JA - Brand Name or Approved Equal - W912P521R0009_Redacted.pdf

Control Number: LRN-FY22-12

a. Background: Structural analysis of the eight (8) spillway tainter gates at Center Hill Dam determined the gates are overstressed when operated under certain conditions. This state of overstress is caused primarily by the effects of trunnion friction, and the extent of the overstress is dependent on the magnitude of the lake level on the gates at the time of operation. The analyses further indicate that the gates cannot be safely operated when the lake level is greater than 65% of the height of the gate. During the February 2019 flood event, the lake level reached 83%. Each gate is 50 feet wide by 37 feet tall. The existing gates are over 70 years old with rust deterioration and critical members are undersized.

Failure of one (1) or more gates during a high pool event could allow for a sudden release of water, posing non-breach and economic risks to downstream population, properties, and infrastructure. Failure of a gate would prevent the project from being able to store water during subsequent high pools until a replacement gate could be installed effectively reducing flood risk management storage by 39%, while also potentially causing loss of additional hydropower generation for water levels above the spillway crest.

b. Justification: With the design for Solicitation Number W912P521R0009, it has been established that the Paramax low speed gear boxes (or approved equal) are paramount in a successful fabrication of the machinery lifting equipment. These low-speed gearboxes were used as the basis of design which means they dictate both the size of the motor that can be used to the lift the gate, as well as the size of the all the other mechanical components. All mechanical and structural calculations performed to develop the entire lifting machinery’s composition are directly based on the chosen gearboxes. If a different gearbox is chosen that does not have exactly a 1:173 reduction, the gates will not open at the correct speed and the torque applied to the rest of the machinery will have to be recalculated. It will essentially invalidate the entire lifting machinery design and therefore require either LRN or the Contractor to redesign the entire project including the gates.

c. Alternatives: The only alternative would be to remove the instances of Brand Name or Equal in the specifications and instead define the requirements by salient features and performance characteristics. This alternative would increase risk to the Government, as an oversight omission when describing salient characteristics could lead to a component of the system not functioning as intended and increases the likelihood that the Contractor will propose equipment that does not meet project needs.

In order to achieve a fully functioning lifting system for the reasons noted in paragraphs 5.b. and d., the specifications provided in the Solicitation must be met, whether it is the Paramax 9000 PHD911092-BL and Paramax 9000 PHD911092-BR or approved equal products.

d. Impact: If LRN allows the Contractor to install a low-speed gearbox that does not meet the Government’s specifications exactly, several major factors are at risk. First, LRN’s Hydrology and Hydraulics (H&H) department has conducted a flood risk analysis based on the speed at which the gates open. If a gearbox is installed that is outside of the brand name or equal parameters, the entire analysis becomes invalid as the speed at which the gates now open has changed. The change in speed causes a significant risk of dam overtopping and fuse plug activation resulting in loss of life and loss or property.

Second, changing the speed at which the gate opens changes the lifting loads and torques that each machinery component in the lifting assembly experiences. The machine design is held to an extremely strict set of rules and best practices that must be followed to ensure nothing fails during operation. Any changes to the low-speed gear box will result in either the gates not being lifted fast enough to prevent flooding, or the lifting machinery destroying itself since it is not designed to handle the new higher torques, leaving the gate inoperable which is unacceptable.

Third, the low-speed gearbox is used as an alignment controller for the machinery layout in relation to the imbedded metal which is in concrete of the dam pier and the design of the spillway gates themselves. If a gearbox with slightly different dimensions is allowed, then the Government will have to realign/redesign the gates, machinery lifting base, and the entire layout of the machinery. The system is so strictly tuned, from a design and operational standpoint, the dimensions cannot be off by even an inch as this could have serious consequences for the project’s longevity.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Competition is obtained to the maximum extent practical while meeting the agency’s requirements by utilizing a specific product’s specifications only to the extent it is necessary to complete the 100% design, while allowing Contractors to use either the brand name or any other product that meets the Government’s minimum characteristics and standards of quality.

A Notice of Intent (NOI) to include the brand name or approved equal products in the Solicitation was posted on 14 March 2022 on SAM.gov for eleven (11) calendar days. On 24 March 2022, one (1) response was received from Industry stating they were capable of providing an “equal” low-speed gear box that meets the Government’s specifications.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: This J&A supports a discrete requirement that will end when the project is complete. Therefore, there are no planned actions to increase competition for the requirement covered by this J&A.

8. Market Research: A NOI for Brand Name or Equal was posted on SAM.gov on 14 March 2022 and one (1) response was received by Industry. After a technical review and evaluation was conducted on the low-speed gear boxes that were used to create the design from, it was determined that although the Paramax 9000 PHD911092-BL and Paramax 9000 PHD911092- BR were used as the basis of design, market research revealed another gear box may be submitted as an alternative.

Based on involvement of experts in the field, knowledge of the market, review of product availability, and discussion with multiple manufacturers, although limited, there is more than one

(1) sufficient product available to meet project needs. Items listed in the project’s plans and specifications are provided solely as examples and Contractors are not required to use the specific brand identified.

9. Interested Sources: The NOI revealed one (1) interested source in meeting the Brand Name or Equal synopsis. The solicitation will be synopsized in accordance with FAR 5.201, and proposals will be evaluated per FAR Part 15 set forth in the solicitation. It is anticipated that the solicitation will receive competition from two (2) or more Offerors

10. Other Factors: None.

11. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Name: Date:_________________________

Title: Project Engineer Signatu

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Name: Date:____

Title: Project Manager Signature

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. This determination will be based upon the Independent Government Estimate and price analysis. Certified cost or pricing data is not required. It is anticipated that this solicitation will receive competition from two

(2) or more Offerors utilizing the procedures in FAR Part 15.

Name: Date:____

Title: Contracting Officer Signature

14. Contracting Officer Certification and Approval: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of the brand name or equal items listed herein for the spillway gates and machinery replacement project at Center Hill Dam in Lancaster, Tennessee, estimated at on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), subject to the availability of funds, and provided that the services and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Date:______________________ Signature

Contracting Officer

4/20/22

4/20/22