Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8d
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
January 4, 2022
DATE: December 10, 2021
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Eileen Francisco, Interim Director, Aviation Facilities & Capital Programs
Wayne Grotheer, Director Aviation Project Management Group
SUBJECT: Chiller Control Panel Upgrade Project Phase 2 (C801181) – Project Approval
Amount of this request:
$1,258,000
Total estimated project cost:
$1,288,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to (1) prepare design and
construction bid documents for the Chiller Panel Upgrade project phase 2 at Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport (STIA), and (2) develop, advertise, and execute a Public Works Building
Engineering Systems Contract to replace chiller control panels in the Central Mechanical Plant.
The amount of this request is $1,258,000 for a total estimated project cost of $1,288,000.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The reliable operation of the Central Mechanical Plant (CMP) is essential for passenger comfort
and Sea-Tac Airport operations. This project ensures operational integrity of the CMP through
the removal and replacement of the integrated control panels for five chiller units in the CMP.
The control panels for the five chillers are at the end of their useful life and are no longer
manufactured. If the control panels fail, the result is the chiller not being operable, reducing
chilling capacity and placing the Airport at risk of loss of essential facility cooling including
terminal, tenant, office areas, electrical, data and communication rooms, and all aircraft cooling
through the preconditioned air system. This upgrade will replace the integrated control panels at
the chiller, as well as any necessary hardware to maintain the existing interfaces to the Building
Automation System (BAS) Direct Digital Controls (DDC), and to the chiller starters located
remotely in the electrical room.
JUSTIFICATION
The reliable operation of the CMP is essential for passenger comfort and Sea-Tac Airport
operations. This project ensures operational integrity of the CMP through the removal and
replacement of the integrated control panels for 5 chiller units in the CMP. If one or more chiller
panels fail, the airport chilling capacity will be reduced greatly for the summer season.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. __8d__ Page 2 of 4
Meeting Date: January 4, 2022
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Diversity in Contracting
Project staff is engaged with Diversity in Contracting and is collaborating on a cohesive plan to
establish women and minority owned business enterprise (WMBE) aspirational goals and
inclusion plan.
DETAILS
In the central mechanical plant, replace and upgrade the chiller control panels on chillers 1, 2, 5,
6, and 8 with an updated visual control screen that will match chillers 3, 4, and 7 that were
upgraded in phase 1 of this project in 2019 under a separate CIP. The existing chiller control
panels are no longer manufactured and if they fail the chillers will not operate and provide
cooling to the airport terminal. The chiller control panel interfaces between the chiller, starter,
motor, oil system, compressor, and the building automation system to achieve the cooling
process required by the airport terminal. The 5 chillers each produce 1500 to 2,100 tons of
cooling and together represent 55% of the cooling capacity in the central plant. This upgrade will
replace the integrated control panels at each chiller as well as any necessary hardware to
maintain the existing interfaces to the building automation system and the chiller starters located
remotely in the electrical room. The new control panels will provide an updated visual control
screen, more reliability, updated software, and utilize parts that are readily available for future
service issues.
Scope of Work
Replace and upgrade the chiller control panels on chillers 1, 2, 5, 6, and 8. Replace hardware to
maintain the existing interfaces to the BAS, and to the chiller starters located remotely in the
electrical room. Add conduit, wire, fiber, and programming required to achieve the replacement
of the panel and interface to the electrical starters and BAS. Commission each of the 5 chillers at
the component, equipment, and then systems level to ensure each chiller operates
independently and in concert with the others to achieve the airport terminal cooling
requirements.
Schedule
The proposed schedule is to complete this project in Q3 2022.
Activity
Design start
2022 Quarter 1
Commission construction authorization
2022 Quarter 1
Construction start
2022 Quarter 2
In-use date
2022 Quarter 3
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. __8d__ Page 3 of 4
Meeting Date: January 4, 2022
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Cost Breakdown
This Request
Total Project
Design
$344,000
$374,000
Construction
$871,000
$871,000
Total
$1,258,000
$1,288,000
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1 – Do not perform the Chiller Upgrade.
Cost Implications: $30,000 of funding gets expensed
Pros:
(1) None
Cons:
(1) Project will cost more in the future when infrastructure fails.
(2) Infrastructure providing terminal cooling is at risk of failing.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 2 – Complete the project as proposed.
Cost Implications: $1,288,000
Pros:
(1) Fastest option for accomplishing the project
Cons:
(1) None
This is the recommended alternative.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary
Capital
Expense
Total
COST ESTIMATE
Original estimate
$1,288,000
$0
$1,288,000
AUTHORIZATION
Previous authorizations
$30,000
0
0
Current request for authorization
$1,258,000
0
$1,258,000
Total authorizations, including this request
$1,288,000
0
$1,288,000
Remaining amount to be authorized
$0
$0
$0
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. __8d__ Page 4 of 4
Meeting Date: January 4, 2022
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
This project, CIP C801181, was included in the 2022-2026 capital budget and plan of finance with
a budget of $1,288,000. The funding source will be the Airport Development Fund.
Financial Analysis and Summary
Project cost for analysis
$1,288,000
Business Unit (BU)
Terminal Building
Effect on business performance
(NOI after depreciation)
NOI after depreciation will increase due to inclusion of
capital (and operating) costs in airline rate base
IRR/NPV (if relevant)
N/A
CPE Impact
Less than $.01 in 2023
Future Revenues and Expenses (Total cost of ownership)
This project ensures the asset life of the chillers is realized. There is no anticipated increase to
Operations and Maintenance costs for this project.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
None
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
January 2, 2017, Commission approval for C800811 Chiller Panel Upgrade Project
