Sole Source Justification_VFSS Controls Upgrade_Redact_Redacted.pdf

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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I. Contracting Activity.

Air Force Test Center (AFTC)/PZIA is the contracting agency and organizational activity responsible for this proposed contracting action. The Contracting Officer is Brogan Fullmer.

II. Nature and/or description of the action being processed.

This is a new requirement for Variable Frequency Starting System (VFSS) control upgrades in Building 929 (C-Airside) and Building 903 (C-Exhaust) at Arnold Air Force Base (AAFB). It is the intent of AFTC/PZIA to award a single, commercial, firm-fixed price (FFP), requirements contract and issue FFP orders for supplies and incidental services directly with ABB Inc., Commercial and Government Entity Code (CAGE) 8TF40, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) KL15P79N5XB8. ABB Inc. is an other-than small business under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 334513, Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables.

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

The Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) at AAFB, Tennessee requires Variable Frequency Starting Systems (VFSS) control upgrades in Building 929 (C-Airside) and Building 903 (C-Exhaust). The C-Plant Facility, part of the Engine Test Facility (ETF) at AEDC, utilizes two identical Variable Frequency Starting Systems, also known as MEGADRIVE-LCI (Load Commutater Inverter) units, for starting its eighteen (18) main drive air compressors in a safe, reliable, and controlled manner.

The replacement/upgrade control cards and new panels for the MEGADRIVE-LCIs are essential to running and operating AEDC's VFSS. The current control cards being utilized by AEDC are no longer manufactured. AEDC has a limited number of current control cards and no path forward for procurement of additional units. If the control cards are not upgraded, the VFSSs will become non-functional after the current supply of control cards are exhausted. This commodity requirements contract is supported with incidental services including site inspections to identify components for upgrade and their installation by the OEM.

This requirements contract will provide for the identification, supply, and installation of upgraded equipment for the MEGADRIVE-LCI VFSS.

Anticipated solicitation and base contract line item numbers (CLINs):

MEGADRIVE-LCI on-site inspections/equipment audit services Service Requested: On-site inspections/equipment audit services Product Service Code: N059 Pricing Arrangement: Firm Fixed Price 2 Jobs, estimated

MEGADRIVE-LCI commodities Part Number Description: MEGADRIVE-LCI commodities design, manufacture, and delivery Product Service Code: 6110 Pricing Arrangement: Firm Fixed Price 2 Lots, estimated

MEGADRIVE-LCI Installation and Commissioning services Service Requested: MEGADRIVE-LCI Installation and Commissioning Product Service Code: N059 Pricing Arrangement: Firm Fixed Price 2 Jobs, estimated

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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The estimated total value of this requirements contract's orders is . It is anticipated fiscal year (FY) 25 research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) "3600" funds will be available for order award. A single, firm-fixed-price, five-year requirements-type contract under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), utilizing FAR Part 13 procedures in conjunction with FAR Part 12 procedures. The ordering period of this requirements contract will be five (5) years, with a ceiling of $4,900,000. This $4,900,000.00 ceiling amount incorporates potential cost escalations due to inflation and market fluctuations beyond the current Government estimate of .

IV. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

Simplified Acquisition Procedures under 41 USC 1901(e)(2) IAW the requirements of 10 USC §3204(e).

V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority).

The Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) at AAFB, Tennessee requires control upgrades to its Variable Frequency Starting Systems (VFSS) . The VFSS utilizes two proprietary MEGADRIVE-LCI (Load Commutater Inverter) units, manufactured solely by ABB Inc., to start its eighteen (18) main drive air compressors.

This requirements contract will procure:

• On-site inspection/audit services to identify necessary replacements/upgrades

• Replacement MEGADRIVE-LCI units, components, and panels

• Installation and commissioning services for the new units, components, and panels

Regarding the on-site inspection/audit to identify necessary replacements/upgrades: Because of the proprietary nature of ABB's MEGADRIVE-LCI units, market research has established that no other offeror would have the requisite technical experience, knowledge, or ability to conduct an adequate on-site inspection of ABB's MEGADRIVE-LCI units to ascertain what replacements/upgrades are necessary other than ABB.

Regarding the replacement of the MEGADRIVE-LCI units:

Only ABB Inc. possesses the proprietary technology, and specialized capabilities to upgrade the MEGADRIVE-LCI units.

No other manufacturer has the knowledge or access to the proprietary software or proprietary components necessary for these upgrades. While other companies produce panels for similar systems, only ABB Inc. manufactures panels compatible with the specific MEGADRIVE-LCI units used by AEDC. AEDC’s existing MEGADRIVE-LCI units include unique interfaces, proprietary software, proprietary communication protocols, and specific parameters which must be maintained to correctly operate and are not offered by any other vendor. Such proprietary systems and/or components include:

Unique Interfaces:

• Proprietary hardware connections - MEGADRIVE-LCI units use specialized connectors, buses, and communication modules unique to ABB Inc.’s ecosystem. Third-party companies would need access to these proprietary interface specifications.

• Embedded control components - The MEGADRIVE-LCI control boards contain application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and micro controllers with custom firmware specifically designed for ABB Inc.’s control algorithms and communication protocols.

Software Dependencies:

• Closed-Source Software – ABB Inc.’s drive control software and source code is considered closed-source and unavailable for modification or adaptation by third parties.

• Operating System (OS) Dependencies - The drive’s control board runs a real-time operating system (RTOS) tailored for ABB’s hardware and software environment, challenging for third-parties without detailed documentation.

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Communication Protocols:

• Proprietary Protocols - MEGADRIVE-LCIs use proprietary communication protocols for high-speed data exchange between the drive’s internal components and communication with other ABB devices.

• Protocol-Specific Hardware - Implementing these proprietary protocols requires specific communication or hardware interfaces not readily available to third-party developers.

Other Elements:

• Parameter Settings and Tuning - ABB drives have numerous parameters which require precise configuration for optimal performance and specific motor and application.

• Safety Systems Integration - Third-party upgrades could interfere with the integrated safety features of the MEGADRIVE-LCI, creating hazards.

• The existing control cards are obsolete and irreplaceable. Without an upgrade, the VFSS will eventually fail.

Regarding the installation and commissioning services for the new units: As a result of the proprietary nature of it's MEGADRIVE-LCI system and its software, only ABB has the requisite knowledge and ability to properly install and commission its own system.

Replacing the entire VFSS is also unfeasible, with a $30M estimated cost and up to four (4) years to design and install, causing unacceptable test schedule disruptions.

This sole-source award is based on the following:

• Only ABB Inc. possesses the proprietary knowledge, software, and components to identify, install, and commission replacement parts and upgrade to the MEGADRIVE-LCI units.

• Replacing the entire VFSS with an alternative system is prohibitively expensive and time-consuming.

• Existing control cards are obsolete and will eventually render the VFSS non-functional without upgrades.

Therefore, ABB Inc. is the only known source capable of meeting AEDC’s requirements without substantial duplication of costs and unacceptable delays. Replacing the entire VFSS is an unfeasible alternative due to prohibitive costs and unacceptable test schedule disruptions. Furthermore, the current control cards necessary for operating the existing system are obsolete and irreplaceable. Without an upgrade, the VFSS will eventually fail. ABB Inc. is the only known source capable of meeting AEDC’s requirements without substantial duplication of costs and unacceptable delays.

Therefore, this acquisition is justified as only one responsible source, ABB Inc., is reasonably available.

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

To promote competition, a Notice of Intent (NOI) was posted to SAM.gov from 13 February to 26 February 2025, informing potential vendors of the Government's intent to issue an award to ABB Inc. for its proprietary products and inviting capability statements in accordance with FAR 5.207(c)(16)(ii). One vendor, TIC International Inc. (“TIC”), responded, stating its capabilities including:

“System integrator, technology and services provider to a wide range of industries Expertise in process control, electrical control, safety systems, excitation & synchronization systems, field instrumentation, measurement & analytics, and control room design”.

Similarly, TIC describes itself as an, “ABB Authorized Partner for process control, electrical control, safety systems, excitation & synchronization systems, measurement & analytics, and control room design.” Although TIC describes itself as an "authorized partner" for ABB systems, it does not have the ability to perform MEGADRIVE-LCI upgrades or to provide the parts necessary for those upgrades. Only ABB Inc. has access to the proprietary information needed to do the upgrade.

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While TIC may have capabilities as a system integrator and manufacturer partner, AEDC requires a manufacturer to perform MEGADRIVE-LCI upgrades. TIC International Inc. was technically evaluated to not have the necessary capabilities to perform MEGADRIVE-LCI upgrades. Only ABB Inc., as the original equipment manufacturer, produces the panels to upgrade the MEGADRIVE-LCI units. Other companies do manufacture panels for other systems similar to the VFSS; however, the MEGADRIVE-LCI is specific to the VFSSs used by AEDC. Only ABB Inc. produces panels compatible with MEGADRIVE-LCIs, as other companies do not have access to the proprietary information necessary to manufacture them.

VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

A determination of price fair and reasonableness will be made IAW price analysis techniques found at FAR 13.106-3(a) (2).

VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

Market research for determining the vendor pool focused on potential alternate sources to fulfill the Government's needs with only minor modifications. Market research results indicate no other qualified sources are capable of meeting the requirement.

Mandatory Sources - The Air Force or other agencies do not have a mandatory source for VFSS system upgrades meeting the required specifications. For example, the Federal Prison Industries does not provide VFSSs at all. A search was conducted on the AbilityOne website, it does not offer products meeting requirements. Wholesale supply agencies (GSA, DLA, etc.) do not have specification VFSSs.

IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

None

X. List of any sources that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

TIC International Inc.

XI. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required.

AEDC will continue to conduct market research for VFSS which may meet the Government's requirement, as the needs arise.

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature above, I have determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my (our) signature(s) above, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our) responsibility, is both accurate and complete.