Sample Proposal: Installation of a Power Generator

sample proposalTitle : Installation of a Power Generator

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to propose a back-up generating plant at the new Lansing facility.

The problems that might result from an electrical power failure at the plant involve both personnel and facilities. Employee injuries could result from moving about with no lighting in the plant, being trapped inside closed tanks, and being struck by items falling from cranes that are operated by vacuum lifts or battery magnets. The plant itself would be in danger of damage from surface-drainage water, fire, and the freezing of pipes and heaters.

A surplus generator is available from our Field Force Division and could be installed for approximately $4060, including labor and material. It can be installed in the powerhouse’s air-compressor room during the month of January, and its operation will require minimum training of personnel.

The generator can meet all the plant’s emergency requirements and do so very economically.

Introduction

Purpose

This report proposes the installation of an on-site electrical generating plant at the new manufacturing facility in Lansing.

Problem

At present, a power failure would result in the following unsafe conditions for the employees: (1) plant lighting would be lost, and employees could not move safely within the plant; (2) employees working inside closed tanks could not get out until the tank could be rotated by an electric motor; (3) employees could be injured by item falling from the three overhead cranes that hold their loads by vacuum lifts or battery magnets and must set them down within 10 minutes after power failure.

A power failure would also cause damage to the plant: (1) the sump pump for surface-drainage water would not operate in the main office building and the basement of the grit-blast area, causing extensive damage to equipment; (2) the fire alarm systems and the main fire pump would not function, and a fire could not be contained; (3) during winter, loss of the main heating boilers would cause water lines and fire loop feedlines to freeze, break, flood areas of the plant, and ruin equipment.
SCOPE

In Section I, this report describes the installation of the generator. This is followed by sections on lighting and equipment changes, the schedule for the project, personnel training, and cost. At the end of the report, conclusions are presented.

SECTION I : INSTALLATION OF THE GENERATOR

A back-up generator is readily available for this project. One was purchased by the Field Force Division in 1970 for use as a standby unit at building sites. Because it was used only while other units were being repaired, the generator has operated for just 565 hours. Similar units have operated in excess of 15,000 hours, so the generator is almost new. It was built by Westinghouse and has a General Motors diesel engine.

The generator can be located in the air-compressor room at the powerhouse. This location will allow easy hookup to the main utility substation. The floor of the powerhouse is sufficient to hold the weight of the generator and to retain bolts needed to anchor the unit. The start-up fuel tank, located near the generator, will be used to operate the diesel engine.

Siding along the powerhouse’s east wall must be removed to allow entrance of the generator; a louvered panel will replace the siding and allow cooling air to circulate around the generator. Installation of the generator will require drilling holes in the floor to mount the anchor bolts. A rack must be built to hold the batteries for starting the diesel engine. An electric load-transfer panel will be assembled and wired into the existing substation, and a fuel line will be connected to the 2000 gallon fuel tank. Hooking the generator to the substation requires installation of three 460 volt cables between the powerhouse and the transformer. This can be accomplished by maintenance personnel.

SECTION II: LIGHTING AND EQUIPMENT CHANGES

In order to stay within the capacity of the generator and still provide the power needed to maintain necessary lighting and motor power, some electrical wiring changes must be made in the plant. Lighting circuits now operated by mechanical switches will have to be changed to electricity. This change means that if the electric power fails, the lighting will not turn on after auxiliary power is established, thus removing electrical loads during power failure. However, the night lights, which will turn on automatically with the start of auxiliary power; will allow employees to leave the plant safely.

The rotoblast power supply will have to be changed to a manual-start mode. This conversion requires the addition of one relay to the panel board and allows personnel operating the cranes to lower suspended loads safely to the floor.

Sump pumps used for the removal of drainage water from the office building and basement of the gritblast will automatically return to operation when auxiliary power is supplied. No changes will be required in the existing circuits to these pumps.

The fire alarm will function as soon as power is transferred to the generator. If a fire should start, the alarm would be sounded immediately. At that time, all electrical power would be turned off, including the night-light circuitry. This is necessary because the fire pump’s motor taxes the generator so much that very little electricity is available.

SECTION III: SCHEDULE FOR THE PROJECT

Phase One

Phase one will be completed during the normal work week, using plant personnel. This phase will include wiring the rotoblast, changing the lighting, installing anchor bolts, installing the fuel line, building and installing battery racks, and wiring the generator to the substation.

Phase Two

Phase two will involve Saturday work because two shifts of four workers each will be required, and these workers cannot be spared from duty during weekdays. Work will consist of removing the siding on the powerhouse wall, moving the generator into the powerhouse, installing it on its anchor bolts, and replacing the siding with a louvered panel.

Phase Three

Phase three will be accomplished on a Sunday when power can be turned off in the plant. Work will consist of hooking cables into the outside substation, hooking the fuel line to the engine, and connecting the power and battery cables to the generator. The power will be off for only half an hour, and no special precautions should be necessary because no operating personnel will be in the plant.

This project can begin 4 weeks before the start of plant shutdown, which is scheduled to begin July 7. Phase one can start June 21. Phase two can be done Saturday, June 22, and phase three can be completed Sunday, June 30.

SECTION IV: PERSONNEL TRAINING

No personnel training will be needed for starting the diesel generator. The control panel installed in the powerhouse will automatically start the engine in the event of a power failure and transfer the plant’s reduced electrical load to the generator.

Operation of the fire pump from auxiliary power requires the manual operation of a start switch. All members of the plant fire team are familiar with this operation.

SUPERVISION

All shop supervisors will be instructed about the limitations of the auxiliary power. These supervisors will tell their personnel which equipment should be operated to assure the safe shutdown. The supervisors have enough experience in their areas to know what needs to be done. All instructions to supervisors will be covered by an interoffice memorandum when the auxiliary generator is operational.

MAINTENANCE

Routine maintenance on the engine and generator, using plant maintenance personnel who are familiar with this type of equipment, will be scheduled. The generator will be tested once per month to insure its availability for an emergency.

SECTION V: COST

The generator, which cost $14,657 in 1963, is now worth approximately $4330 and is available at no cost.

Following are estimated costs for installing the generator, which include labor to build and install the necessary equipment, and costs for material.

Labor rates for plant personnel are based on the latest figures for this plant. Straight-time labor is $7.00 per hour, time and a half is $9.25 per hour, and double time is $11.50 per hour:

Material —————– $2,450.00
Labor ——————– 1,240.00
—————————– $3,690.00
Contingency (10%)——— 370.00
TOTAL COST FOR PROJECT — $3,690.00

CONCLUSION

  1. Our new manufacturing facility in Lansing represents an investment of $7 million and employs 300 people. Any interruption of electric power would create a total blackout and completely halt the equipment. This would result in very unsafe conditions for employees trying to move within the plant. Damage to equipment and spoilage of materials would also result if the power failure were prolonged.
  2. Considering the safety of the employees, $4060 for back-up generator is an extremely reasonable investment. In addition, the facilities and equipment that might be damaged during a power failure would cost more than installation of the generator.

Source: Technical Report Writing Today second edition by Steven E. Pauley

Sample Proposal: Establishment of a Cindy’s Fast Food

Sample Proposal

Title: Establishment of a Cindy’s Fast Food Branch Along Plaza of Balanga, Bataan

Date : January 25, 2000

To: Bataan Traders Inc.
From: Herrera Consultancy
Subject: Establishment of Cindy’s Fast Food Branch Along Plaza of Balanga, Bataan

Part of my job as public relations director of HERRERA CONSULTANCY is to propose to big business establishments an expansion of their business interests. Having been notified that your company plans to engage in another business venture, I offer you, with optimism, this proposal.

The food centers at the plaza of Balanga could not accommodate all the customers especially during peak hours, the area being thickly populated by students, professionals and permanent residents. Most of the fast food is only classified as class C or D. In fact, students and professionals go as far as the near town just to dine with friends and loves ones because no food center is available during peak periods.

To remedy this problem, I propose that you choose the area along Plaza for your business expansion. This proposal details the problems, the solutions and the cost.

The Problem

With an 8.5% inflation rate, life is becoming more difficult each day. This is aggravated by the 80% unemployment and under-employment. With this scenario, choosing a business and its location poses a problem among entrepreneurs. Some of the major problems that may be met are the following:

Kind of business. What kind of business will one engage in?
Location. What is the best location for a business?
Cost of land. Where can one find the cheapest land?
Security. Is it safe to engage in business there?
Financial reward. Will one be financially merited in such business?

Businessmen should solve the problems. They must be sure that their venture will be financially rewarding.

The Solution

The problems aforementioned can be solved.

  • Kind of business. Man can forego almost every thing except food. Men have to eat and they do everything to fill in their stomachs. This fact makes the food business rewarding.
  • Location. The best place to establish a food center is the plaza since this is the center of town activities and it is near the colleges, municipal, church, hospital, public and private offices and residences.
  • Cost of land. The P20,000 per square meter of land is comparative low since the current price of land in the area is P25,000. The lot owner will leave for the United States for good and the property has to be disposed immediately.
  • Security. This is a major consideration of a business enterprise. The Cindy’s Fast Food Branch along Plaza is very secure because of several establishments around. Policemen are assigned to secure the place on a 24 hour routine.
  • Profitability. The 5 million population in Bataan concentrate in this area. Statistics show that about two million live in the place. Since most food centers cater to people, Cindy’s Fast Food along Plaza will be the most patronized branch of the food chain.

The Cost

Establishing a food chain is not easy but the proposed center is not very costly as shown in the list below.

Land P40,000,000.00
Building P 4,000,000.00
Equipments. P 1,000,000.00

Total Cost P 45,000,000.00

Conclusion

This proposal has shown the viability of establishing the Cindy’s Fast Food branch along Plaza Balanga, Bataan. There is no better place than the Plaza. There is no better business than a food center. There is no better time than now.

I will drop by later this month to discuss any question you might have about the proposal.

Format of Research Proposal

1. Prefatory parts

Title Page
Letter of Transmittal
Table of Contents
List of Tables and/or figures (if any)
Executive summary or abstract

2. Body of Proposal

Introduction
—– Problem
—-Need
—-Background
—-Objective or Purpose

Procedures (Discussion section)
—-Methods and sources
—-Strategies
—-Equipment, facilities, products

Personal qualifications

Evaluation and benefits of project

Budget of cost, prices, total bid

3. Supplementary Parts.

Agency forms
—-Budget justification
—-References

Tables, maps, graphs (if any)

Kinds and Classification of Proposal

Kinds of Proposals

  1. Technical Proposal – solves a technical problem.
  2. Management Proposal – explains the client how the entire project will be managed, tells who will manage it, and suggests a time schedule for the completion of the project.
  3. Cost Proposal – gives a detailed breakdown of the cost in terms of labor and materials.

Classification of Proposal

1. Solicited Proposal – requested by a client or a customer, invitation to bid ( bid request, purchase request or request for proposals)

a) Government Agency – Invitation to bid – the agency gives the exact specifications for the product or service it is seeking.

b) Request for Proposal (RFP) indicates that it has a problem for which it would like the bidder to propose a solution or solutions.

2. Unsolicited Proposal – submitted without a request

It is prepared by a company in the hope that the excellence of the idea or plan proposed will persuade the potential client of the need.

Definition of Proposal

What is Proposal?

  • Attempts to sell an idea, concept, an equipment, a complex system, a service or anything else.
  • Can be used as sales tool
  • Define a problem and means to solve it.
  • Designed to convince a client that the company or organization handling the proposal is better qualified to supply a desired product or services than are all the other companies submitting proposals.
  • It is a brief or a very short report written by a single author or a team of writers. It is factual, objective, logical and clear. It precedes the feasibility study.