Class Justification RFO Part 6 JA_Baldor_Redacted.pdf

Control Number: 26-0012

Class justification is authorized by RFO 6.104(c).

6. Reason for Authority Cited:

a. Background: In the 1990s, NWW and NWP awarded a series of competitive construction contracts to fabricate and install fish screens at Civil Works hydroelectric plants. These screens were installed in front of the hydroelectric turbines to divert migrating juvenile anadromous fish safely around the dam. Approximately 300 of these screens were installed or provided as spares. Each fish screen has a motor, which ensures the cleaning mechanisms operate efficiently to maintain the screen's vital function of protecting fish and facilitating proper water flow. The fish screens installed at NWW and NWP plants all have the same Baldor-Reliance brand underwater electric motor. These motors have an expected service life of 5-10 years with proper operation and maintenance. As such, new motors to replace the original motors and for use as spare parts are routinely procured.

The use of nearly identical fish screens and brand-name motors across the districts has resulted in standardization of design, functionality, training, and spare parts. For over 20 years, the Government has procured Baldor-Reliance motors. Although the Baldor- Reliance acquisitions are for almost identical components with standard language, individual Justifications and Approvals (J&A) have been prepared and approved for each separate contract requiring Baldor-Reliance motors. The Government desires to expedite these procurements by executing a Class J&A and eliminating the need to prepare separate J&As and route for approval each time these products are required.

Baldor-Reliance brand motors are necessary for the operation and maintenance of all hydroelectric turbines throughout NWW and NWP because, pursuant to the Columbia River System Operations Biological Opinion (BiOp) and subsequent Fish Passage Plan, the turbines cannot operate without functioning fish screens in place. All the mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic components of the installed screens are intellectual property protected by copyrights, patents, or similar laws. In order to control life cycle and system sustainability costs, the Government standardized to Baldor- Reliance brand-name products and has successfully utilized them in facility operations and maintenance programs for over two decades.

The standardization of fish screen components ensures common operation and functionality across the region. Parts interchangeability has been markedly effective at increasing the fish screen operation time and, thus, decreasing generator off-line time.

For example, as a result of this standardization, operating projects frequently share parts between units and between plants to minimize disruptions and reduce costs. This J&A helps protect the substantial investment we have made (and continue to make) in the fish screens. The screens are unique and precision-engineered assemblies that have been tested and proven to be reliable, both operationally and environmentally.

The J&A also allows any future required upgrades, replacements, or other changes to be thoroughly tested at one location and implemented system-wide in a safe and consistent manner. This consistency saves time and energy versus having different systems at every location. Additionally, the use of common equipment across multiple projects increases personnel efficiency due to familiarity with the systems and reduces training requirements and the need to be prepared for recurring and nonrecurring maintenance at the operation projects. Baldor-Reliance components are the only devices that are direct plug and play to the existing systems due to their unique mounting arrangement with the gearbox. There are no other brands of components that would allow us to realize these efficiencies.

b. Alternatives: There are no alternatives for Baldor-Reliance products with exact specifications to match the existing traveling screen infrastructure and also comply with all federally mandated requirements of the Fish Passage program. Due to the size of the screens and the protection of the generators, the motors must be explosion proof and must fit the particular mount between the screens. All of NWW’s and NWP’s submersible traveling screens are currently motorized by this particular brand-name unit.

- Spec no: S18-CWS0-0009.

- Frame: 180TY, fully submersible > 100 feet, severe duty rated, TENV enclosure.

- Voltage: 240/480VAC, 3 phase.

- Horsepower: 5, RPM: 1800.

- Shaft Diameter: 1.25”, 2” long with 0.25” keyway.

- Mounting: C-faced with (8) equally spaced 0.56” diameter mounting holes on a

11.5” diameter circle. This is a custom interface with the fish screen gearboxes.

- Inverter rated.

- Baldor motors are supplied with a unique socket assembly compatible with the pre-formed cable assembly plugs installed on our fish screens. The unique plug reduces the installation time as the electricians do not have to pot the wires in the motor’s pothead.

- The 180TY frame motors appear to be proprietary to Baldor. Unable to locate an option on WEG or Toshiba’s website for 180 frame motors ending with the TY suffix.

- These motors also include a built-in water leak detection system that interfaces with our fish screen PLC’s.

An alternative to a Baldor motor would more than likely be a custom-built motor that has not had a proven lifespan in a similar installation to what we have in the dam. Non-compatibility of different motors with the existing equipment and infrastructure has an increased likelihood of motor and/or seal failures, which could lead to lost power generation, disrupted river flow, oil leaks, and decreased passage of anadromous fish.

Moreover, the installation and use of alternate motors and related components would require redesign and retrofitting of the system, recommissioning, manufacturer-specific training, and procurement of spare parts at additional cost to the Government. As such, there are no alternatives that are acceptable to the Government.

c. Impact if not approved: If this Class J&A is not approved, NWW and NWP operating projects will be required to prepare and seek approval for individual J&As for each contract requiring Baldor-Reliance motors. Without extensive resources to overhaul the submersible traveling screens, these requirements cannot be met through any other means. Additionally, if brand-name procurements of Baldor-Reliance motors for use with the fish screens are not approved at all, it would introduce significant negative risks to the operation and maintenance of NWW and NWP hydroelectric projects. When first selected and installed, these motors, and the mating gearbox, were thoroughly tested to ensure proper operation and no leakage. Any leak of water into the system would ruin the motor and gearbox, not only rendering the fish screen inoperable and necessitating shutdown of the associated turbine unit, but also any oil leakage would directly enter the river water and pose an environmental threat. Such leaks are strictly prohibited and considered oil spills reportable to the Coast Guard and the Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) National Response Center. Also, priority turbine units, typically units with outfalls closest to fishway entrances, are legally required to be operated to produce optimal attraction flow for adult salmon seeking fishway entrances. Failure to use the specified motor could result in fish screen failure, which in turn requires the hydroelectric generator to be shut down. Failure to operate priority turbines would result in Government non-compliance with its obligation to produce attraction flow; and shut down of any turbine would result in monetary revenue loss to the Government,

7. Efforts to Obtain Competition: For future requirements of brand-name Baldor- Reliance motors, the Contracting Officer will publish the notices required by RFO 5.002 to increase competition, broaden industry participation in meeting Government requirements, and inform small business concerns of contract and subcontract opportunities.

a. Effective competition: In accordance with (IAW) Class Deviation 2026-O0017 and DFARS PGI 206.103-170(d), a Sources Sought notice (Notice ID W912EF26RSS10) was posted to SAM.GOV on 9 FEB 2026 seeking sources for the brand-name requirement of Baldor-Reliance motors for use across NWW and NWP hydroelectric operating projects. Seven small businesses responded indicating interest. Based on this industry feedback and historical acquisitions (see section 11 below), effective competition among small businesses is anticipated.

8. Actions to Increase Competition: Synopses and solicitations for small business set aside (SBSA) will be published to SAM.GOV for future competition before any subsequent acquisition of Baldor-Reliance motors.

9. Market Research: Market research has shown brand-name Baldor-Reliance motors are the only identified products compatible with NWW and NWP fish screens. There is no alternative manufacturer with an equivalent product. Baldor-Reliance motors’ manufacturer, Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), has multiple distributors - 43 in Washington state alone - so a Sources Sought notice was posted to better understand the marketplace and identify potential small businesses. Historically, procurements for Baldor-Reliance motors have been solicited as small business set asides and generated competition (see section 11 below). A Sources Sought notice (Notice ID W912EF26RSS10) was posted to SAM.GOV on 9 FEB 2026 seeking sources for the brand-name requirement of Baldor-Reliance motors for use across NWW and NWP hydroelectric operating projects. Seven small businesses responded indicating interest.

Market research demonstrates there is adequate competition among small businesses for brand-name Baldor-Reliance motors.

10. Interested Sources: Seven small businesses responded to the 9 FEB 2026 Sources Sought notice.

a. Mary Helen Parkey Middlesboro, KY

UEI: KM9HYWPN7CG3

b. Premier Pump LLC Buford, GA

UEI: S16RVVWLGSU3

c. BHPE LLC

Oklahoma City, OK

UEI: UPDJHPJUYQ71

d. BAHFED CORP Portland, OR

UEI: TQ2KDQLRL8F1

e. PumpTech, LLC Spokane Valley, WA

UEI: JDHCQ6TM96P5

f. The Electric Motor Repair Company DBA EMR

Rosedale, MD

UEI: K2ZLH1HL99G1

g. Verdun Growth and Development LLC New Orleans, LA

UEI: YVJ3GMU4W1G3

11. Other Facts:

a. Procurement history.

h. W912EF-20-P-0054: FAR 13.106-1(b) and FAR 11.105(a)(1), Brand name.

2) W912EF-25-P-0020 – Protest 45127: Valor Group LLC protested the basis of the award decision on the grounds that their quote was dismissed as technically unacceptable despite meeting the requirements of the solicitation. The contract was awarded on 20 May 2025. The award was not posted in SAM because it was under the threshold of $500K (FAR 5.705(a)(1) – reference prior to Revolutionary FAR Overhaul threshold changes). Valor Group LLC’s email queries were not answered in a timely manner, and they were informed of award on 4 August 2025. The Supplies and Service Branch Chief/Contracting Officer held informal phone calls and emails with Valor Group LLC to address the protest, corrective actions, and settlement agreement. The awarding Contracting Officer was not involved because they moved to another USACE District during the beginning of this process.

RESOLUTION: Protest Withdrawn. While the initial issue was with unclear technical specifications, it was evident that the following corrective actions were needed for Contracting’s Supplies and Services Branch:

i. As the protest occurred prior to implementation of the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul, FAR 5.705 then discussed the publicizing of awards for any action exceeding $500K. While the Supplies and Services Branch generally works on smaller simplified acquisitions, it adopted the business practice of posting notice of award on every contract regardless of dollar value.

ii. More oversight was required on communications, and responses to queries needed to be provided in a timely manner with accurate information. New protocols were implemented to ensure that these types of queries would be elevated to a knowledgeable team member such as the Contracting Officer or higher, if needed, and response deadlines would be clearly communicated.

iii. The Supplies and Services Branch Chief worked side by side with the student intern Contract Specialist to ensure they understood the simplified acquisition process and were able to communicate status clearly.