the campus partner is familiar with the control unit operation, has ready access to parts, and that maintenance staff are both familiar with the equipment but also the local procedures on the campus. This will facilitate faster response to maintenance tasks and provides more detailed information to the responding fire personnel in an emergency situation.Building Automation - The campus standards require the use of a building automation system that is compatible with the existing building automation system, and which utilizes like equipment, programming and protocols. The campus system integrates information from all University of Kentucky facilities and is utilized for responding to emergent issues and incidents with monitored facility conditions and equipment. The network is only compatible with Niagara based building automation systems. USDA-ARS makes every effort to integrate with the local partner. It facilitates consistency throughout the campus, speed and efficiency of response and ease of maintenance. The local partner, University of Kentucky, has an established proprietary building automation system. In addition to compatibility with the campus system, the use of a Niagara platform system ensures that the campus partner is familiar with the system and equipment, has ready access to parts, and that maintenance staff are both familiar with the equipment but also the local procedures on the campus, as well being able to utilize existing relationships with service contractors if required who are familiar with the campus system. This will facilitate faster response to maintenance tasks and provides more detailed information to the responding personnel in an emergency situation.Electrical Metering – The University of Kentucky campus standards require use of one of three allowable manufacturers to properly integrate into the campus metering system. In addition to the University of Kentucky requirements, to comply with agency security requirements, USDA-ARS requires all meters to be scanned and provided with a remediation plan. Upon contract award, the Contractor must submit an RFI to USDA-ARS IT Security personnel to determine if the meter has been scanned and has an appropriate remediation plan in place. If it does not, a meter must be provided to USDA-ARS and a remediation plan developed with the meter manufacturer. Either of the three allowable meters is acceptable, and all must comply with agency security requirements.Structured Cabling - The Telecommunications Structured Cabling System (SCS) is a campus-wide system, functioning to support all wired network (WAN and LAN), voice (both analog and VoIP), and terrestrial cable television (CATV). It is maintained, serviced, repaired, and installed under the supervision of University of Kentucky (UK). Although SCSs are standardized and follow performance requirements, each system has different termination and certification requirements. For this reason, UK has requirements for specific components included in their 271000 TELECOMMUNICATIONS Standards Doc. The intent of this project is to have an SCS installed by the Contractor, which will be maintained and supported by UK, as their service personnel will be qualified and are capable of timely responses due to their presence on campus.Electronic Security Systems - Various Electronic Security Systems have been designed for the USDA FAPRL project at UK. The first is the Government-owned and operated electronic access control system. This shall be specified and installed per standards open-source requirements. The building will also have a smaller Electronic Access Control system, which will be dedicated to the UK telecom rooms and be tied into their overall campus system. In order to tie in and be operational, this equipment must align with campus standards and be purchased accordingly. This applies to only two (2) doors in the facility. The facility will also have a Video Surveillance System that will cover both interior and exterior spaces. Through the design process, it was determined that this should be installed as a part of the construction project, but then monitored and maintained by UK. UK Police currently monitors the campus cameras and will be better suited to responding to any incidents. They have also agreed to provide footage and/or live feeds from these cameras to USDA-ARS as needed for their purposes. Because these cameras will be integrated in the rest of the campus system, it is critical that they can be set up, maintained, and operated according to campus standard procedures.