08_Redacted_Brand_Name.docx

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition Western Area Power Administration FAR 13.5, Simplified Acquisitions - Test Program for Certain Commercial Items

16WA118444

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

Western Area Power Administration, SNR, Folsom, CA 95630

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved.

A) Negotiated Brand name Justification B) Fixed-price contract

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs.

SNR is requesting a purchase of Omicron CMC-356 Protection System Test Sets with optional software module, test leads, heavy duty case, and GPS timing sources.

4. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

Section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996

5. A statement demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority.

These test set will be used to support end-to-end testing of protection schemes within SNR and with adjoining utilities. These units were previously purchased twice and have become the standard at WAPA. Purchasing a different brand would create compatibility issues. SNR has also invested significant time and resources into training on theses hardware and software systems and have created numerous test routines using this type of test sets. Purchasing another brand would require significant additional training and tech time to create new test routines.