A.03.09_Brand_Name_JA_-JD_SQ_and_SU_Board_Replacement.pdf

“Source Selection Information -- See FAR 2.101 and 3.104.”

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL (J&A)

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Control # 17-038

1. CONTRACTING ACTIVITY:

USACE Portland District (CECT-NWP-C), Construction Branch, 333 SW First Ave, Portland Oregon, 97208.

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION: Approval is requested for Other Than Full and Open Competition for procuring Brand Name products under a new Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) Construction contract using Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), revolving funds, Appropriation Symbol 4045. These funds do not expire.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES OR NATURE OF CONSTRUCTION:

The portion of the acquisition requiring brand-name products applies to the Allen Bradley ControlLogix Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) equipment. The Allen Bradley PLC equipment includes the PLC controller, input and output modules, communications modules, mounting hardware, supporting hardware, networking equipment, and programming software.

The Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLC equipment are required components for completion of the larger construction project and have a total estimated price of $100,000.00.

4. AUTHORITY CITED:

10 U.S.C. § 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. This justification is for the use of a brand name description under FAR 6.302-1(c).

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED:

a. Background:

USACE Portland District utilizes Allen Bradley PLC systems to monitor and operate digital governors, main unit annunciators, the navigation lock, the north fish pumps, and both the north and south fish ways at John Day Lock and Dam. Additionally, the south fish way and smolt bypass systems will soon be included on this same network infrastructure. To ensure that all of the PLC systems at John Day Lock and Dam communicate with each other successfully, consistently, and adaptively, USACE Portland District has standardized the use of Allen Bradley PLC systems at John Day Lock and Dam.

b. Justification:

USACE Portland District requires the use of a brand name description specifying the use of Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLCs for this acquisition for purposes of standardization and safety. As explained above, the Agency already utilizes Allen Bradley PLC systems to monitor and operate numerous equipment systems at John Day Lock and Dam. The Agency requires that these PLC systems be interoperable in order to maintain continuity of operations, minimize operating inefficiencies and costs, and ensure the safety of personnel and equipment. Allen Bradley PLC systems’ hardware and software is customized to work solely with Allen Bradley products, so http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/02.htm#P10_600 http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/03.htm#P41_5833 other vendors’ components are not compatible with Allen Bradley hardware and software. As a result, Portland District requires the use of Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLCs for this acquisition.

c. Impact:

The Agency requires the use of Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLCs in order to maintain continuity of operations, minimize operating inefficiencies and costs, and ensure the safety of personnel and equipment. Utilizing a different brand of PLC system as part of this acquisition would require project personnel and design engineers to acquire additional training, software, and equipment necessary to design, operate, and maintain that system. Personnel would not be able to utilize existing knowledge or maintenance software licenses that have already been purchased for Allen Bradley products. Personnel would also be required to learn two different programming languages, increasing the complexity and time necessary to operate and maintain the system.

Portland District would also incur greater costs because of the need to purchase additional spare parts, software licenses, and maintenance agreements and to train personnel on the new system.

For example, in response to a Notice of Intent to Sole Source posted by Portland District on 15 March 2017, Schneider Electric offered to supply a product similar to the Allen Bradley PLCs.

However, were it to purchase Schneider Electric’s product as part of this acquisition, Portland District would need to pay for onsite training and for an additional software license that the Agency would not otherwise require if Allen Bradley PLCs are purchased instead.

In addition, Portland District has decided it is necessary to standardize all PLC systems at John Day Lock and Dam in order to ensure the safety of personnel and equipment. The Allen Bradley PLCs will be used primarily for alarms and indications into the John Day Lock and Dam’s annunciation system. The PLCs will also be used to remotely operate 480 VAC Circuit Breakers, which are used to rapidly restore the powerhouse following the loss of all power. These functions provide critical information and controls to the power plant operator without which the operator could not effectively know the status of multiple systems or be able to quickly restore the power plant from a loss of all power. The PLC system expansion and upgrade is critical to the operation of the powerhouse during normal and emergency operations. If the programming and maintenance of this PLC system is different than all others at the John Day Lock and Dam, there is increased risk of failure in such a scenario.

For these reasons, the Agency requires the use of a brand name description specifying the use of Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLCs for this acquisition.

d. Alternatives:

Currently there are no alternatives to the Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLC system that provides the required functionality of programmable logic controllers at John Day Lock and Dam.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION:

The Portland District posted a Notice of Intent to Sole Source to FedBizOpps on 15 March 2017 informing interested parties that the Government intended to include a brand-name description to specify a particular brand-name product peculiar to one manufacturer in a portion of the acquisition. Firms were requested to provide written notice to the Government if they believe they had the capabilities to manufacture the same PLC components offered by Allen Bradley.

Firms were asked to respond by 30 March 2017.

In response to the Notice of Intent to Sole Source, the Government received two responses. The first response was received on 30 March 2017 from Parijat Controlware, Inc. Analysis of the response revealed that Parijat Controlware, Inc. was simply offering to supply the Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLC components the Government intends to purchase.

The second response was received on 6 April 2017 from Schneider Electric. A technical analysis was performed on the quote received from Schneider Electric by the Hydroelectric Design Center. While the products offered by Schneider Electric are similar to the Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLCs, it was determined that the Schneider Electric products are not directly compatible with the existing Allen Bradley PLC systems and software at John Day Lock and Dam. As a result, utilizing the Schneider Electric products instead would require the Agency to incur additional costs to acquire additional software, equipment, and training in order to design, operate, and maintain the system. Furthermore, utilizing the Schneider Electric products would require Agency personnel to learn an additional programming language, thereby reducing operating efficiencies and increasing risks to the safety of Agency personnel and equipment.

Consequently, it was determined that the products offered by Schneider Electric do not meet the Agency’s need for standardization and safety offered by the use of Allen Bradley PLCs.

7. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION:

At this time, only Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLCs have been found to meet the Agency’s need for standardization and safety as it concerns PLC systems at John Day Lock and Dam. Market research will be conducted during future acquisitions to determine if other PLCs are available that are compatible with existing PLC hardware and software.

8. MARKET RESEARCH:

During the designer’s initial market research, a quote was received from North Coast Electric, the appointed distributor of the Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLCs. Further market research, to include a Notice of Intent to Sole Source, produced two interested sources.

9. INTERESTED SOURCES:

To date, two suppliers have expressed interest:

1) Parijat Controlware, Inc. This company showed interest for the supplying of Allen Bradley ControlLogix.

2) Schneider Electric. This Company showed interest in providing a comparable Modicon

PLC.

10. OTHER FACTS:

None.

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.

NAME: Daniel M. Trowbridge TITLE: Electrical Engineer

CAC SIGNATURE:

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.

NAME: Arthur D. Webber TITLE: Mechanical Engineer

13. FAIR AND REASONABLE COST DETERMINATION:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for the Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLC equipment, the portion of the acquisition using a brand-name description, will be fair and reasonable based on catalog or historical pricing, and comparison of proposed prices with the Independent Government Estimate in accordance with FAR 15.404-1(b)(2)(ii) and (v).

Certified Cost or Pricing Data will not be required, as this acquisition falls under the following exemption: FAR 15.403-1(b)(1) adequate price competition.

NAME: Tracy L. Wickham TITLE: Contracting Officer

14. CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

NAME: Tracy L. Wickham TITLE: Contracting Officer

CAC SIGNATURE:

APPROVAL

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the use of a brand name description for the procurement of Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLC equipment at John Day Lock and Dam on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(c), “Application for brand-name descriptions,” subject to the availability of funds, and provided the property herein described has otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

NAME: Tracy L. Wickham TITLE: Contracting Officer