D and F Brand Name - Wastewater Filtration.pdf

DETERMINATION & FINDINGS

Authority to Solicit from a Single Source (at or below the SAT)

1. Agency and Contracting Activity: 5 MXS, Wastewater Filtration System

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action:

The supply being requested is the EXTRAN Ultra Filtration System for Building 857 in room 163. The contractor is to install a system consisting of a feed pump, bag filter, tank, process pump, membrane module, and polishing unit. After the installation the contractor is to instruct Nondestructive Inspection personnel on the NDT Wastewater Filtration System and it use.

3. Citation to the Appropriate Regulation:

(Contracting Officer Instruction: Select the applicable authority for this acquisition)

RFO 8.401 and GSAR 538.7104-3(a) (FSS Orders): The circumstances of the acquisition deem only one source reasonably capable of providing the products, services, or solutions.

RFO 11.204(a)(2)(ii) (Brand Name): The particular brand name, product, or feature is essential to the Government's requirements, and market research indicates other companies' similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet the agency's needs or cannot be modified to meet the agency's minimum needs,.

RFO 12.102(a) (Commercial Products and Services): Only one source is available,.

RFO 13.101(b) (Noncommercial Products and Services): Only one source is reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name, or industrial mobilization),.

4. Findings:

The EXTRAN Ultrafiltration System is specifically required to process and treat dye penetrant wastewater generated from Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) operations. NDI wastewater contains aggressive industrial solvents, surfactants, and organic compounds that rapidly foul standard filtration systems. Based on market research and engineering analysis, the EXTRAN system is the only available product capable of withstanding the consistent exposure to these laboratory-grade chemicals over a substantial operational lifecycle. Competitor systems suffer from premature membrane degradation when subjected to the harsh chemical backwashing required to treat NDI effluent, creating unacceptable lifecycle replacement costs and an elevated risk of failing to meet the strict wastewater contamination thresholds mandated by base environmental and hazardous waste programs.

The technical uniqueness of the EXTRAN system lies in its permanently anchored matrix architecture.

Standard Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) membranes—utilized by comparable competitor products— are naturally hydrophobic. To make them water-attracting (hydrophilic), manufacturers must blend in temporary chemical additives, such as Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or Polyethylene Glycol (PEG). Over years of operation and the heavy chemical backwashing required for NDI wastewater, these additives slowly leach out and degrade under oxidation. This leaching causes standard membranes to permanently lose permeability and structural integrity.

Conversely, EXTRAN utilizes a proprietary nanostructured block-copolymer that is chemically locked into the PVDF matrix. It does not rely on loose additives and will not leach out when exposed to harsh oxidants or aggressive industrial solvents. This provides an unmatched standard of physical strength, sustained flow rates, and extreme chemical resistance, ensuring the system maintains optimal filtration performance without leaching secondary contaminants (such as BPA or BPS) into the processed wastewater stream.

It is acknowledged that NDI/NDT methodologies and wastewater treatment technologies are continuously evolving. The Government remains committed to maximizing competitive sourcing opportunities. For future requirements, the requiring activity will conduct ongoing market research to determine if emerging products or alternative membrane technologies can fulfill this requirement.

Additionally, due to the exacting scientific nature of the NDI career field, any future alternative systems must be proven to meet the strict operational specifications and environmental safety tolerances outlined in the governing Technical Orders (TOs) and base/MAJCOM environmental guidance.

5. Determination: Based on the findings above, the proposed sole source or brand name action is justified under the applicable regulation.

6. Signatory Authority: (Contracting Officer Instruction: In accordance with DAF Approval Authorities Matrix PM 26-C-11 Matrix Item 51 for RFO 13.101(b) actions and GSAR 538.7104-3(a) for FSS orders, the Contracting Officer is the approval authority for these determinations).

Latta, Nitra, DAF Contracting Officer

Jul 1, 2026

DETERMINATION & FINDINGS

Authority to Solicit from a Single Source (at or below the SAT)

3. Citation to the Appropriate Regulation:

(Contracting Officer Instruction: Select the applicable authority for this acquisition) 2024.07.10.1.

4. Findings:

5. Determination: Based on the findings above, the proposed sole source or brand name action is justified under the applicable regulation.

6. Signatory Authority: (Contracting Officer Instruction: In accordance with DAF Approval Authorities Matrix PM 26-C-11 Matrix Item 51 for RFO 13.101(b) actions and GSAR 538.7104-3(a) for FSS orders, the Contracting Officer is the approval authority for these determinations).