A02 far part 6 cobot_Redacted.pdf

Control No:

Supply: Cobot Robotic Welding Systems

Est Dollar Value:

CUI

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FOR JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Supply/Service: Cobot Robotic Welding System

Authority: 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1)

Contracting Officer: Ashley Moore DSN: 793-7372 Procuring Contracting Officer

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Controlled by: Army Contracting Command – Rock Island Controlled by: CCRI-AIH CUI Category: CONTRACT Distribution Statement or LDC: DISTRIBUTION A

Est Dollar Value:

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: The Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) – Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC) requests a firm fixed price contract with an unknown contractor after competed for the Lincoln Electric Cobot Robotic Welding System that is available through multiple distributors. ACC-RI projects award for and will obligate fiscal year , utilizing Army Working Capital funds. An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement does not meet the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 207.103(d)(i)(B).

This is a new requirement that has not been previously competed.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: RIA-JMTC has a requirement for a Cobot Robotic Welding System, which is a robotic welder(s) that utilizes a collaborative robot attached to a welding torch. The system is in support of the Stryker Program as well as other Weapon Systems in support of the war fighter. The end users for this requirement would be the RIA-JMTC personnel tasked with the completion of parts for these efforts. The Cobot welder is programmed via a machine control either by using the programming language or manually by directing the robot arm. The advantages of using this all-in-one type of system are that it can be used for welding operations for various projects as the programming is extremely easy and the unit can be rolled into a booth to be used for a specific program, then moved out of the way for more complex weldments not requiring the use of the robotic welder.

The proposed contract will not include an option provision. RIA-JMTC estimates a dollar value of , including options, based on the Independent Government Estimate.

4. Authority Cited: 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1(a)(2) and 6.302-1(c), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, and brand name descriptions.

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5. Reason for Authority Cited: As described at FAR 6.302-1(a)(2), when the supplies or services required by the agency are available only from one responsible source, or for DoD, NASA and the Coast Guard, from only one or a limited number of responsible sources, and no other types of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for. As further described in FAR 6.302-1(c), an acquisition or portion of an acquisition that uses a brand-name description or other purchase description to specify a particular brand-name, product, or feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer does not provide for full and open competition, regardless of the number of sources solicited; and shall be justified and approved in accordance with FAR 6.303 and 6.304.

Restricted competition is recommended for these collaborative robotic welders to Lincoln Electric Cooper Products as they have a patent pending technology that allows for automatic recording of air movement path points for operator initiated free air moves.

When navigating the touch probe around geometrical constraints or around contours of the part, the Cobot system automatically records move points and records the movement path of the probe. Alternatively, the path must be recorded via operator input using buttons or some other form of engaging the touch probe.

Currently, based on market research and response from vendors, Lincoln Electric is the only manufacturer that produces an all-in-one product that includes this automatic air move recording technology, while maintaining the ease of use provided by the onboard app.

It is recommended that this requirement be restricted to the proposed manufacturer/ brand of equipment based on our organization’s identified need of this application and the availability of this application in the market today.

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6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: The Army Contracting Command – Rock Island (ACC-RI) shall publish the notices required by FAR5.201. Because this is a brand name action, effective competition is not applicable due to potential resellers and authorized distributors of Lincoln Electric products. The United States Government (USG) will achieve subcontracting competition by having the contract 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: Because this requirement is a commercial off the shelf item, the USG anticipates taking no specific action to increase competition. No further subsequent acquisitions are anticipated.

8. Market Research: Market research was initially performed by Chandler Work, General Engineer on dates ranging from August through September of 2024 via viewing online sources for Collaborative Robot Welders which led to finding Vectis via their website. Market research was done further during the International Trade show in Chicago (IMTS) where met with representatives from to learn more about the Cobot Welding Process. There are numerous contractors that have Cobot Robotic Welding Systems and each system operates slightly different than others whether it be movement, programming, user interface, torch button style etc. Other contractors that were communicated with via online or phone communications were , who is one of the distributors of Lincoln Electric Cobot Systems. It was discovered that the Lincoln Electric units utilize a feature that automatically records air movement and creates its own move points within the program. The alternative method used by other manufacturers is to use the touch probe buttons to dictate move points for the program. Lincoln Electric does not have a closed distributorship meaning there are multiple vendors that can provide this equipment. With this information, went to Lincoln Electric’s website where they have a distributor locator for their products. After clicking on our location and setting a 100-mile radius, there were numerous vendors that were labeled as being able to provide the Cobot Systems requested. Because there is not a closed distributorship, there is nothing preventing contractors outside of the 100-mile radius from our facility. Third party contractors can also reach out to those companies using them as a sub to provide a quote if the warranty and service for the year following the contract award, which is required, is still valid if being sourced through a 3rd party.

Since the Market Research provides evidence that multiple contractors can fulfill the requirement, no additional sources sought is required due to being brand name only.

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

10. Other Facts: This is a new requirement; therefore, no procurement history is available.