A16_Brand_Name_Justification_FINAL_040722_1.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

Southwest Regional Office

1001 Indian School Road NW

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104

IN REPLY REFER TO:

108- Division of Acquisitions

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS

AUTHORITY: FAR 13.501(a) SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES - SOLE

SOURCE (INCLUDING BRAND NAME) ACQUISITIONS

PR/Solicitation/Contract # 0040559559 Control # ______________

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Brand Name Justification.”

Contracting Activity: This document is a brand name justification for other than full and open competition for the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Southwest

Regional Office (SWR), Jicarilla Agency, Fire Management. Christopher Moore, Assistant Fire

Management Officer (AFMO).

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

Requirement:

New Follow-on Requirement Modification to existing order

Pricing:

Firm-Fixed Price Time & Materials Other _____________

The Vermeer Tier 4 Final Brush Chipper would be used for removing all Green Waste (wood branches up to 12 inches or less) from stick to mulch state. This effort will dimmish ground fuel for less fire behavior and fire movement. The brush chipper will eliminate surface fuels (branches, sticks and woody material), as ignition source and create resistance and a low heat release rate, timber products have an ignition source been required to start and maintain wildland fire (ground continuity) while continuing to provide protection when exposed to fire or heat, broken fuel (wood chips) should help efforts to minimize threat to life, property, and vales at risk.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs

(including the estimated value).

BC1000XL Vermeer Tier 4 Final Brush Chipper – 1 each

General

Length 150” (381 cm)

Width 66.5” (168.9 cm)

Height 101” (265.5 cm)

Engine Option Two

Make and model: Deutz D2.9L Tier 4 Final

Horsepower: 74 hp (55 kW)

Max torque: 181 ft-lb (254.4 Nm)

Fuel type: Diesel

Number of cylinders: 4

Cooling medium: Liquid

Feed System

Chipping capacity (max): 12” (30.5 cm)

Infeed opening height: 12” (30.5 cm)

Infeed opening width: 17.5” (44.5 cm)

Feed roller orientation: Single horizontal

Feed table height: 26” (66 cm)

Feed speed (max): 122 fpm (37.2 m/min)

Feed roller dimensions: 20” x 17” (50.8 cm x 43.2 cm)

Cutting System

Drum dimension: 22” diameter x 20” wide (55.9 cm x 50.8 cm)

Drum speed: 2126 rpm

Knives: Two A8 chipper steel reversible

Shear bar: four usable edges

Engagement system: Clutch less belt drive PTO

Capacities/Electrical

Fuel tank: 25 gal (94.6L)

Hydraulic tank: 7 gal (26.5L)

Hydraulic flow (max): 2.85 gpm (10.8 L/min)

Electrical: 12 Volt

Lights: LED stop, turn, tail, license

Chassis/Brakes

Frame: 25” x 7” (63.5 cm x 17.8 cm) Z channel

Tires: ST235/80/R16 load range E

Axle/Suspension: 5200 lb. (2359 kg)/Torsion

Optional axle/suspension: 7000 lb. (3175.1 kg)/Torsion

Electric brakes with breakaway switch

Option: Vermeer Confidence Plus® Asset Protection Program Premium Plan – Full Coverage to include the following

a. Extended Warranty to cover 3 years (2 years more than standard 1 year)

b. Special Paint

c. Planned Maintenance

d. Hydraulic surge brakes

e. Tree Commander™ remote control

The estimated value for the proposed action is $54,563.00

4. An Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

FAR 13.501(a) Simplified Acquisition Procedures - Sole Source (Including Brand Name)

Acquisitions

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

Background

Jicarilla Agency in the past several years has rented chippers for use of green waste (woody material) and post fire work, like fire rehabilitation, road clearance, and structure clearance. The exact schedule of these works is unknown. The new brush chipper would be BIA owned and housed until needed thereby eliminating equipment rental, even during an emergency. At times equipment rental is not always available such as during forest fire emergency, which are unpredictable. The Bureau owned brush chipper would be a time cost benefit to Jicarilla Agency.

It is not cost effective to move a rental brush chipper from the company to Jicarilla to the work area for each project.

Procurement history

BIA Jicarilla Fire Management Officer (FMO), Gene Manwell, retired in May 2021. The remaining Fire staff are no longer with the Jicarilla Agency. Mr. Moore, Acting FMO, came on as of December 2020. The former FMO was the Government Purchase Card Approving Official for the Jicarilla Fire Management. There is no information found in the Fire Management files. Due to the Covid pandemic, since March 2019 records may have been electronically stored, but again all former staff are no longer here, and it is not known if the files were under their electronic files and removed once they left BIA. The previous type of chippers, results and rental pricing is not known for Mescalero Agency.

Alternatives

Mr. Moore has used and reviewed several chippers throughout his firefighting employment in the past 22 years in firefighting positions and equipment use. There are various types of chippers and various manufacturers. Through experience and internet review of several various chippers and manufacturers Mr. Moore found Vermeer was the only brush chipper with characteristics to meet

Jicarilla’s demands.

Justification

The Vermeer Tier 4 Final Brush Chipper is manufactured in the United States of America. The

Vermeer New Mexico dealership in Albuquerque encompasses territories all throughout the state.

The brush chipper can be bought and serviced in Albuquerque. The dealership stocks all necessary wear items for these units so replacement parts are less subject to unavailability. Service and availability of replacement parts is not something you will find with any other brush chipper manufacturer. Christopher Moore, Jicarilla Agency AFMO’s knowledge of various product and maintenance information is from 22 years of firefighting and equipment use. Rentals have products at level of performance, the Vermeer is serviceable in one day versus other equipment companies using 3rd or 4th service/distributors for part replacement. Jicarilla Agency will benefit from the service and turn time from maintenance and repair.

Vermeer brush chipper comes with a standard 1 year/1000 hours standard warranty. Vermeer offers a Confidence Plus® Asset Protection Program Premium Plan – Full Coverage. The Plan includes a 3-year premium coverage with maintenance. The brush chipper will be fully covered from any manufacturer defects for 3 years and scheduled maintenance intervals at 250, 500, 750, and 1000 hours of operation. Certain repairs after the Full Coverage Plan would be done by the

Mescalero Agency Fire Management with parts from the nearest Vermeer dealership.

There are many advantages to using diesel fueled equipment. The greater engine torque resulting in better fuel economy. Greater torque means less rpms to run equipment which extends the life of the engine. The Vermeer brush chipper is under the horsepower requirements to run Diesel Exhaust

Fuel (DEF); thereby avoiding any potential problems. Diesel fuel packs more DEF power per gallon.

Jicarilla Agency has over 800,000 acres of timber and woodland. The use of this equipment is going to be throughout the year. The new equipment would always be available throughout the year. The chainsaws used by the Jicarilla Agency Fire Management staff are not able to cut all wood material to manageable sizes to less fire behavior and fire movement. Equipment is needed to cut thru dry, dirty, sandy, muddy, ashy, and woody material greater than 5 inches. The Vermeer

Chipper would be able to do this type of work and at a faster rate.

Vermeer Brush Chipper was compared to various types of chippers and various manufacturers through Mr. Moore’s research. The characteristics listed in Section 3 above meet or exceed other manufacturers’ brush chipper.

Impact

Harm to BIA Jicarilla not acquiring the Vermeer Brush Chipper is increased cost and down time due to service of equipment. The Brush Chipper can be bought and serviced in Albuquerque. The dealership stocks all necessary wear items for these units so replacement parts are less subject to unavailability. The Vermeer Confidence Plus® Asset Protection Program Premium Plan - Full

Coverage would allow for repairs to be done with minimum costs if at no cost.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by

Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

A Sources Sought Synopsis was not issued due to Jicarilla Agency determining their need of the

Vermeer brush chipper by Mr. Moore’s internet research. Since June 2021 Mr. Moore searched and reviewed several various manufacturers and various types of brush chippers. The characteristics listed in Section 3 above meet or exceed other manufacturers’ chippers.

No separate synopsis of proposed contract actions will be issued due to the item being a

Commercial Item. The combined synopsis/solicitation procedure under FAR 12 will be utilized.

All offers submitted will be evaluated against the salient characteristics listed in Section 3 above, the nearest service center, availability of parts, and price.

7. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the

Government will be fair and reasonable.

I, Sonia Nelson, Contracting Officer hereby determine the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. The Contracting Officer determines the anticipated price(s) will be fair and reasonable based on comparison to GSA pricing, other quotes received.

8. A description of the market research conducted (see Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Mr. Moore has used and reviewed several chippers throughout his firefighting employment in the past 22 years. There are various types of chippers and various manufacturers. Through experience and internet review of several various chippers and manufacturers Mr. Moore found Vermeer was the only brush chipper with characteristics to meet Jicarilla’s demands.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of justification of other than full and open competition, such as:

The United Stated Forest Services (USFS), and other Federal, tribal, state, and local government agencies, including BIA, work together to respond to wildfires annually. The USFS is the primary wildland fire response agency for the US Government. In the past, USFS as well as other firefighting agencies have utilized Vemeer chippers. In large support wildfire operations, the knowledge of the type of equipment is useable, timely and cost effective. BIA firefighters would become knowledgeable of the Vemeer brush chipper’s operation, maintenance, and on-site repairs.

If another agency needs BIAs firefighting member to run a Vermeer brush chipper, the cross-agency assistance would help with training other firefighting members on site and limiting down time of the brush chipper during the large wildfire operations.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

Vermeer Southwest, 9005 Washington St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113

11. A statement of any actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

Quotes received in response to the sole-source solicitation will be evaluated against the salient characteristics listed in Section 3 above, the nearest service center, availability of parts, and price.

12. Requirement’s personnel certification.

I certify that the technical data which forms a basis for this justification is complete and accurate and meets the Government’s minimum needs.

X Program Office – Christopher Moore, Jicarilla Agency, AFMO

13. Contracting officer certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer’s knowledge and belief.

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

X Sonia Nelson, SWR, Contracting Officer