A02 KO determination (brand name) data acquisition system.pdf

CEERD-CT 10 July 2023

Brand Name Determination Data Acquisition System Upgrade

1. Identification of Agency and Contracting Office: The ERDC Contracting Office

(ECO) is located at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199.

2. Description of Action: This determination seeks approval to award a new Firm Fixed

Price (FFP) contract on a brand name basis pursuant to procedures at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b) to procure a National Instruments data acquisition system.

3. Description of the product required to meet the agency’s needs: The Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) has a requirement to purchase a National Instruments data acquisition system. The vendor shall provide the following:

NI Part Number

Description Quantity

785971-01 PXIe-1095 18-Slot, 4U, PXI Express Chassis with OCXO Onboard Clock, External Clocking, and External Trigger Access

763830-01 Power cord, AC, U.S., 125VAC, 15A 2 786371-01 18-Slot Chassis Front Rack Mount Kit, Extended Recess 2 778646-01 18-Slot Chassis Filler Panel Kit 2 148864-01 HDMI Cable for Trigger Routing, 1m 1 785679-01 PXIe-8301 PXI Remote Control Module, 2-Port 2 785608-02 Thunderbolt 3 Type-C Cable, Passive 20 Gbps, 5A, 2m 2 783531-01 PXIe-4339 8-Ch,24-bit,25.6kS/s Bridge and Voltage Input Module 13 783533-01 TB-4339B Front mount TB: 350-ohm 1/4 bridge, 100k-ohm shunt cal

4. Authority Cited: FAR 13.106-1(b), Soliciting from a single source (1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (i) 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: In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. (i) Contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source (e.g. brand name) reasonably available.

Background: The Structural Engineering Branch (StEB) of the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) performs extensive full-scale and component-level structural testing using the Structural Strong Floor Facility at the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, MS. In particular, StEB is engaged in research on highway infrastructure protection as part of a current interagency agreement between the ERDC and the Federal Highway Administration. StEB has an existing data acquisition system at the Structural Strong Floor that is a National Instruments (NI) brand system. StEB has the need to expand existing data acquisition capabilities to accomplish highly instrumented structural dynamics experiments.

Justification: StEB currently operates a National Instruments data acquisition system.

The key components of the system are PXIe modules, which are modular and can be used in any NI PXIe chassis. A National Instruments system will be interoperable with StEB’s existing modules, as well as the large amount of other National Instruments equipment used for data acquisition at ERDC. Replacement components for these systems are readily available and easily interchangeable. National Instruments equipment is known and trusted in both the academic and military research environments and has a history of stable operation over long time periods. Finally, a National Instruments system is run by LabView, which is the most common software for design of unique testing systems.

Using a system that incorporates this software will prevent the need to retrain engineers, scientists, and technicians on the use of a new software. Together, these factors make a brand name National Instruments system the best acquisition choice for the Government.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Several vendors are distributors of National Instruments equipment, therefore adequate competitions is anticipated.

7. Determination that costs will be fair and reasonable: The independent government estimate, catalog prices, and the laboratory’s technical representative’s knowledge of the industry will be used to determine if the quoted price is fair and reasonable.

8. Description of Market Research: Based on market research conducted, it is determined that this requirement is a commercial item and more than one vendor is capable of providing the items required in the Description of Requirements (DOR) document.

Further, ERDC is very familiar with this brand of equipment meaning little training and no new evaluations to prove the capability of the equipment will be required.

9. Contracting Officer Determination: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Allison Hudson Contracting Officer