KO Determination_Redacted.pdf

This is a Contracting Officer's Determination justifying limited competition below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold for a repair project at Rough River Lake managed by the US Army Engineer District, Corps of Engineers in Louisville, Kentucky.

The procurement involves repair of failing main gate vent pipes using a proprietary polymer pipe lining system, structured as a Purchase Order with Fixed Price contract type funded through Operations & Maintenance, Army (OMA). The scope includes installation of three service gate vents with polymer pipelining system as the base requirement (Line Item 01) and one floatwell with polymer pipelining system as an optional item (Line Item 02). The contracting officer determined that the system is proprietary for structural repair of large diameter piping and that only one approved installer owns the exclusive centrifugal head machine in the United States capable of applying the pipelining system in uniform fashion. Market research posted on SAM.gov for 30 days identified no qualified small business contractors for cast-in-place piping (CIPP) repair, with the Small Business Representative recommending unrestricted procurement. The justification cites RFO 12.102(a) authority based on only one source reasonably available and brand name as the basis for limiting competition. The alternative of replacing the steel piping encased in concrete was determined to be unreasonably costly and would require an immense shutdown incompatible with the facility's flood risk management mission. The action requires posting of the justification as a brand name restriction over $20K with the solicitation, and the contracting officer certified that the anticipated cost is fair and reasonable based on Independent Government Estimate comparison and historical data.