A.02.05 JA Sole Source Basler Redacted.pdf

Control Number: 21-0021

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION & APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. CONTRACTING AGENCY: US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Walla Walla District (CENWW- CT) 201 North 3rd, Walla Walla, WA 99362.

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION: This justification is for a new firm-fixed price, sole source contract to supply new Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) Basler Exciter Controllers replacements for Ice Harbor Project's exciter systems used on generating units 1-3. Excitor controllers for unit 2 will be purchased in FY 2021 and pending funding availability remaining controllers will be purchased in FY2021 or FY2022.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, requires replacement of three (3) failing Basler exciter controllers with new Basler exciter controllers. The Basler controllers provide critical controls to Basler Exciters that provide excitation voltages for generating units 1-3.

4. AUTHORITY CITED:

a. FAR 13.106-(b) Soliciting from a Sole Source. For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, Contracting Officers may solicit from one source if the contracting Officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available ( e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name or industrial mobilization).

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED:

a. BACKGROUND: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Ice Harbor Lock and Dam Project uses Basler Exciters on its main generating units 1-3. The exciter system is mission critical to power generation, power generation control and NERC / WECC generation compliance. Each stand-alone exciter and exciter controllers have no redundancy in case of failure. Exciter control is important to meet BP A load requirements for the Project's three affected hydroelectric generating units, capable of delivering 103MW each.

The exciters provide a DC excitation voltage to the field winding of the generators and modulates that voltage for generation control. Excitation control stability is a critical function of power generation. The Basler Exciters and integrated Basler Exciter Controllers were installed as one system in 2003. The installed exciter controller's interface or human machine interface (HMI) and proprietary software work as a part of an integrated Basler exciter system and these products installed in 2003 are now obsolete and are no longer supported.

Reliability of the exciters is critical because any failures could result in mission critical loss to power generation and have catastrophic effects which may affect personnel safety.

b. JUSTIFICATION: Safe and reliable hydroelectric power generation is a top priority for the Walla Walla District and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). The exciter controllers have reached the end of the product's life cycle, are no longer supported and pose a cyber-security threat due to outdated software.

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