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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: David E. Schumacher, P.E.; Superintendent of Water Production
DATE: March 11, 2021
SUBJECT:
A Resolution Authorizing the Replacement of Obsolete Programmable Logic Controllers for the Water Production Division.
PURPOSE:
To obtain City Council authorization for Tri-R Systems Incorporated (Tri-R), DeKalb, IL, to provide the technical services for replacing programmable logic controllers (PLC's) and related hardware components for Filter Nos. 9 - 12, Claricone 5, Sample Room 2, the Master Polling Radio, and Lime Slaker Nos. 1, 2, and 3. In addition, all necessary related programming and system integration with the existing water treatment plant Supervisory, Control, and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system is to be completed.
BACKGROUND:
In the mid 2010's similar projects were completed for several PLC's throughout the SCADA system to upgrade communication protocols from the obsolete DH+ protocol to standard Ethernet communications.
The current subject PLC's to be replaced (a total of nine) have been discontinued by the original manufacturer (Rockwell Allen-Bradley) and are considered obsolete. Replacement units and parts are no longer being made by the manufacturer. Once the current material supply is exhausted, replacement parts and units will no longer be available. With replacement to current units, auxiliary parts will be readily available when future repairs are required.
DISCUSSION:
The labor portion of the project, both installation and programming/integration, is highly technical and rises to the level of professional services. The proposals provided by Tri-R are all inclusive of those professional services as well as providing all needed hardware components at a total cost of $143,750.00. Purchasing delicate and specific electronic components and assuming they will function together correctly without overall coordination can lead to ongoing deficiencies. Thus, it is believed to be in the City's best interes...
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