JA W912EF25BA0011 - BioMicrobics_Redacted.pdf

A BACKGROUND: Walla Walla District Corps of Engineers (COE) was issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) in 2021 by the WADOH for above acceptable levels of BOD, TSS, and other contaminants in the wastewater that served Charbonneau Park. The NOV required Charbonneau Park to bring down the contaminants in the wastewater or become inoperable.

B. JUSTIFICATION: WADOH has approved only two systems that bring down high levels of TSS and BOD. These systems are BioMicrobics' MicroFAST system and Aquatest's Nibbler system. The proposed MicroFAST system has already been installed at Hood Park and has proven operational and effective. The training, operation and maintenance, and parts would all be similar, if not identical. This would also allow the sharing of spare parts between Hood Park and Charbonneau Park.

The blower motors are part of the MicroFAST system. MicroFAST offers different models, and the proposed models would match those at Hood Park. This would also mean that the training, operation and maintenance, and parts for the blower motors would all be similar, if not identical. This would also allow the sharing of spare parts between Hood Park and Charbonneau Park.

The Rhombus control panel is a complete control system that is available with the exact features required in this installation. It is the same as the one installed at Hood Park. It is readily available off-the-shelf. This means that the electrical design engineer will spend less time on design and sheet creation.

Because it is the same as Hood Park, the training, operation and maintenance, and parts would all be similar. This would also allow the sharing of spare parts between Hood Park and Charbonneau Park.

C. IMPACT: Substitution for the specified products would:

i. Increase the initial and recurring costs of spare parts inventory.

Assuming the MicroFAST system is used, the retail prices for a spare pump and blower filters for this system are , respectively.

It will be necessary to buy one pump and one set of five replacement blower motors. This is a total cost of for spare parts. It is very hard to predict what the cost of spare parts would be for a system other than MicroFAST, since the other system (Nibbler) is unknown.

ii. Increase labor time, travel, and expense to train District personnel who will support the system.

At least six people will need to receive this training. If the system is the same, they will already have a working knowledge so training could be completed in one 10 hour day instead. This represents a savings of

iii. Decrease compatibility with existing systems and thus decrease the amount of information that can be conveyed throughout the system.

iv. Increase the complexity of the facility and thus decrease maintainability and reliability. This will lead to slower repair times due to the lack of experience. This lack of experience also increases the frequency of operator error and other mistakes while maintaining the system. The cumulative effect will be a decrease in efficiency and overall safety while operating and maintaining unfamiliar equipment.

v. Implementation of a different brand of treatment system and control panel will require the project personnel and design engineers to acquire the training and equipment necessary to design and maintain that system. Personnel will not be able to utilize existing knowledge from Hood Park's treatment system for use on Charbonneau Park's treatment system. Personnel will be required to learn the intricacies of and stock various spare parts for a different treatment system, increasing the complexity and duration of alterations or repairs.

vi. Substitution of the Rhombus control system would require the creation of at least one, if not more, additional plan sheets. The United States Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District Engineering & Construction Division labor estimator estimates that one plan sheet takes approximately hours, which equates to at least in labor costs.

D. ALTERNATIVES: None.

6. DETERMINATION OF FAIR AND REASONABLE COSTS: Catalog pricing for the MicroFAST System 3.0 is , catalog pricing for the Rhombus control panel is , and catalog pricing for the GAST R4P315A blower motor and the FPZ K06-MS blower motors are and , respectively. For a total of

7. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION: There are only two manufacturers of wastewater treatment systems focused on bringing down high levels of BOD and TSS that are approved by the WADOH. Requiring the BioMicrobics system is not likely to limit competition among proposals, as any proposer can purchase the system from BioMicrobics. The treatment system is a critical part of Charbonneau Park's Large Onsite Sewage System, and it is legally required that the treatment system supplied by the Contractor is approved by WADOH. There are many suppliers of Rhombus control panels, but it is known that the Rhombus control panel specifically can effectively interface with the treatment system and has the necessary features required for the MicroFAST system. This Justification & Approval will be posted with the solicitation.

8. MARKET RESEARCH: Market Research has not uncovered alternate acceptable sources of supply for the MicroFAST system, the Rhombus control panel, the GAST R4P315A 1.5 HP blower motor, or the FPZ K06-MS 5.5 HP blower motor. In accordance with DFARS PGI 206.302-1 (d), a Request for Information regarding these products was issued on sam.gov on July 1, 2025 and closed July 7, 2025.

No responses were received.

9. OTHER FACTS: None

1 O. INTERESTED SOURCES:

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.