The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Louisville District will be soliciting proposals for the Forage Animal Production Research Unit (FAPRU – Lexington Campus Facility) as a new research facility for the United States Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS). The project site is in Lexington, Kentucky on the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (UK-CAFE) campus. As part of the construction contract solicitation, the USACE intends to include the following standards/use of brand name references as necessary to convey requirements but is not intended to restrict competition. The identified brand name items or proprietary specifications are intended to solely relay the basis of design (BOD):

Fixed Site Furnishings - as dictated within the University of Kentucky Campus Landscape Guidelines, dated April 2019. The specification for a certain site furnishing will include the manufacturer’s name, product line, model number, etc. along with all salient characteristics necessary for “equal” products to meet contract performance requirements. While it is possible for many manufacturers to produce the furnishings that are functionally equivalent to these specified fixed site furnishings by the University of Kentucky standards, the descriptions themselves are nonetheless proprietary specifications unique to particular manufacturers. The contract performance requirements are not proprietary and can be met by all established manufacturers. Manufacturer(s) and product line(s) are identified only to establish a cohesive aesthetic since the project is located within the University of Kentucky and will relate to the fuller extent of the campus.

Basis of Design Products.

• Varsity® Bike Dock® - DV215


• Scarborough™ Litter Receptacles

Exterior Copper Panel - The exterior design of a facility includes building-related design elements and components as part of the building construction, such as exterior glazing and cladding (e.g., glass, stone, metal panels, etc.) The architectural designer must determine the desired exterior finish materials based on the respective aesthetic of the University of Kentucky’s campus architecture, performance, durability and maintenance qualities, and characteristics applicable to the design of the exterior building facades of the facility. The exterior is designed by a qualified architectural designer. It is necessary for the government to include brand names or proprietary specifications for specific key exterior materials to have a complete and comprehensive design that can be properly conveyed to the construction contractor and meet necessary aesthetic and performance requirements. UFC Requirements: (reference UFC 3-120-10, paragraph 4-5.1).

The architectural designer must provide specific pre-weathered copper metal panel material product information to be used as a BOD standard. The Government prohibits the use of proprietary materials, finishes and colors. A disclaimer must be used on the drawings or in the specifications indicating that this exterior pre-weathered copper metal panel material BOD product is for aesthetic and performance reference only. However, it is important to use specific manufacturer, product information to ensure the performance and pre-weathered color and pattern are achieved to ensure the exterior design intent for the project is met.

Exterior Glazing - For exterior architectural design and architectural purposes, this exterior material will communicate material’s energy performance, visual clarity, neutral color and low visual reflectivity / high transparency. When preparing a BOD for a construction project, it is not practicable to convey the required glazing characteristics to potential offerors using mere descriptions. For example, it is not feasible to adequately describe the particular neutral color the glass must be as well as the visual clarity and low visual reflectivity / high transparency when looking at it from the exterior or through it from the interior spaces. A basis of design product must be used in order to provide aesthetic compatibility with other buildings on the north end of University of Kentucky’s campus and set a precedent for new construction requirements on the south end of campus where this project is sited. This basis of design requirement will ensure the intended neutral color, visual clarity, and low visual reflectivity / high transparency as well as the required energy performance can be conveyed by referencing a specific glazing product, and this product can then be replicated by any other qualified glazing manufacturer. Therefore, the use of brand name references is necessary to convey this material’s performance and aesthetic requirements but is not intended to restrict competition. The identified brand name items or proprietary specifications are intended to solely relay the BOD for the exterior glazing material only and not the curtain wall framing system it will be installed within. The specification for exterior glazing will include the manufacturer’s name, product line, and specific product information, etc. along with all salient performance information.

Site Area Lighting - The University of Kentucky carries a campus standard for Site Area lighting to be utilized for all projects on campus. To ensure aesthetic integration with the parking area lighting and street area lighting surrounding the site, it is necessary to provide a basis-of-design fixture to be utilized in the parking areas built as part of the project. While it is possible for many manufacturers to produce the fixtures that are functionally equivalent to these specified site area lighting fixtures by the University of Kentucky standards, the descriptions themselves are nonetheless proprietary specifications unique to particular manufacturers. The contract performance requirements are not proprietary and can be met by all established manufacturers. Manufacturer(s) and product line(s) are identified only to establish a cohesive aesthetic since the project is located within the University of Kentucky and will relate to the fuller extents of the campus.