Attachment 4 - Brand Name Determination for Tsubaki Roller Chain.pdf

Control No. OJL 20-0046

BRAND NAME DETERMINATION

TSUBAKI ROLLER CHAIN & CONNECTING LINKS

1. CONTRACTING AGENCY:

Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Contracting Division, 333 SW First Avenue, OR 97204-3495.

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION:

Approval is being requested by John Day Lock & Dam for a new firm fixed price supply contract for sixteen brand name TSUBAKI C2162HD128 Roller Chains, in addition to four hundred TSUBAKI-UST C2160HA2CLB100 STS Connecting Links for upcoming fish screen maintenance. (TSUBAKI).

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES OR NATURE OF CONSTRUCTION:

This supply requirement is for TSUBAKI roller chain & connecting links as follows:

CLIN: Description: QTY: COST: TOTAL COST:

0001 TSUBAKI C2162HD128 STS

Roller chain for Fish Screens

(TSUBAKI).

16 ea $5,590.93 $89,454.88

0002 TSUBAKI C2160HA2CLB100

STS Connecting links for Fish Screens (TSUBAKI)

400 ea $75.00 30,000

CONTRACT TOTAL $119,454.88

4. AUTHORITY CITED:

FAR 13.106-1 Soliciting Competition.

(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).

(ii) Where a single source is identified to provide a portion of a purchase because that portion of the purchase specifies a particular brand-name item, the documentation in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section only applies to the portion of the purchase requiring the brand-name item. The documentation should state it is covering only the portion of the acquisition which is b rand-name.

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED:

a. Background: John Day Lock & Dam has a total of sixteen units, and each unit contains three Synchronized Traveling Screens (STS), for a combined total of 48 screens. These screens are a critical component to the Columbia River Fish Passage Plan. Every year the project completely overhauls eight screens, on a six-year rotation cycle, with excellent results to ensure compliance with the fish passage plan.

b. Justification: The required Roller Chain & Connecting Links are a unique and proprietary component engineered specifically for the John Day Lock & Dam STS by TSUBAKI.

TSUBAKI has worked closely with USACE engineering & vendors Applied Industrial & Seacoast Supply on the development of equipment & molds to address John Day Dam STS needs specifically. These products have been highly successful, from both a mechanical and fish passage perspective. They have an incredible service life, with no recorded failures to date, and have proven to be effective in rotating the screens to provide safe passage for migrating smolts, with no records of de-scaling, since November of 1985. While TSUBAKI is the only manufacturer of the Roller Chain & Connecting Links, there are other third party vendors that can fulfill the requirement as distributors of TSUBAKI’s unique product, though none to date have shown a willingness to provide this customized product engineered specifically for the John Day STS, outside of the aforementioned vendors.

c. Impact: If the project fails to perform the proper maintenance on the STS equipment, we wouldn’t be able to ensure equipment reliability in relation to the Columbia Fish Passage Plan. In addition, a failed screen could create mechanical issues elsewhere within the unit, and most likely become a danger to migrating fish, which would ultimately force the project to take the generator offline until the necessary repairs can be conducted.

d. Alternatives: None. These requirements cannot be met through any other means.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION:

Due to the need for compatibility of existing roller chain & connecting links, we must use this Brand Name product of TSUBAKI. Vendors that can provide the customized Brand Name TSUBAKI products will be notified via Request for Quote.

7. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION:

The market for TSUBAKI Roller Chain & Connecting Links is not competitive due to the uniqueness of the product and required specifications. These products are not stock and are designed and engineered specifically for the John Day STS. While many vendors offer stock TSUBAKI chain, Applied Industrial & Seacoast Supply have done custom work with

TSUBAKI for years, and provides quality assurance that the products will be designed to our stringent standards.

Contracting will post a RFQ on FBO in an effort to increase competition. A successful RFQ was recently posted on FBO for Tsubaki brand roller chain and links for the Bonneville Dam Project. Over 20 quotes were received for the link bars; and two for the roller chain.

8. MARKET RESEARCH:

Market research indicates that there are numerous small business distributors that are capable of offering TSUBAKI chain, but none that offer customized engineering solutions.

Applied Industrial & Seacoast Supply have been working with TSUBAKI on customized products for years and has a quality assurance team dedicated to ensuring the products are fabricated to specification.

Due to the need for compatibility on existing equipment, TSUBAKI products must be utilized.

Research on past contracts did not find any previously awarded to a small business. This was offered specifically to two TSUBAKI vendors that deal with custom fabrication and resulted in two quotes.

Contracting has awarded to small businesses in the past for the Tsubaki roller chain and links. A RFQ will be posted to small business vendors on FBO.

9. INTERESTED SOURCES:

Interest was only shown by two vendors, both of which the project has utilized in the past to acquire these critical components. I was unable to source any other customized solutions.

Contracting Note: There are several small business vendors that can provide the link bars and roller chain as shown in past acquisitions.

10. OTHER FACTS:

Roller Chain was last purchased on PR&C W66QKZ72219486 in September of 2017 Connecting Links last purchased on PR&C W66QKZ50751491 in March of 2016

Contracting Notes:

20P0073 - $32,750.00, Edsal Machine Products - Link Bars 20P0077 - $59,400.00, Nidaz LLC - Tsubaki Roller Chain 18P0124 - $41,548.80, Edsal Machine Products - Link Bars 18P0086 - $119,549.04, Nidaz LLC - Tsubaki Roller Chain 18P0072 - $61,184.00, Edsal Machine Products- Link Bars 17P0152 - $56,832.00, Edsal Machine Products - Link Bars 16P0177 - $73,881.60, Edsal Machine Products - Link bars 16P0174 - $139,500.00, Nidaz, LLC - Tsubaki Roller 15P0136 - $140,400.00, Motion Industries - Tsubaki Roller 14P0169 - $188,447.28, Applied Industrial Technologies - Tsubaki Roller Chain.

13F0125 - $94,224.00, Applied Industrial Technologies - Tsubaki Roller Chain 12F0028 - $139,598.28, Applied Industrial Technologies - Tsubaki Roller Chain 11F0081 - $42,810.00, Applied Industrial Technologies - Tsubaki Roller Chain

11. TECHNICAL 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.

Name:

Title: Electronic Signature

12. REVIEWED BY:

I hereby determine that the above information, to the best of my knowledge, is correct and accurate.

Name: Patty Hendrickson Title: Purchasing Agent Electronic Signature

13. CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION:

Based on the foregoing determination, I hereby approve the procurement of Brand Name Tsubaki Roller Chain and Links on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) subject to the availability of funds, and provided the Brand Name items herein described has otherwise been authorized for acquisition. I determine the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based on competition.

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

Name: Jason Tanamor Title: Contracting Officer Electronic Signature

Laurie Arterburn Supply Management Specialist