A02_Brand_Name_JA_Redacted.pdf

Brand Name Justification and Approval U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District

Other than Full and Open Competition - RFO FAR 6.103-1

Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, Rock Island, IL

Description of Action: This action will result in the award of a new, Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Firm- Fixed-Price (FFP) contract for the procurement and installation of a brand-name boiler. The estimated value of this action is $498,000.00. The proposed contract will not include options.

Description of Supply: The Illinois Waterway Project Office requires the immediate replacement of the failing utility boiler located at the Starved Rock Lock and Dam. This critical system provides steam to the dam to prevent the Tainter gates from freezing in place during winter operations. A boiler failure risks freezing the gates, which would lead to a loss of pool control, potential flooding, and a shutdown of commercial navigation on the Illinois Waterway. The current system is experiencing frequent, unpredictable failures, resulting in escalating maintenance costs, operational risk, and emergency overtime.

Authority Cited: As described at Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.103-1(d), the authority for this procurement is 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1).

Reason for Authority Cited: The government requires a brand-name Cleaver-Brooks Model M5 boiler to satisfy its minimum requirements. This specific brand and model is technically required due to severe physical, spatial, and mechanical integration constraints:

Utility and System Integration: The replacement boiler must seamlessly interface with the existing utility infrastructure. The Cleaver-Brooks M5 matches the precise orientation and configuration of the existing incoming water lines, outgoing steam piping, electrical distribution interfaces, and operating pressure (PSI) thresholds.

Structural and Exhaust Constraints: The exhaust flue must connect directly to the existing roof penetration. Due to the structural and load-bearing design of the building, the roof penetration cannot be structurally altered or relocated.

Spatial Limitations (Footprint): The boiler room features highly restricted physical dimensions. The compact footprint of the Cleaver-Brooks M5 is the maximum allowable size that will fit within the existing spatial envelope while maintaining mandated safety and maintenance clearances. A larger unit is physically incompatible with the space, while a smaller alternative cannot meet the minimum operational steam-generation thresholds required to keep the Tainter gates functional.

Fiscal Impact: Utilizing any other brand or model would necessitate extensive structural, mechanical, and electrical redesign and retrofitting, resulting in substantial, duplicative costs that are not expected to be recovered through competition, as well as unacceptable mission delays.

Actions to Increase Competition: To maximize competition for this brand-name requirement, the solicitation will be published on the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) website at the b5ct9mlk Highlight b5ct9mlk Highlight time of issuance. The acquisition will be competed as a Firm-Fixed-Price solicitation among authorized distributors. This ensures the brand-name specification does not restrict competition among qualified, authorized vendors capable of supplying and installing the required equipment.

Market Research: In accordance with FAR Part 10, thorough market research was conducted from August 15, 2025, to May 11, 2026. This research included reviewing similar historical procurements and searching industry databases for commercial boilers with comparable technical specifications. The market research confirmed that while alternative commercial models exist, none can meet the physical footprint and utility interface constraints of the Starved Rock Lock and Dam facility without extensive facility modifications. Additionally, research confirmed that there is a robust market of competitive, authorized Cleaver-Brooks distributors capable of fulfilling this requirement, ensuring adequate price competition.

Technical and Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature: __________________ Name: Matthew Whitley Title: Engineer Technician

Fair and Reasonable Price Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated price for the contract action will be fair and reasonable based on previous procurements in accordance with RFO FAR 15.404-1(b)(2).

Contracting Officer’s Approval: I hereby certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Based on the foregoing, I approve this brand name justification subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

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

Signature: _________________________ Name: Jeffrey Voss Title: Contracting Officer