JA Brand Name Advantech.pdf

Control No. 20-0049

BRAND NAME DETERMINATION

Advantech EQUIPMENT

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE LOCATION: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District

(CENWW-CT) 201 North 3rd, Walla Walla, WA 99362.

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION: Approval is requested for a new firm fixed price contract for Advantech Brand Name products. The Advantech parts listed below are critical components which will serve as modifications to the existing annunciation equipment. The Advantech equipment estimated value is $89,665.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES: This purchase is for the installation of GDACS, Advantech has provided pricing as shown below for required items:

Manufacturer Part Number Description Qty Total

Advantech FPM-7211W-P3AE ANN/SER HMI Touch Screens 21.5"; VGA & DVI-D video ports 33

Advantech UNO-2484G-9S52

Computer for ANN/SER HMI; i7, 8GB, 500GB hard drive, Windows 10 IoT LTSC High EPKEA, HDMI & Display Port video ports 32

4. AUTHORITY CITED:

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1): Soliciting from a single source. (1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. (i) Contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization).

FAR 11.105(a)(1), Items Particular to One Manufacturer. 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, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency' s needs.

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED:

a. Background: McNary Project presently has a main unit annunciation, Sequence of Event Recording

(SER), and protection system under development by the Hydroelectric Design Center (HDC) in support of the Construction Contract for McNary Power House Control upgrade. The parts listed above are required to fulfill control, relaying protection, communications, and indication of the system. These parts will be installed and commissioned at McNary Project.

b. Justification: HDC has developed annunciation software on Advantech HMIs, using SEL software at other Corps’ powerhouses. Since the annunciation HMIs will have to interface to the SEL RTACs, having previously developed programming to use as a starting point will significantly reduce the risk of improper or incompatible hardware or software. Installing non-Advantech equipment would add complexity, and added complexity correlates directly with increased development costs and increased risk.

c. Impact: Operating a powerhouse under emergency conditions is largely instinctive due to a powerhouse operator’s continuous training and repetition. The success of returning a plant to normal operating conditions after an emergency is largely based on the simplicity of the system. Added complexity correlates directly with increased risk. With both the governor and annunciator HMIs being Advantech HMIs, maintenance practices will become more efficient due to consistency. The proposed Advantech devices and software have similar maintenance requirements as Advantech Governor equipment and would require less time to institute and maintain.

d. Alternatives:

The Government could not purchase the product, this alternative is not feasible because we need to ensure the availability of a working and usable sequence of Advantech products at the projects where GDACS is installed.

The Government could purchase a different product, this alternative is not in the best interest of the US Army Corps of Engineers because of the additional cost that would be incurred with installing non Advantech products.

6. DETERMINATION OF FAIR AND REASONABLE COSTS: Price competition should result in a fair and reasonable price; however, no contract will be awarded unless the price is determined fair and reasonable.

7. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION: The McNary Powerhouse configuration requires use of these specified items. Due to the need for compatibility of existing equipment we must use this brand name products.

All sources responding that can provide name brand items will be considered.

8. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION: All sources responding that can provide name brand items will be considered.

9. MARKET RESEARCH: Research shows Advantech brand name products is the only identified product compatible with the existing system for this installation phase. Other sources have been vetted to meet current needs, but there is no alternative available without complete system replacement with an equivalent product.

10. CONTRACT SPECIALIST: I certify that the information supporting this brand name determination is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge based on the supporting data provided by technical or requirements personnel.

Prepared by: Valerie Reller Title: Contract Specialist Signature: ____________________________

11. DETERMINATION: In accordance with the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) and based upon the foregoing, I hereby determine that a brand name procurement is authorized and is in the best interest of the Government.

Approved by: Sara Edwards Signature: ____________________________ Title: Contracting Officer

Reviewed by: Theresa Hampson Title: Attorney/Advisor Signature: ____________________________