JA - Ft McCoy Scout RECCE Range - XCEL Energy - redacted.pdf

FAR Part 6 Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition

1. Contracting Activity: US Army Engineer District, Corps of Engineers, PO Box 59, Louisville, KY 40201-0059

2. Description of Action: This Justification and Approval (J&A) is being prepared for the specification of NORTHERN STATES POWER CO dba Xcel Energy (Xcel) as the required provider of the electric and gas utility connection services for the construction of the Scout Reconnaissance Crew Engagement ((RECCE) Range at the Ft McCoy, WI. The Government will not contract directly with Xcel Energy, but rather will include a requirement for the construction contractor to contract with Xcel Energy in the solicitation that will lead to a new firm-fixed-price (FFP) construction contract. The contract will be funded with FY21 Military Construction (MILCON) funds.

3. Description of the Supplies/Service: This action includes the fee required to be paid to Xcel for furnishing and installing primary power to the new construction of the Scout RECCE Range at Ft.

McCoy for the Army Reserve Installation Management Directorate. Xcel will install, at USACE’s expense, 10,425 linear feet of new underground primary cable and trench, underground secondary from transformers to panels, 7 transformers, and any manholes, junction cabinets, and any additional supplies for the primary service of power. These would include CLIN 0007 on the Bid Schedule for the Scout RECCE range construction contract. The cost Xcel provided to complete this work is $105,121.37. The work has to be performed by Xcel in order for the system to become their operation and maintenance responsibility upon completion. Period of performance for this contract is 730 days.

4. Authority Cited: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(l), as implemented by FAR 6.302-l(b)(3), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

a Background. This electrical infrastructure will serve the Scout/Recce gunnery complex project to be constructed on the Ft. McCoy installation. The Scout/Recce gunnery complex is designed to test scout reconnaissance crews and sections on the skills necessary to detect, identify, engage and defeat stationary and moving infantry and armor targets in a tactical array.

All targets are fully automated and controlled from the range control tower. Primary electrical cabling is required for these target emplacements to be functional.

b Justification. FAR 6.302-1(b)(3) states that sole source may be used when the utility company itself is the only source available to work on the system. Xcel is the only electrical power provider in the vicinity of Fort McCoy, WI. There are no other providers of electrical power in the geographic area that are able to service Fort McCoy, per recent experience by Government personnel on new construction projects on Fort McCoy and information from subject matter experts based at Fort McCoy. In addition, if the work detailed above is not performed by Xcel, they will not maintain the system infrast ructure to the project.

c Alternatives. Alternative 1: Primary electrical work, to include primary trench and conductors, primary transformers, and secondary from transformers to load centers is all completed by the construction contractor rather than Xcel. This would result in a Scout RECCE Range that includes an orphaned electrical system that is not supported by Ft. McCoy’s utility provider and would be detrimental to the operation and maintenance of the project as described below.

Alternative 2: Construct the range without primary electrical cabling. This would result in targetry that cannot be controlled from the control tower.

d Impact. Alternative 1: If utility work is not completed by Xcel, Ft. McCoy would not be upholding the terms of their electrical system lease with Xcel. This would result in complication with payment or refusal of service on the part of the utility, as well as complications regarding operation, and maintenance. Alternative 2: The range will not have functional targetry and will therefore not serve its intended purpose of training and testing scout reconnaissance crews and sections.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Based upon the information in paragraph 5, competition for this action was not feasible. It was determined that a notice of intent to sole source for the primary power was not required, in accordance with FAR 5.202(a)(5).

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Although there is the potential for future new electrical service actions, no additional actions are planned to increase competition on follow-on procurements for the same or similar requirement for the reasons stated in paragraphs 5 and 6 above.

8. Market Research: Market research occurred as detailed in paragraph 5 above.

9. Interested Sources: N/A.

10. Other Facts:

a Procurement History: This is a new requirement and as such does not have any substantial procurement history of significance. During the Acquisition Planning phase, the primary power element of this project was discussed, and the determinations mentioned in the sections above were made in conjunction with the overall acquisition plan development.

b Acquisition Data Availability: N/A c Unusual and Compelling Urgency: N/A d Subcontracting Competition: N/A

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

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

13. I have reviewed this J&A and find the justification adequate to support other than full and open competition.

14. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination/Contracting Officer Certification: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based on comparison with existing contract prices and/or established catalog prices for similar items. I further certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.