HOTD Extended Warranty Agreement CO-GEN

The General Services Administration Central Heating & Refrigeration Plant (HOTD) currently supplies steam and chilled water service to over 65 federal buildings in the District of Columbia , serving agencies such as the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Agriculture (DOA), and Smithsonian Institute (SI). These services are a critical part of the customers’ daily operation. To guarantee that these customers receive steam and chilled water services without interruption, HOTD must continually maintain the plant’s critical equipment.

HOTD operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and the reliability of the plant is important as it supports an operation of Federal and Quasi-Federal customers. HOTD uses natural gas to produce steam for the space comforts at the customer buildings and it operates two chillers to produce chilled water for the building year around.

HOTD uses natural gas in a combine cycle mode, which first operates the gas turbines/electric generators and the turbine waste heat is then used in a boiler to produce steam. This combined cycle or co-generation also produces electricity for HOTD to avoid purchasing high priced electricity from the utility company. Average yearly savings are estimated over $5 million. The waste heat also increases boiler efficiency to result in additional savings. HOTD has invested several million dollars in the co-generation system to realize substantial savings and reduce pollution. The maintenance and operational support to operate this equipment was being performed for several years under the installation contractor, the Washington Gas Company, of which Solar Turbines Incorporated was the subcontractor and system manufacturer. 

The contractor shall provide comprehensive support for two Taurus 60 turbine/generator sets, encompassing scheduled turbine overhauls, generator reconditioning, and the replacement of components with new or remanufactured Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts as needed. The contract includes four maintenance visits per year, during which all instrumentation associated with the control system—including fire and gas detection systems—will be thoroughly tested. All field service work is performed by a highly skilled local team of qualified representatives, supported by OEM design engineers to ensure the highest standards of safety, reliability, and technical accuracy.

Solar Turbines is the proprietary manufacturer, installer, warranty holder, and service provider of this equipment. The agency’s minimum needs can only be satisfied by Solar Turbines Incorporated which has demonstrated a unique, innovative concept, and capability to perform extended warranty/preventive maintenance to the co-generation system, mainly consisting of two solar Taurus gas turbines, two generators and associated equipment at the Central Heating and Refrigeration Plant (HOTD).