Brand_Name_Justification_(Redacted).pdf

Version 1.0

Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

FOR AN ACTION EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

USING SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS

(AUTHORITY: FAR 13.501(a), 41 U.S.C. 1901)

NMAN6000-19-00308

1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce, NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Eastern Region Acquisition Division (ERAD) and the NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO), Aircraft Operations Center (AOC).

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

NOAA AOC intends to award a new, 5-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for “full-service” repair of NOAA Hartzell Propellers, to include a Brand Name restriction for the purchase of replacement Hartzell Propellers, as necessary.

3. Description of supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the total estimated value).

This acquisition is to provide “full-service” for the Hartzell Propellers utilized by the NOAA’s light propeller aircraft fleet at a total estimated cost of XXXXXXXXX over the five-year period. “Full-service” includes inspection, overhaul, balancing, repair and upgrade of NOAA’s current Hartzell Propellers. In addition, this requirement will include the purchase of new Hartzell Propellers to replace end-of-life and/or damaged propellers to allow for the AOC to meet operational and safety requirements.

The otherwise competitive solicitation will include a Brand Name restriction, as documented in this justification, which covers the purchase of new Hartzell Propellers, not the “full service” of the NOAA’s Hartzell Propellers. New Hartzell Propellers have an estimated cost of XXXXXXXXX over the 5-year period as follows:

Year Two: Hartzell HC-B3TN-3DY propeller(s) and Hartzell HC-B4MP-3C propeller(s), estimated at XXXXXXXX.

Year Four: Hartzell HC-B3TN-3DY propeller, estimated at XXXXXXXXX.

Year Five: Hartzell HC-B4MP-3C propeller, estimated at XXXXXXXXX.

4. Statutory authority permitting the sole source (including brand name) acquisition.

X 41 U.S.C. 1901, using SAP up to $7M as authorized by FAR 13.500(a) and implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

□ 41 U.S.C. 1903, using SAP up to $13M for contingency operations as authorized by

FAR 13.500(c) and implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The contracting officer has determined the following circumstances justify the use of a Brand Name as supported below:

Supporting and operating an aircraft requires specialized tools, spare parts, and training that is specific to the type of aircraft. As such, uniformity of parts for like and/or similar aircraft allows for significant flexibility concerning resources and costs. NOAA AOC owns and operates the following light, propeller aircraft:

Aircraft Type Registration Number

Serial Number

Hartzell Propeller Model

DHC-6-300 Twin Otter N46RF 824 HC-B3TN-3DY

DHC-6-300 Twin Otter N48RF 740 HC-B3TN-3DY

DHC-6-300 Twin Otter N56RF 788 HC-B3TN-3DY

DHC-6-300 Twin Otter N57RF 688 HC-B3TN-3DY

AC695A Jet Prop Turbo Commander N45RF 96089 HC-B3TN-5D

B300C King Air N68RF FM-21 HC-B4MP-3C

To Be Acquired King Air 350 TBD` TBD HC-B4MP-3C

Hartzell Propeller, Inc. propellers are the original equipment provided by the manufacturers for NOAA’s Twin Otters, King Air and Turbo Commander aircraft. Utilization of a different brand would require additional costs to modify the certification of the aircraft. For example, both propellers on NOAA’s multi-engine aircraft need to match for performance and safety of flight considerations; consequently, if a propeller other than a Hartzell Propeller, Inc. propeller is purchased, AOC will need to purchase two propellers, vice one, for every aircraft. Furthermore, utilization of a different brand name propeller for different aircraft prevent standardization of propellers used in NOAA’s fleet. Extensive aircraft fleet commonality and standardization research has shown that vast improvements exist with respect to compliance-based safety culture, economical and logistical benefits from shared common parts, training requirements, and aircrew efficiencies. Safety is vastly improved through aircraft fleet standardization efforts, to include utilizing the same brand propellers for all of NOAA’s light, propeller aircraft.

Due to AOC’s stringent aircraft safety requirements and the current established maintenance programs for NOAA’s light, propeller aircraft, Hartzell propellers are the only viable option for this procurement. It would be harmful to the Government, NOAA AOC’s financial well-being and NOAA AOC’s safety and standardization objectives from diminished fleet commonality purchase of future propellers is not limited to Hartzell Propeller, Inc. propellers.

6. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies.

In accordance with FAR 5.2, an appropriate notice will be posted to the Government Point of Entry FedBizOpps (FBO). In addition, the Request for Quotation, inclusive of this brand name justification, will be posted on FBO for all interested and capable sources.

7. Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The Contracting Officer will determine anticipated cost to the Government as fair and reasonable in accordance with FAR 13.106-3.

8. Description of the market research conducted (see Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Further market research was not conducted because AOC has personnel that are familiar with purchasing propellers, and they are able to provide potential source companies and cost estimates.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of a sole source (including brand name), such as:

NOAA has not experienced any unexpected mechanical failures or witnessed a degradation in manufacturing quality of Hartzell Propeller, Inc. propellers in the three decades that NOAA has been flying aircraft that utilize this brand of propeller.

10. List of the sources that expressed a written interest in the acquisition.

None.

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

The Government will continue to conduct market research to gauge the marketplace capabilities for future requirements as the aviation industry evolves.