DOC NIST - Environmental Air Module Cooling System Replacement- MRAS

The Department of Commerce (DOC), in collaboration with the General Services Administration (GSA), is conducting market research to identify potential contractors for a project at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The primary goal of this initiative is to upgrade the environmental control systems within a metrology lab, ensuring precise climate conditions that are crucial for accurate scientific measurements. This project underscores the DOC's commitment to maintaining state-of-the-art facilities that support its mission of promoting innovation and industrial competitiveness.

The scope of work involves several critical tasks that require specialized expertise. Firstly, the contractor will be responsible for disconnecting and properly disposing of an existing water-cooled Environmental Air Module cooling system, along with its control system. This process will involve both mechanical and electrical disconnection procedures, ensuring compliance with all safety and environmental regulations. The dismantling must be executed meticulously to prevent any disruption or damage to the surrounding lab environment.

Following the removal of the old system, the contractor will provide and install a new high-performance water-cooled Environmental Air Module cooling system specifically designed for metrology applications. This installation includes comprehensive mechanical and electrical work to ensure seamless integration into the existing infrastructure. The new cooling system must achieve stringent performance standards: maintaining a temperature of 20 C with an accuracy of 0.05 C, sustaining a relative humidity level at 50% with 10% RH variability, and delivering over 300 air changes per hour (ACH). Additionally, a standalone control system will be installed to manage these parameters independently from any Building Automation System.

Given that this project is located within a secure facility, all work activities must comply with security protocols requiring badges for entry and completion during standard working hours. Contractors undertaking this project should have proven experience in similar installations within secured environments and possess a thorough understanding of precision climate control systems necessary for sensitive laboratory settings.