HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Awarding a Contract to Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc., for the Power Plant DCS Software and Hardware Upgrade RESOLUTION NO. 21-045
RESOLUTION AWARDING A CONTRACT TO EMERSON PROCESS
MANAGEMENT POWER& WATER SOLUTIONS, INC.,FOR THE POWER PLANT
DCS SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE UPGRADE
FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA
WHEREAS,the Electric Services Department uses a Distributed Control System(DCS)to
monitor status and operate the boilers,turbines, generators, and auxiliary equipment located in the
Power Plant and at remote times; and,
WHEREAS, the existing DCS system was installed in 2015 during the Natural Gas
Conversion project and the DCS was supplied and supported by Emerson Process Management
Power&Water Solutions, Inc., from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and,
WHEREAS, it has been common practice to update the DCS system hardware every five
years to maintain reliability and maintainability and it is recommended by the Original Equipment
Manufacturer(OEM); and,
WHEREAS, the proposed upgrades will include six servers, seven workstations, all up-to-
date Emerson Ovation software and all third-party software used to support the DCS, seven root
switches, one router,all on-site/off-site management as well as engineering to support the upgrade,
offsite Factory Acceptance Testing, on-site installation, and training; and,
WHEREAS,a part of the upgrade will include updating the existing Ovation Security Center
(OSC) to a Power and Water CyberSecurity Suite (PWCS), and this new hardware will also help
staff keep current in a world subject to North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)
operating requirements; and,
WHEREAS, the new PWCS will include a McAfee antivirus software package, replacing
the existing Kaspersky antivirus software which NERC recommends replacing due to its possible
ties with the Russian Government; and,
WHEREAS,the existing DCS cabinets,controllers,infostructure,wiring,and graphics need
to all remain in order to avoid greater costs, invasive hardware change outs, extensive down time,
and a new system training for all plant operators; thus requiring the upgrade project to be a single-
source purchase from Emerson; and,
WHEREAS, upgrading the existing DCS hardware with Emerson Ovation is the most
practical and cost-effective way to maintain system reliability and stay current with supported
software and hardware while gaining more functionality and security.
WHEREAS, staff requests that a Contract be awarded to Emerson Process Management,
Power & Water Solutions, Inc., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the amount of$422,803 (includes
$2,000 in freight); and,
WHEREAS, since Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc., is not
licensed to collect sales taxes for the State of Iowa, the City would pay up to $29,456.21 in
applicable Iowa sales taxes directly to the state, bringing the total cost to $450,259.21; and,
WHEREAS,the Capital Improvements Plan includes$375,000 in the 2020/21 fiscal year for
DCS hardware upgrades and the additional $77,259.21 will come from the Power Plant O&M
budget.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa,
that a Contract to Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc., of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania,for the Power Plant DCS Software and Hardware Upgrade in the amount of$422,803,
with the City paying the applicable sales taxes up to $29,456.21 directly to the State of Iowa is
hereby approved.
ADOPTED THIS 26`h day of January, 2021.
Diane R. Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
Introduced by: Gartin
Seconded by: Corrieri
Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Martin
Voting nay: None Absent: None
Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 26' day of January, 2021.