A02 PLASMA TABLE JA 25-033 FINAL 08192025_Redacted.pdf

CUI

Control No: 25-033 Supply/Service: Brand Name Equipment for MWMSS Plasma Table Kits

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 – Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (RIA-JMTC) requests a firm fixed-price, five-year, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for brand name equipment for the Metal Working and Machine Shop Set (MWMSS) Plasma Table Kits. ACC-RI projects award for August 2025 and Fiscal Year 2025 Army Working Capital Funds will be used. 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).

The Government did not compete the requirement prior to this action, under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.501(a)(1)(ii). That justification’s paragraph 7, Actions to Increase Competition, stated “When procuring the supplies in the future, RIA- JMTC will conduct market research to determine if there have been any changes in the marketplace that would allow for increased competition.” The Government completed those actions by releasing a sources sought and completing the market research document to determine if other plasma tables and machine torches were available to meet the Government’s requirement. RIA-JMTC identified no other suitable alternatives as explained in paragraphs 5 and 8 of this Justification and Approval (J&A).

3. Description of Supplies/Services: RIA-JMTC has a requirement for Plasma Table Kits, which is a component of the MWMSS shelter. The Plasma Table Kit, specified by Description for Purchase ECB-094, consists of one each of the following commercial off the shelf items: FastCut, CNC Inc. (FastCut) Scout 4’ x 4’ Computer Numerical Control (CNC) plasma table, Hypertherm Inc. (Hypertherm) machine torch model #059719 in accordance with (IAW) drawing 11B5190937, plasma table case/trunk IAW drawing 11B5190177, and plasma cutter accessory case IAW drawing 11B5190799. This justification covers the portion of the Plasma Table Kit that is brand name specific, which is the FastCut CNC plasma table and Hypertherm machine torch. Market research indicates there are multiple vendors that can submit a quote for the Plasma Table Kits that includes the brand name equipment.

The MWMSS shelter is a one-sided, 8’ x 8’ x 20’ mobile shelter containing various metal cutting, measuring, and welding equipment. The MWMSS shelter system was specifically designed to support Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 91E that combined the previous 44E (Machinist) and 44B (Metal Worker/Welder) positions. The Plasma Table Kit allows soldiers to cut and manufacture precise flat metal parts on the battlefield using the MWMSS’s plasma cutter, facilitating repairs at the point of need to increase readiness.

Supply/Service: Brand Name Equipment for MWMSS Plasma Table Kits

Est Dollar Value:

Machine Torch:

Lincoln Electric, Miller, and Thermal Dynamic were all reviewed but the connectors are not compatible with the Hypertherm 65 Power Supply currently supplied in 180+ completed MWMSS systems and systems currently in production.

In summary, each of the brands listed above would require significant modifications or redesign to be completely functional within the MWMSS. Ongoing market research continues to be conducted by DEVCOM CBC as part of the lifecycle of the MWMSS program by conducting Google searches for alternate brands, discussing with manufacturers, and receiving feedback from soldiers in the field. To date, no new brands were identified that will fit and function in the MWMSS Plasma Table Kit and overall MWMSS shelter system therefore confirming that FastCut and Hypertherm remain the only available brands for this requirement.

Additionally, IAW DFARS 205.205-71, DFARS 206.302-1(d), and DFARS Procedures, Guidance and Information 206.302-1(d), ACC-RI posted a sources sought notice on the www.SAM.gov website on 15 July 2024, closing on 15 August 2024, to investigate the ability of existing vendors to support the MWMSS Plasma Table Kit requirement. ACC-RI received two responses, FastCut and Elizarov Consulting Group. The following technical evaluation below was conducted by .

1. FastCut: Meets all technical requirements. FastCut is currently supplying the Plasma Table Kit for MWMSS production successfully; additionally, FastCut’s sources sought response quoted all Plasma Table Kit components, to include the brand name equipment.

2. Elizarov Consulting Group (ECG): Does not meet all technical requirements.

ECG’s sources sought response quoted a plasma table and machine torch but it did not address the two cases that are part of the Plasma Table Kit. The sources sought also listed the FastCut brand name plasma table, and ECG’s source sought response quoted an alternative plasma table that had a welded frame.

Furthermore, market research showed that at least five distributors sell FastCut CNC plasma tables and 1,000+ distributors sell Hypertherm machine torches that could compete to supply these brand name products to the final MWMSS Plasma Table Kit assembler. The DEVCOM CBC Engineering Maintenance & Supportability Branch specializes in acquiring kitted Commercial Off the Shelf equipment in foam and portable cases. Leveraging this experience and reviewing online literature identified several potential kitting sources, including Kipper Tool Company, Noble, Atlantic Diving Supply, Pelican, ToolKeepers, SJ Smith, and FastCut CNC. It is anticipated that adequate competition will be received as multiple vendors can submit a quote for the Plasma Table Kits that include the brand name equipment.

Supply/Service: Brand Name Equipment for MWMSS Plasma Table Kits

Est Dollar Value:

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

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement History

Contract: W9098S-20-D-0002 (FastCut plasma table, Hypertherm machine torch, and Pelican (or equal) plasma cutter accessory case) Contractor: FastCut Award date: 15 November 2019 Competitive Status: Sole Source (Brand Name and Brand Name or Equal) Authority: FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii), Control No. 19-067

Contract: W9098S-15-D-0003 (Pelican (or equal) plasma cutter accessory case) Contractor: Advance Packaging Inc Award date: 28 October 2014 Competitive Status: Sole Source (Brand Name or Equal) Authority: FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii)

Contract: W9098S-14-D-0054 (Hypertherm supply box and machine torch) Contractor: S.J. Smith Award date: 15 August 2014 Competitive Status: Competed with brand name restriction Authority: FAR 6.302-1, Control No. 14-043/14-043 Amendment 001

Contract: W9098S-14-D-0056 (Torchmate plasma table) Contractor: S.J. Smith Award date: 12 September 2014 Competitive Status: Competed with brand name restriction Authority: FAR 6.302-1, Control No. 14-128/14-128 Amendment 001

The buy for the plasma table, supported by J&A 14-128, was restricted to a Torchmate table. However, in August of 2016, Torchmate notified RIA-JMTC the previously purchased Torchmate 2 plasma table had become obsolete and there were no direct replacements meeting the Government’s exact requirements. At this same time, Torchmate suggested that their 4400 series of plasma tables would be a possible replacement as it was comparable in size to the previously purchased Torchmate 2 table. Further research revealed that the Torchmate 4400 series plasma tables did not meet the Government requirements for the reasons cited above.

Supply/Service: Brand Name Equipment for MWMSS Plasma Table Kits

Est Dollar Value:

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of brand name equipment for the Plasma Table Kits, including FastCut CNC plasma tables and Hypertherm machine torches, pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Date: Signature: