MAL John Day Tree Cooler Maintenance

Perform the maintenance and repairs necessary for the John Day Tree Cooler’s glycol-based refrigeration system (including humidity control and fans) to keep the tree cooler at the appropriate temperature and humidity to store tree seedlings for the duration of planting season.

The John Day Tree Cooler is needed for keeping conifer seedlings refrigerated at the proper temperature and humidity throughout the duration of planting season, generally in the springtime between mid-March through the end of June. This cooler has been in operation since 1982 with the current glycol-based refrigeration system updated in parts and pieces since then. It features a glycol refrigerant tank and system, humidifier, a large control panel for the glycol and humidity systems, and two large fan systems based out of a locked operations room. The tree cooler is located in the Forest Service compound, address 150 Government Road John Day, Oregon 97845. Forest Service Compound outlined in red, tree cooler outlined in purple.

The maintenance and repairs to this refrigeration system is only anticipated to be for three years at the maximum with services unlikely in year three (FY2026 is mandatory, FY2027 and FY2028 are Option Years to be exercised as necessary). The installation of a new tree cooler refrigeration system is planned and cycling through contracting with the best-case scenario being operational in FY2027. Option Years are dependent upon that progress, and it is unlikely that FY2028 will be exercised if timelines proceed as anticipated.

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