JOFOC Under SAT WESP Valve Replacement v20240903_Redacted.pdf
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- Solicitation number
- DJA-24-ALAD-PR-0622
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This document is a Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) for the replacement of the Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) automatic valves at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Laboratory Center in Beltsville, MD. The JOFOC justifies a sole-source award to Valley Instrument Company, who has proprietary rights to the equipment and software used in the WESP system. The WESP is highly specialized equipment that purifies black smoke into water vapor before release, and the technicians from Valley Instrument Company have unique knowledge and expertise required to maintain and repair the system. Replacing the entire WESP system would cost millions of dollars, while the valve replacement is a critical and time-sensitive repair. Valley Instrument Company is the only contractor capable of performing this work due to their proprietary rights and specialized knowledge of the ATF's WESP system.
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Text version
JOFOC No.:
Version 20220201 or expert services.
☐ FAR 6.302-4 International agreement.
☐ FAR 6.302-5 Authorized or required by statute.
☐ FAR 6.302-6 – National Security
☐ FAR 6.302-7 Public Interest
5. A statement demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring use of the authority.
Valley Instrument Company has proprietary rights to equipment and system software the FRL uses to perform its specialized florescence testing on fire phenomenon. The WESP is highly specialized equipment that purifies the black smoke into water vaper before being released in the open air. The valve replacement is a critical part of this process. That said, the technicians from Valley Instruments that have been involved in this effort have a highly specialized inside knowledge of what this piece of equipment does, how it works, the dangers of not following protocol to prevent serious injury or death, and the importance of keeping this system 100% operational. This knowledge includes ensuring the air in the surrounding communities is free of contamination and that the stringent requirements of the EPAs Clean Air Act are met. Valley Instruments owns the licensing to the Air Emissions Control System (A.E.C.S) Code and software used in the control center of the FRL. All aspects of the WESP are controlled by this system.
The ATF WESP is used for mission critical fire arson investigations, because each test fire is unique and the evolution of fire changes. Valley is able to design, manufacture new controls and software programing to fit the FRL needs. The cost and downtime for replacing the entire system would be in the millions of dollars. If A different mechanical company installed the valves this would only be 50% of the requirement. Our in-house Engineering staff along with the FRL engineers maintain the day to day operations of the WESP and other mechanical systems.
Although there are other WESP in service around the world, they were all designed for a singles type use, e.g. Burn trash, Petroleum plants and so on. The ATF WESP was designed in such a manner that it can be used for any number of unique fire testing, e.g.
Full furnished houses, Tractor trailers, and commercial spaces. Valley Instruments has been the only company to write software for this type of new science.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .