In many situations, sole-sourcing a BAS offers some definite advantages as long as you can skirt around any requirement to bid the work out. Then there are also some possible disadvantages. Therefore, as with many BAS issues, the answer to this question is “it depends.” In my recent two columns, I covered the challenge of integrating new BAS additions and upgrades to existing BAS. In these cases, the advantages to sole-sourcing are extremely compelling. This month’s column addresses this question for new and/or fully renovated buildings where an all-new BAS will be installed.
If a new building is not part of a campus and is the owner’s sole building, then there is little advantage to sole-sourcing the BAS. However, a campus or multi-building owner will want to strongly consider the sole-sourcing of a BAS for a new or renovated building.