LCAO-RFP-2025-003 - Proposal for Engineering Services for the Replacement of Cooling Tower/Chiller

An existing EVAPCO cooling tower supplies condenser water to a system of 96 water-source heat pumps. Due to its age, the nature of its design, and its placement in relationship to the building, the cooling tower has begun to recirculate water to the heat pumps with a temperature that exceeds the desired 82-degree temperature required for optimal operation. At times, when the ambient outside air temperature in the location of the cooling tower exceeds 85 degrees, the temperature of the water returned to the heat pumps also exceeds 85 degrees, triggering a lockout mechanism on the heat pumps. Based on these facts and the resulting disruption of operations, the County desires to evaluate the replacement of this cooling tower with a central, closed loop, chiller system. Despite this preference, the County will also consider alternatives including replacement of the cooling tower with equivalent or improved technology that retains the existing system of heat pumps and does not involve a significant impact to the staff within the building.