A. FY25 FNET SSJ (1).pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR

OTHER THAN FULL & OPEN COMPETITION

CUI//PROCURE/SSEL

The Office of Electric Reliability (OER) has a need for a real-time, or near real-time application to monitor the dynamic behaviors of the electric system (through frequency, voltage and phase angle measurements,) accurately and on a wide area basis. These measurements can then be used by FERC staff to support Mission Essential Functions for situational awareness capabilities and for the Commission’s Strategic Plan metrics related to reliability to study various power system phenomena by FERC staff.

OER provides independent reliability oversight and engineering analysis on electric reliability incidents and disturbances while maintaining bulk power system situational awareness. The FNET subscription is essential to OER’s Division of Engineering and Logistics Reliability Monitoring Center staff and Division of Operations and Planning Standards accomplishing part of their mission to track power system events and performance as the events occur.

The following Justification for Other than Full & Open Competition is prepared in accordance with FAR Subpart 6.303-2.

1. ORGANIZATION:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Office of the Executive Director Acquisition Services Division 999 North Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20426

2. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF ACTION BEING APPROVED:

It is the intent of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to obtain FNET/GridEye services for the aforementioned location.

FNET/GridEye is considered the leading, and most comprehensive source of dynamic, electric system frequency, voltage and phase angle measurements available to the electric industry. The basis for limiting the sources for this acquisition is that the Power Information Technology Laboratory at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN (UTK) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, TN currently provides this type of real-time or near real-time measurement data, along with email notifications as an event occurs. This data is currently used by the US Dept. of Energy (DOE), the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the various electricity Regional Transmission Operators/Independent System Operators (RTO/ISOs), universities, and other electric industry entities.

3. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT:

In accordance with agency objectives, the government has a need to procure a real-time (or near real-time) dynamic, power angle measurement application service to monitor the electric system frequency, voltage and phase angle measurements, accurately and on a wide area basis to meet the agency's needs.

The estimated dollar value of this procurement is $(50,000).

4. STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(3) in accordance with:

[ ] FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies and services will satisfy Agency Requirements;

[ ] FAR 6.302-2, Unusual and compelling urgency;

[ X ] Other, defined below:

FAR 6.302-3 Industrial mobilization; engineering development or research capability; or expert services.

5. DEMONSTRATE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS:

OER’s Division of Engineering and Logistics Reliability Monitoring Center staff provides situational awareness, monitoring and reporting as events occur, while the Division of Operations and Planning Standards provides power system event analysis for compliance with relevant Commission-approved reliability standards, and reliability performance through various applications and tools, such as FNET/GridEye. FNET/GridEye is considered the leading, and most comprehensive source of dynamic behaviors (such as, electric system frequency, voltage, and phase angle measurements) available to the electric industry.

FNET/GridEye provides the following services:

• Event detection and location

• Oscillation detection

• Animations of frequency and angle perturbations

• Data relating to the integration of renewables into the power grid

• Detection of system breakup or islanding

• Grid control input signals

• Prediction of grid instability and reduction of blackouts

• Event location triangulation and estimation of event size

• Wide-area frequency and angle visualization and graphic display

• Dynamic clustering from FNET/GridEye data (frequency and angle)

• Inter-area oscillation mode identification

• Data to perform post-disturbance scenario reconstruction

• Line activity identification

• Data can be used to verify system models used in simulations.

• Adaptive under-frequency load shedding algorithm development using wide-area frequency information as inputs

• Wide area FACTS, PSS/HVDC control and coordination using FNET/GridEye data as inputs for damping inter-area oscillations

• Monitoring of DG impact on system operations, and for DG control

• Trending and system response speed analysis of static frequency for all interconnections

• Monitoring tool for Compliance of NERC frequency response requirements

• Area Control Error (ACE) accuracy improvement with wide-area FNET/GridEye data

• Data to study propagation of frequency disturbances as electromechanical waves travel in power systems

• Data to analyze speed of travel using FNET/GridEye data in conjunction with PSS/E simulations

6. SOURCES SOUGHT EFFORTS:

The Office currently uses Genscape, which bundles dynamic location for frequency excursions with market congestion data, costs more than the services offered through FNET/GridEye, and ultimately, this service may not provide any additional information. Genscape does not provide notifications on alerting via email when frequency excursions occur, and other features accessible through FNET. However, Genscape, nor any other company is presently able to provide the full scope of data available through

FNET.

7. DETERMINATION OF FAIR & REASONABLE PRICING:

Over the years, pricing of the current contract for the FNET subscription has been fair and reasonable. It is expected that the current cost will increase to approximately $10,000.

8. DESCRIPTION OF MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED & RESULTS:

Market research was conducted by using web searches of other viable vendors and through the office’s technical staff and their knowledge of the industry products available. Through this research it was determined that there is no other company that can provide the full scope of data provided by FNET.

9. ANY OTHER FACTORS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION:

FNET/GridEye is considered the leading, and most comprehensive source of dynamic behaviors for electric system frequency, voltage and phase angle measurements available to the electric industry.

10. A LISTING OF THE SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED, IN WRITING, AN 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 SERVICES REQUIRED:

None

12. CERTIFICATIONS & APPROVALS: (Signatures are required)

Technical & Requirements Certification:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance that are included in this document are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Jeff Sawyer Date Contracting Officer Representative Office of the Executive Director Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Contracting Officer Certification:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

(xxxxx xxxxxx) Date Contracting Officer Acquisition Services Division Office of the Executive Director Federal Energy Regulatory Commission