Rotating Assy JA 25-015 Sole Source Final REDACTION COPY_Redacted.pdf

CUI

Control No: 25-015

Contractor: B&P Littleford, LLC.

Supply: 18 PUMM Explosive Mixer Rotating Assemblies

Est Dollar Value:

CUI

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FOR JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Supply/Service: Baker and Perkins (B&P) Littleford 18 PUMM Explosive Mixer Rotating Assembly

Authority: 41 U.S.C. 1901

Prepared by: Adam Burgmeier PN: 520-692-9908 Contract Specialist Email: adam.c.burgmeier.civ@army.mil

Contracting Officer: Elvia Jaggers PN: 571588-8579 Contracting Officer Email: elvia.jaggers.civ@army.mil and open competition.

Controlled by: ACC-RI Controlled by: ACC-RI AIA CUI Category: CUI Distribution Statement or LDC: A POC: Adam Burgmeier, 520-692-9908

Contractor: B&P Littleford, LLC.

Supply: 18 PUMM Explosive Mixer Rotating Assemblies

Est Dollar Value:

CUI

Department of Army Justification and Approval for Other than

Full and Open Competition

1. Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Contracting Command – Rock Island (ACC-RI) Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, IL 61299-8000.

2. Description of Action: McAlester Army Ammunition Plant (MCAAP) requests a firm-fixed-price contract with B&P Littleford, LLC (B&P). ACC-RI projects award for and will obligate fiscal year Army Working Capital funds and Capital Investment Project funds. 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: MCAAP has a requirement for B&P 18 PUMM explosive mixer rotating assemblies. The rotating assemblies will be direct replacements for the existing dual planetary vertical, 600-gallon bowl capacity, B&P 18 PUMM explosive mixer rotating assemblies currently in use at MCAAP and spare assembly. Each rotating assembly consists of a sealed gearbox unit that transfers power from an electric motor to the attached mixing blades, a lower stationary housing that fastens to the rotating assembly providing a mounting surface for the mixing bowl, and various flanged ports to introduce wet and dry ingredients into the mixing bowl during the explosive mixing operation.

MCAAP estimates a total dollar value of , based on the Independent Government Estimate. The proposed contract will not include an option provision.

Delivery is estimated from .

4. Authority Cited: 41 U.S.C. 1901, as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.501(a)(1)(ii), Sole source under the simplified procedures for certain commercial items.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: As described in FAR 13.501(a)(1)(i), the contracting officer may conduct sole source acquisitions only if the need to do so is justified in writing and approved at the levels specified in FAR 13.501(a)(2).

MCAAP commissioned 600-gallon, dual planetary vertical B&P 18 PUMM explosive mixers and bowls in 1986. These explosive mixers and bowls support MCAAP’s “A- Plant” bomb line to prepare polymer-bonded explosive (PBX) fill, which is used to produce 500-, 1,000-, and 2,000-pound general purpose and penetrator bombs for the Air Force, Navy, and Foreign Military Sales. MCAAP worked with B&P to develop this specialized mixing equipment, so it meets all explosives safety guidelines within Department of the Army Pamphlet 385-64 for explosives handling, environmental requirements in accordance with (IAW) the Environmental Protection Agency and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, and all safety protocols within

Contractor: B&P Littleford, LLC.

Supply: 18 PUMM Explosive Mixer Rotating Assemblies

Est Dollar Value:

CUI

Occupational Safety and Health Administration Standard 1910.109 for Explosives and Blasting Agents.

B&P’s PUMM explosive mixer’s unique design provides for an off-center mounting of the mixing blades to ensure mixtures are uniformly and homogenously mixed, without dead spots throughout, providing for the safe and reliable PBX fill. Therefore, the mixer rotating assemblies must interchange with MCAAP’s existing mixers and bowls. The mixers have a 600-gallon bowl capacity offering a two blade, dual planetary mixing process, for preparing various blends of plastic bonded explosive. Each mixer is integrated within a rigid support stand which accommodates the electric motor drive system, bowl lift system, stationary and rotating housings, feed systems, and utilities, within a 12’ L x 12’ W x 30’ H footprint. The bowls are stainless steel and designed to handle an internal pressure of 75 pounds per square inch at 200 degrees Fahrenheit, with internal surfaces polished to 23 micro-inch or better. Bowls are jacketed for water cooling and plumbed to mate with existing infrastructure. Bowls are fitted with a wheeled undercarriage and an air powered drive system so it can travel along existing rail for positioning. The mixing assemblies connect to the housing and provides the power and stability for the mixing blades during the mixing process. By aligning the mixing assembly with the bowls, MCAAP can increase their efficiency by running the mixing process at the equipment’s proper speed settings. Therefore, creating a uniform and homogenously safer mix. When these parts are not 100% aligned, the potential for detonation risk is high, which could cause catastrophic damage to both operators and surrounding buildings. Furthermore, the rotating assembly must interface with the surrounding systems and building platform space restrictions. Overall, the vertical mixer equipment must fit in a 12’ L x 12’ W x 30’ H footprint, to include ventilation areas and electrical components. B&P’s 18 PUMM explosive mixer rotating assembly is the only one that meets this requirement.

While other manufacturers offer similar industrial mixing equipment, only the B&P mixing assembly can meet the government’s requirements above. If a non-B&P manufacturer

Contractor: B&P Littleford, LLC.

Supply: 18 PUMM Explosive Mixer Rotating Assemblies

Est Dollar Value:

CUI

were to modify their equipment to fit the MCAAP facility equipment, it would generate considerable duplication of costs for the re-engineering and safety and environmental recertification. Furthermore, non-OEM parts present additional unknown variables into an already dangerous production process. Based on these unknowns, it is determined to be in the best interest of the government to purchase the B&P rotating assemblies. B&P owns all copyrights and designs for the 600-gallon capacity mixers currently being used at MCAAP and is unwilling to sell or subcontract these rights. As such B&P is the only company that can meet this requirement for MCAAP.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: ACC-RI shall publish the notices required by FAR

5.201. Because this is a sole source action, effective competition is not applicable. The contract will contain FAR clause 52.244-5, Competition in Subcontracting, which states that the contractor shall select subcontractors on a competitive basis to the maximum practicable extent.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Since B&P owns the rights to the 18 PUMM 600-gallon explosive mixer, it is unlikely that any actions will increase competition until B&P agrees to sell or subcontract the rights. However, the Government will continue to conduct market research to determine if there are changes to the marketplace that would enable future competitive procurements.

8. Market Research: MCAAP and ACC-RI conducted market research between to identify authorized distributors/resellers and potential non-OEM manufacturers that could potentially meet the MCAAP requirements. Through searches of the commercial marketplace/internet, and review of available contractor literature and publications, Prescott Machine LLC was identified as a potential manufacturer. Prescott’s vertical mixer offers a 630-gallon bowl capacity which is larger than MCAAP’s current vertical mixer, which is a 600-gallon bowl capacity. While the Prescott mixer is similar, it is larger than the current equipment in use at MCAAP and therefore does not fit into the required 12’ L x 12’ W x 30’ H footprint.

ACC-RI posted a sources sought notice to SAM.gov on with a response time of to identify sources that could provide the B&P mixer assembly. No vendors provided a response or expressed interest in this requirement.

ACC-RI reached out directly to B&P on to determine if it had authorized resellers to which B&P replied that it did not. Therefore for the reasons annotated in paragraph 5, this procurement will be sole sourced to B&P.

Contractor: B&P Littleford, LLC.

Supply: 18 PUMM Explosive Mixer Rotating Assemblies

Est Dollar Value:

CUI

9. Interested Sources: To date, no other sources have expressed a written interest in this requirement.

10. Other Facts:

Procurement History: N/A

Contractor: B&P Littleford, LLC.

Supply: 18 PUMM Explosive Mixer Rotating Assemblies

Est Dollar Value:

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.

12. Requirements 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.

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based on price analysis. The contractor may be required to provide “other than certified cost or pricing data” for the completion of the price analysis. Certified cost or pricing data will not be required in accordance with FAR 15.403-1(b)(3) since this is a commercial item.

Date: _________________ ____________________________

Elvia Jaggers Contracting Officer

14. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date: _________________ ____________________________

Elvia Jaggers Contracting Officer

05/01/2025

05/01/2025

JAGGERS.ELV

IA.1231152403

Digitally signed by

JAGGERS.ELVIA.1231152403

Date: 2025.05.01 14:27:39 -05'00'

JAGGERS.ELV

IA.1231152403

Digitally signed by

JAGGERS.ELVIA.1231152403

Date: 2025.05.01 14:27:58 -05'00'