Justification_for_Other_Than_Full_and_Open_Competition_posting.docx

May 15, 2019

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL

AND OPEN COMPETITION (JOFOC)

U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory

PR 19FE002771

Miniaturized and Cost-effective Membrane-Coated Electrochemical Sensors for Corrosion and Environmental Monitoring in Natural Gas Pipelines

I recommend that negotiations be conducted only with The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) for the supplies or services described herein:

1. Identification of the agency NETL and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition.

In April 2015, NETL Strategic Center for Natural Gas and Oil (SCNGO) provided guideline for the Natural Transmission and Distribution program led by TC Paul Ohodnicki. The SCNGO request was concerned with developing technologies and practices to mitigate emissions from natural gas transmission, distribution and storage facilities. TC Margaret Ziomek-Moroz recommended the use of advanced electrochemical sensors capable of measuring corrosion rates and some environment characteristics in pipelines using time-efficient, objective (i.e., human-free error), and reliable electrochemical methods in natural gas–simulated fluids. In addition to measuring corrosion rates, the sensors will be capable of measuring gas water content and liquid water presence in the simulated environments. In this environment, it is expected that corrosive species present in natural gas, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to be dissolved easily. This research approach was accepted by SCNGO. Taking into account that NETL does not have a high pressure high temperature electrochemical flowing loop systems able to carry out water content measurements and electrochemical tests in these very challenging environments, Prof. Serguei Lvov’s Electrochemical Technologies Laboratory at the Pennsylvania State University was identified based on the Project Fact Sheet titled “Electrochemical Corrosion in High Temperature Sub- and Supercritical Water” by Serguei Lvov, Victor Balashov, Mark Fedkin, Project Fact Sheet. At Penn State, this group has a unique combination of scientific and engineering equipment for safe electrochemical testing in the conditions needed for this environment and additive manufacturing of sensor components. Publications from Prof. Serguei Lvov’s group further demonstrate their excellent safety record while regularly conducting high pressure and temperature electrochemical tests with toxic and flammable chemicals.

In summary, only Prof. Serguei Lvov’s laboratories at Penn State have the facilities needed to develop and test wired and wireless advanced electrochemical sensors that also meet NETL’s safety and environmental health standards in the environment of interest.

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved, i.e. sole source, limited competition, establishment of a new source, etc.

Sole source.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs.

Due to the DE-FE0024261/0004 contract expiration, this new contract is for 3-year work with funding of $110,000/ year.

The following services are required for three years from the award date:

Year 1:

Task 1: Localized corrosion detection in condensed phases containing impurities that induce pitting for the wired 2nd Generation Advanced Electrochemical Sensors.

The contractor shall use the 2nd generation advanced electrochemical sensor (AES), developed under the DE-FE0024261/0004 contract, to carry out electrochemical noise tests (EN) at different frequencies (1, 10 and 40 Hz) for different potentials (corrosion potential and pitting potential) and cyclic voltammetry tests (CV). The following environmental conditions shall be included:

· T=30 and 60 °C

· System pressure P=6.9 MPa (1000 psi)

· 0.5 Mol kg-1 NaHCO3

· 0.5 mol kg-1 NaHCO3 + 0.1 mol kg-1 NaCl

· 0.5 mol kg-1 NaHCO3 + 0.5 mol kg-1 NaCl

· 0.5 mol kg-1 NaHCO3 + 0.5 mol kg-1 Na2S2O3

Total number of reliable electrochemical data points for the conditions specified in Task 1: 504.

Task 2: Wireless 3rd Generation AES with water content detection abilities for condensed water phases.

The contractor shall use the wired 2nd generation sensor prototype, and the wireless 3rd generation sensor prototype, developed under the DE-FE0024261/0004 contract, for carrying out electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests to determine environmental conductivity. The following environmental conditions shall be included:

· T=30°C

· System pressure P=6.9 MPa (1000 psi)

· deionized water

· 0.5 mol kg-1 NaHCO3

· 0.5 mol kg-1 NaHCO3+0.1 mol kg-1 Na2CO3

· 0.1 mol kg-1 Na2CO3 Total number of reliable electrochemical data points for the conditions specified in Task 2: 72.

Task 3: Optimization of wireless 3rd Generation AES for corrosion rate monitoring in condensed water phases.

The contractor shall use the wireless 3rd generation sensor prototype to measure conductivity of the environments and corrosion rates of pipeline material using EIS and LPR techniques. The following environmental conditions shall be included:

· T=30 and 60 °C

· System pressure P=6.9 MPa (1000 psi)

· 0.5 Mol kg-1 NaHCO3

· 0.5 mol kg-1 NaHCO3 + 0.1 mol kg-1 NaCl

· 0.5 mol kg-1 NaHCO3 + 0.5 mol kg-1 NaCl

· 0.5 mol kg-1 NaHCO3 + 0.5 mol kg-1 Na2S2O3 Total number of reliable electrochemical data points for the conditions specified in Task 3: 288.

In summary: The anticipated total number of reliable electrochemical tests that include measurements of conductivity of the environments, corrosion rates and localized corrosion parameters is 288.

4. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as described in FAR Part 6.302-1, the property or services needed by the executive agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of property or services will satisfy the needs of the executive agency.

5. A statement demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority.

Serguei Lvov: Penn State Professor of Energy and Mineral Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering and Director of Electrochemical Technologies Program has developed high temperature and high-pressure facility for aqueous extreme environments. He successfully introduced electrochemical methods to the high pressure high temperature static and flowing systems for experimental determination of corrosion parameters in the extreme environments. Also, his modeling work skills are extraordinary, and his program has a number of unique computer programs to model the corrosion rate and environmental parameters in high temperature and high-pressure aqueous systems.

6. A description of efforts to ensure that offers were solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable. Include whether or not a FedBizOpps announcement was made and what response, if any, was received, and include the exception under FAR 5.202 when not synopsizing. Describe whether any additional or similar requirements are anticipated in the future. (This may not be included as an addendum, but must be in the body of the JOFOC.)

Literature search was performed and NETL has concluded that Prof. Serguei Lvov’s laboratory at Penn State is the only facility identified by NETL capable of carrying out electrochemical tests and water content measurements in gas streams through using PEM membrane for NETL in professional, timely and safe manner. It worth pointing that Prof. Lvov received a highly competitive National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for designing and constructing the high pressure electrochemical experimental system, called a high-pressure flow-through electrochemical system to be used in this program. This is a new generation of corrosion and environment monitoring devices not to be used anywhere else.

7. Cite the anticipated dollar value of the proposed acquisition including options if applicable and a determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The anticipated cost/ year per each task is a follows: Task 1:$36,000; Task 2: $35,000; Task 3: 39,000 The anticipated total cost for three tasks: $110,000/ year for a total of $330,000.

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted. Do not simply refer to the sources sought synopsis.

Literature search has shown that there is no any other research facility in the United States that can carry out the electrochemical experiments with providing reliable research data needed for advanced corrosion and environment monitoring technology in extreme environments.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, such as:

a. Explanation of why technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statements of work or purchase descriptions suitable for full and open competition have not been developed or are not available.

b. When FAR Subpart 6.302-2 is cited for follow on acquisition as described in FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii), an estimate of cost to the Government that would be duplicated and how the estimate was derived.

c. When FAR 6.302-2 is cited, data, estimated cost, or other rationale as to the extent and nature of the harm to the Government.

None

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed a written interest in the acquisition.

Prof. Serguei Lvov, The Pennsylvania State University

11. A statement of actions the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated.

NETL shall monitor other Universities for the necessary expertise and skill set.