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RFI Process control system plumbing and programming

Description

SYNOPSIS: This Sources Sought Announcement is to assist the US Army DEVCOM Soldier Center to identify potential sources to provide expert engineering support to trouble shoot process control system providing steam water and air. Must have expertise in process control plumbing and control valves for steam systems. Must have expertise in Allen Bradley PLC programming. The Government requests that responses be submitted electronically to mary.k.prebensen.civ@army.mil and Wesley.s.shaw.civ@army.mil by November 26th, 2026 by 5pm EST. Background: The Government (DEVCOM Soldier Center) is in need of expert engineering support to diagnose current PLC and piping system which support multiple hydraulic press systems. The existing system controls water, steam and air to molding tooling, and the PLC operates on custom Allen-Bradley control software. As it stands, the system is physically installed, however does not provide necessary temperature control in either manual or automatic modes. Issues may be traced to the original system design, pipe rack installation, PLC programming or some combination of the three. Description: Expert engineering services are sought to diagnose newly installed PLC control system to ensure that it can meet system design requirements, can be operated safely and reliably, and is adaptable for future operation and changing requirements. A new PLC system has been designed and installed per a list of system requirements, however is not able to control temperature per design requirements either due to control logic, poor valve selection or related piping design/installation. SC requires a 3rd party engineering service to validate as-built drawings against the installed system, verify/update PLC programming, provide necessary hardware changes to bring the system up to full operability. Specific System Specifications: Electric steam boiler provides 125psi dry steam as primary heat source for molding tooling. Standalone chiller provides chilled water at ~60 psi, and house air provides air for purge and mist functions. The Allen-Bradley PLC system controls the various media through a series of modulating valves to heat or cool the tooling. The PLC is intended to have recipe writing and management for automated control. Basic recipe for our process includes steam heat via pressure control to desired temperature setpoint, hold for ~1 hr while controlling temperature. The tooling is then cooled with chilled water at a controlled cooling rate. Our standard tooling includes an upper and lower platen, and the PLC has capability to control these independently. Additional system requirements will be included if there is a future RFP. Current known system issues: System will not maintain equivalent temperature for upper and lower platens during heat up or hold. System will not control cooling rate based on system feedback loop. System trend screen not displaying data correctly. System alarms remain untested. Mist function does not function without…