Lee JA 2020_94 ALTESS Switchgear _Redacted.pdf

Control No.: MICC 2020-94 Program/Equipment: ALTESS Switchgear Replacement

Version – September 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

FAR Subpart 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items – Sole Source Justification and Approval

1. Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command – (MICC-Ft Lee), 1830 Quartermaster Road, Bldg. 7124, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1205

2. Description of Action: Product Director – Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Enterprise Systems and Services (PD ALTESS), requests a firm-fixed-price contract to procure and install a new Caterpillar XLM3 Paralleling Switchgear with Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS). The Government projects award for 29 September 2020 and Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Operation and Maintenance, Army (OMA) funds will be used.

Lead time will be required for delivery of equipment upon award of contract. An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement does not meet the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 207.103(d)(i)(B).

3. Description of Supplies/Services: PD ALTESS requests the replacement of the current unreliable GE AKD-10 Switchgear and custom ATS with one (1) new Caterpillar XLM3 Paralleling Switchgear. The new indoor Caterpillar XLM3 Paralleling Switchgear with ATS will include components that are interchangeable with the current in-place and active Westside Caterpillar Switchgear.

Estimated Delivery Date: 31 May 2021 Estimated Total Value:

4. Authority Cited: Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, 41 U.S.C.

1901 as implemented by FAR Subpart 13.5: Brand Name.

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

a. Restricting this procurement to brand name Caterpillar is essential in meeting the Government’s requirements. The current GE AKD-10 Switchgear was installed many years back as it was the only available equipment at the time that could handle electrical distribution of a system as large as our data center. The installation required additional wiring, modules, and monitoring systems as it did not sync up with the building automation system nor was it easily compatible with in-place adjacent Caterpillar switchgear. Over the years, the current GE AKD-10 switchgear began to show signs of wear and tear, requiring maintenance of attached equipment and wiring and therefore increasing the cost of maintenance each year due to obsolete parts and technical assistance.

Due to the aging equipment, it was found that procuring a new brand name Caterpillar XLM3 Paralleling Switchgear would increase power distribution and reduce unneeded wiring, modules, and monitoring systems. The new Caterpillar XLM3 with ATS can be installed with upgraded connection and direct wiring to monitoring systems while having the ability to be connected directly to adjacent in-place Caterpillar switchgear. This upgrade reduces the need for having the additional wiring, converter modules, and/or larger amount of square footage than the previous model needed. With the ease of compatibility to other Caterpillar equipment within the data center, the distribution of power can be switched quicker, while the direct connection to the monitoring system allows facility personnel to monitor systems more effectively combined and is easier to maintain.

b. Alternatives: Research disclosed that other brands of similar switchgear lack the ability to directly wire to monitoring systems, while having the ability to be connected directly to adjacent in-place Caterpillar switchgear. Switchgear other than the Caterpillar XLM3 Paralleling Switchgear will require purchase of additional converting/compatibility equipment and wiring to make the alternative equipment compatible and function properly with current systems. The cost incurred by an alternative piece of equipment will place the program in the situation of either needing to find additional funding and/or potentially requiring a specialized technician to service the alternate equipment. Also purchasing an alternative brand switchgear can cause a disruption when power shut-down is required to perform maintenance as different brands of equipment have different restart procedures. This can interrupt or delay distribution of power to the data center, compared to having all uniformed equipment with one start up procedure.

c. Impact if justification not approved. Failing to approve the justification for procuring the brand name Caterpillar XLM3 Paralleling Switchgear will result in the following: 1) the rising cost of maintaining the current failing GE AKD-10 switchgear; 2) increase the risk of equipment failure – which would place the data center in grave danger of unacceptable delays to operation capability or mission failure; 3) increased risk of fire, failure of proper switching of power between primary and back-up generator power; and increased risk of personnel safety; 4) negatively impact the data center’s ability to switch power from primary power to back-up generator power properly. Not only is it important to provide power to the IT equipment in the data center, it is equally important to provide power to the cooling systems that support the data center. Failing to provide proper cooling and electricity to the data center significantly increases the risk of equipment failure – which would have an unacceptable negative operational impact for over 200 plus Army programs globally that are supported by the data center.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: The Contracting Officer shall publish the notices required by FAR 5.201.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: This action will be competed amongst authorized small business resellers of the Caterpillar XLM3 Paralleling Switchgear.

8. Market Research:

a. In accordance with FAR Part 10, market research was conducted during the period of 01 May 2019 through 16 December 2019 to determine if any resellers had the capabilities of providing the equipment, installation, and startup. During market research, PD ALTESS reached out to three resellers whom specialize in power