BRAND_NAME_JOFOC_Redacted.pdf

Version 2.0

Source Selection Information � see FAR 2.101 and 3.104

SINGLE SOURCE DETERMINATION USING

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES (SAP)

FOR AN ACTION NOT EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

(AUTHORITY: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1))

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1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce, NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), Operations and Management Division (OM).

2. Description of supplies or services required to meet agency needs (including the estimated value). NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) has aging Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) that require replacement and updating.

These VFDs are essential for controlling the speed of various pumps and fans. Many of the VFDs control critical equipment like the Aquaria life support systems or the garage exhaust fans which remove dangerous gasses like carbon monoxide. Over time, the VFDs have become less reliable, leading to potential inefficiencies and increased maintenance costs. The Contractor shall provide labor, equipment and materials necessary for the installation and startup of the 16 ABB ACH580 variable frequency drives (VFD�s) highlighted in yellow in attachment 1. The contractor shall be certified for the installation and startup of ABB VFD�s.

PoP: Date of award + 180 days Contract Type: Firm- Fixed Price

3. Identification of the brand name to be solicited. Brand Name: ABB is the manufacturer. Any mechanical contractor can obtain VFDs from ABB.

4. Supporting rationale. Only one source or brand name is reasonably available as detailed below:

Brand Name � This 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.

Essential Features & Government Requirements: The essential requirement is for VFDs that are fully compatible and interchangeable with the existing facility infrastructure. This infrastructure includes a large, standardized population of ABB VFDs, a Siemens Building Automation System (BAS), a dedicated inventory of ABB spare parts, and an established maintenance contract with an ABB-certified vendor. The ABB ACH580 VFD is essential for the following reasons:

System Integration: The ACH580 drives are proven to communicate seamlessly and reliably with our existing Siemens BAS. This integration is critical for the proper monitoring, control, and energy management of the facility's HVAC systems.

Standardization and Interchangeability: Our facility has standardized on ABB drives.

Maintaining this standard is essential for operational efficiency, minimizing downtime, and controlling costs. Any new drive must be physically and programmatically identical to the existing units to allow for rapid replacement and the use of a common spare parts inventory.

Specialized Support and Maintenance: Our current HVAC service agreement includes the maintenance of all VFDs. The contractor's technicians are factory-trained and certified by

143051-25-0109

Source Selection Information � see FAR 2.101 and 3.104

ABB to perform startup, diagnostics, and repairs. This existing expertise is a critical resource that ensures reliability and longevity of the equipment.

Mission Impact: Failure to procure the specified ABB ACH580 brand name drives would have a significant negative impact on the mission.

Increased Operational Downtime: If a non-ABB drive is installed, its failure would result in extended downtime for the critical HVAC system it serves. A replacement would not be a simple swap. It would require re-engineering the installation, fabricating mounting adapters, and reprogramming a new unit from scratch, a process that could take days instead of hours. Such delays in critical areas could lead to equipment damage from overheating and a complete halt of mission-critical operations.

Negative Financial Impact: Introducing a different brand would negate the cost benefits of our current standardization. It would require establishing a new, duplicate inventory of costly spare parts and entire spare VFD units. Furthermore, government maintenance personnel and the service contractor would require new, brand-specific training, incurring additional costs and taking personnel away from their primary duties.

Loss of System Reliability: Introducing a different brand creates unnecessary technical risk. There is no guarantee that an "equal" product would integrate as flawlessly with the Siemens BAS, potentially leading to communication errors, loss of control, and significant troubleshooting expenses.

Inapplicability of "Brand Name or Equal": A "brand name or equal" description is not appropriate for this procurement (per FAR 11.104) because the government's requirements extend beyond the basic technical specifications of a VFD. The core requirements are for compatibility, interchangeability, and continuity with the existing, established ecosystem of equipment, spare parts, and certified technical support.

An "equal" product from another manufacturer cannot meet these essential characteristics. It would not be compatible with our extensive inventory of ABB spare parts, it would not have the same physical footprint or programming interface as our existing drives, and it could not be serviced under our current contract by technicians certified for that specific equipment.

Therefore, no "equal" product can satisfy the government's actual minimum needs without causing significant mission disruption and incurring substantial additional costs.

Why Other Products Cannot Meet the Agency's Needs: Similar VFDs from other manufacturers (e.g., Siemens, Eaton, Schneider Electric, Yaskawa) cannot meet, nor can they be modified to meet, the agency's needs (per FAR 11.105).

Physical and Electrical Incompatibility: Other brands have different physical dimensions, mounting patterns, and terminal layouts. This prevents a direct, rapid replacement of a failed unit and would require custom fabrication and re-wiring for every installation.

Proprietary Software and Programming: Each VFD manufacturer uses its own proprietary software and parameter structure. The knowledge our technicians have of the ABB platform is not transferable. Introducing another brand would render our team's expertise obsolete for new installations and would require a completely separate training track.

Lack of Certified Support: Our current maintenance contractor is specifically certified by ABB. While they may be able to work on other brands, they would not be factory-certified, which could void the manufacturer's warranty and result in improper service. Procuring a separate contractor for a different brand would be inefficient and cost-prohibitive.