BRAND NAME JA 1_Redacted.pdf

Control No:

Apr 2021

Memorandum for Record – Brand Name Limiting Competition at or below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

1. Requiring Activity:

at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, NY.

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2. Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command – West Point (MICC-WP),

3. Description of Action:

United States Military Academy (USMA) requires a brand name MTS

Structural Beam Testing System.

Nature: New Requirement Follow-on Requirement

Contract Vehicle: Purchase Order Number _____________ Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Number _______________ Order/BPA# _______ against FSS Contract #_____ _________ Order #___________ against Multiple Award IDIQ Contract Name or #______________ Order #_______ against a single award IDC Contract Modification # _______ to existing PO/TO/DO/Call Order

Pricing/Contract Type: Fixed Price Time & Materials/Labor Hours Cost Reimbursable Hybrid

Funds: Operations & Maintenance, Army (OMA) Other Funds: ________

FY: 2026

Brand Name Buy: Yes No

4. Description of Services or Supplies:

at the United States Military Academy (USMA) has a requirement for a brand name MTS Structural Beam Tester.

This requirement includes delivery and assembly services of the Structural Beam Tester.

5. Authority: Select the appropriate authority below:

FAR 12.102(a) - For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), only one source reasonably available, urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization.

6. Reasons for Authority Cited:

The purchase of a brand name MTS Structural Beam Testing System is necessary for the structural engineering courses and research capabilities within the civil engineering program. This particular machine will be used to test both large and small-scale materials and structures under dynamic and quasi-static loading. This particular system is comprised of a hydraulic pump, manifold, controller and two actuators. It is essential to the curriculum that all of this equipment are compatible with eachother and can be properly installed to allow for accurate and safe performance. The functional safety is especially important as the system will reach a maximum of 3000 PSI of pressure, apply 112,000 pounds of force, and support a flow rate of 30 GPM of hydraulic fluid. The MTS Stuctrucal Beam Testing System will provide research capabilities that are necessary for the processes of the new Cyber and Engineering Academic Center High Bay. The High Bay will directly support the s mission of educating and inspiring future Army Leaders prepared to engineer resilient and sustainable solutions to the nation’s toughest challenges and visions.

b. Market research has been done on specifications required of the engineering department at USMA. offers high force systems that are custom-engineered servohydraulic systems, often built around robut load frames. Compared to tester that lacks specialized system, such as the is the best brand for this type of tester. are servohydraulic load framed systems, while the ffers high-force systems which are required from the D/C&EE.

also contains the necessary controllers and softwares that are compatible with the other systems in the High Bay.

c. MTS offers a wide variety of hydraulic testing equipment designed for modular and dynamic testing. The primary testing equipment purchased as part of this contract is two linear hydraulic actuators which can apply force or displacement to structures. Their swivel base end assembly allows them to be attached to structures in any direction.

They can reach forces up to 112 kips in compression and 75 kips in tension. The servo valves control the flow rate of each actuator. These actuators are directly connected in series to a service manifold and a hydraulic power unit (pump). The service manifold fully isolates the hydraulic pressure from the pump and regulates the flow to the actuators. This manifold is an independent test station from the hydraulic power unit to allow the operator to control each system separately. The hydraulic power unit controls the flow rate and pressure to the entire systems. It is designed to control temperature and HVAC requirements as well. In order to provide an efficient, effective, and safe testing system, it is critical that theses units are compatible and to use the same brand for each system.

d. Without acquiring the brand name , the wouldn’t able to fulfill all of its curriculum and research requirements. This would hinder the engineering students’ progress and quality of education they receive in the engineering department at USMA.

for a machine that would not fulfill all the requirements of D/C&EE.

Purchasing a different brand name testing system would lower the workflow capability that is a vital component of why the engineering labs procure these machines in the first place. Market research has shown that no other brands are capable of fulfilling the following specifications required:

• Linear Hydraulic Actuator with 30-inch stroke single-end, double-acting, fatigue rated force generators with maximum tension capacity of 75 kip and compression capacity of 112 kip. The actuator includes a servo valve with a maximum flow rate capacity of 90 gpm and a maximum system pressure of 3000 psi.

• Linear Hydraulic Actuator with 10-inch stroke single-end, double-acting, fatigue rated force generators with maximum tension capacity of 75 kip and compression capacity of 112 kip. The actuator includes a servo valve with a maximum flow rate capacity of 90 gpm and a maximum system pressure of 3000 psi.

• Calibrated single, full bridge, fatigue sized load cells for each actuator

• Adjustable swivel, fatigue sized base and adjusted swivel, fatigue sized head for each actuator

• Calibrated Temposonic G displacement measurements for each actuator

• All hoses and hardware necessary for installation

• Hydraulic service manifold: fully isolated hydraulic pressure and flow regulation device to control pressure to a test station independent from the main hydraulic power unit. It is necessary to allow each hydraulic station to be operated independently. It improves safety. Has a 50 gpm maximum flow capacity, up to 3000 psi pressure meeting EN ISO 13849-1 performance requirements

• Hydraulic Power unit with a 3000 psi operating pressure and 30 gpm flow rate meeting EN ISO 13849-1 performance requirements.

• Hydraulic testing controller (servo-controller) with real-time closed-loop control with transducer conditioning and function generation to drive various types of servo-actuators. Contains 3-channel digital conditioners, three valve driver/digital universal conditions, two dual digital universal conditions, one channel of analog input, two input/output carrier modulus, two hydraulic service manifold transition modulus, one change of Analog input transition modulus, and all required cables and chassis.

• Computer control system with desktop computer, hard drive, monitor and software.

• On-site services, installation, and training

7. Publicizing Contract Actions: For FAR Part 13 actions, the public display and synopsis requirements of FAR 5.101 and FAR 5.203 do not apply due to the $ threshold, apply and will be followed, or do not apply due to an exception at FAR

5.202 ______________________.

Requirement to post justification in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(b)(3), FAR 13.105(c), or FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii)(A) unless:

Action is NOT a brand name restriction and is under $250K, no posting required.

Action is a brand name restriction, under $25K, no posting required.

Action is a brand name restriction, over $25K. It will be redacted and posted with the solicitation.

Action is a brand name restriction over $25K but will not be posted due to the following exception:

FAR 6.305(f) FAR 8.405-6(b)(3)(ii)(A) FAR 8.405-6(b)(3)(ii)(B) FAR 8.405-6(b)(3)(ii)(C) FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii)(C)

8. Market Research:

Based on the market research and prior procurement of this structural beam tester from the government, this product is available on the commercial marketplace. This product should be procured as a brand name buy. There are no expectations that two or small businesses can meet this requirement. Therefore, market research recommends this requirement to be competed on a full and open basis and to be brand named IAW FAR 12.102(a).

10. Technical/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.

11. Contracting Officer Certification/Approval:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. The basis for the determination will be based on the use of one or more of the price analysis techniques listed in FAR Part 13.106-3(a)2(i) thru (vii). As a part of this basis, certified cost or pricing data is not required because the item and/or services being acquired are considered commercial.

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that completing this purchase as a is in the best interest of the Government. Additionally, I approve this justification to limit competition subject to the availability of funds and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.