A15_BN_Brand_Name_Justification_Determination_FAR_13_Under_SAT-CO_signed.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

INTERIOR BUSINESS CENTER

Washington, DC 20240

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY

USING SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES (SAP) UNDER THE

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD (SAT)

AUTHORITY: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), 13.501(a)(ii), 6.305

SOL # 140D0423Q0569

1. Contracting activity/agency. Department of the Interior, Interior Business Center, Acquisition Services Directorate procuring the items for Indian Health Services FCRHC Quarters Housing.

2. Description of supplies or services required to meet agency needs. QTY -12 Replacement

Water Header RHEEM/Richmond 40 gallon power vent natural gas water heater. Estimated Delivery of Aug-Dec 2023.

3. Identification of the single source to be solicited. Brand Name: RHEEM/ Richmond Model

Number 6GR40PVE2-40

4. Reason for authority cited. The contracting officer has determined the circumstances of the contract deem only one source reasonably available.

Brand Name – The particular brand name is essential to the requirement and market research indicates similar products do not meet or cannot be modified to meet agency needs. Customer states that only this brand will suffice because patent right, copyright, proprietary secret processes, control of certain materials or components providing a superior utility or capability that cannot be obtained from similar products.

5. Rationale.

The customer states: there is no other like items or products available for purchase that would serve the same purpose or function. Replacement Water Heater needs to be compatible with existing connection without any conflict with Water, Gas, Exhaust connections. Need to have all hands-on parts replacements to be the same parts, flame vapor sensors, operating controls, heating element, exhaust blower motors, vacuum pressure switches etc.

FCRHC has 93 staff housing units, out of 93 units, 16 were already replaced with RHEEM/Richmond G6R40PVE2-40 water heaters. Customer needs all the same brand water heaters throughout the 93 units. Existing plumbing, has connect and exhaust vent connections are hard to fix with a very small slack for connection. To prevent any renovation or changing existing parts to meet competition equipment. Changing to another manufacture would involve re-structure modification, construction work and piping modification and or replacement. Not all water heaters are compatible with the existing connections.

6. Market Research.

The customer(requestor) research other products and said they do not have the same connections has the existing Water Heaters in the FCRHC housing units.

Under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), the undersigned hereby determines the circumstances of this contract action deem only one source is reasonably available as supported herein.

Date Contracting Officer