Building Energy Management System (BEMS)

Description

The Scottish Parliament is seeking to replace its existing BEMS HVAC control system with a true open protocol BEMS. The BEMS contractor will be responsible for the management, design, purchase, installation, testing and commissioning of the new BEMS. The contractor will also be required to maintain the replacement BEMS after installation. The Building and Energy Management System (BEMS) is a business-critical tool which provides visibility and control of Holyrood building services, primarily; heating, ventilation, air conditioning and domestic hot water (HVAC) within the Parliament Buildings. The BEMS is used to ensure that building spaces, including principal areas such as the Debating Chamber and Committee Rooms, are kept at an appropriate temperature to meet the needs of building occupants. Importantly, the BEMS ensures that business critical BIT, Security and Broadcasting comms rooms containing servers, switches, and other essential IT based equipment, are maintained at the correct temperature and humidity to ensure their reliable operation. The BEMS provides a user interface which allows on-site specialist operators to monitor and manage energy use within Holyrood. The BEMS assists the Facilities Management team and its on-site contractors in identifying live issues with the control and visibility of plant and equipment, the failure of which could impact on occupant comfort due to temperature deviations or, at worst, lead to critically high temperatures and eventual IT failures in BIT, Broadcast or Security comms rooms. The BEMS system is a key enabler in allowing the SPCB to meet its net zero carbon obligations, a key corporate target for the organisation. Some of those targets can only be met by introducing new technologies and systems that must be able to interface effectively with the BEMS. The existing BEMS cannot easily adopt and control newer HVAC technologies, with parts of the original BEMS network unable to connect to modern systems, while the system itself has become obsolete. The Scottish Parliament is seeking to replace its existing BEMS HVAC control system with a true open protocol BEMS. The BEMS contractor will be responsible the management, design, purchase, installation, testing and commissioning of the new BEMS. The contractor will also be required to maintain the replacement BEMS after installation. It is proposed that the existing system is replaced in sections over three financial years commencing Autumn 2023. The correct phasing and sequencing of the BEMS replacement is critical to the continued functioning of the building. There are limited times when work can be carried out within the building without the operation of the building being compromised. The replacement works will therefore require to be carried out primarily during Parliament holidays and recesses.