W912DW22R0001 - Brand Name Justification REDACTED_Redacted.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pursuant to FAR 13.016-1(b)(1)(i)

1. CONTRACTING AGENCY: US Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION: Approval is requested to utilize the following thirteen brand name self-lubricating materials estimated to be valued at $70,000 to execute a name brand purchase for the Station Service Turbine Rehabilitation and Generator Rewind at Chief Joseph:

Karon V-Bronze Backed, Kamatics Corporation Karon V-Composite Backed, Kamatics Corporation TXM-M, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions C417, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions HPF, Glacier Garlock Bearings HPM, Glacier Garlock Bearings HPMB, Glacier Garlock Bearings Devatex 522, Federal Mogul Corporation (previously Devatex II) Devatex 522, Federal Mogul Corporation CIP Hydro, Columbia Industrial Products All True Hydro 2069-ATHB, All True Designs SlideRite P312-PTFE, GrayGo International (previously D-Glide FT, Drie D Americas) Triboglide 15M+, ACM Composite

This action would be applicable to the two station service units within this contract.

Areas where these materials are to be utilized include the wicket gate operating mechanism’s bushings, guide bearing plates, thrust bearing plates, and thrust bushings.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES OR NATURE OF

CONSTRUCTION: The existing material of most wicket gate operating mechanism’s bushings, guide bearing plates, thrust bearing plates, and thrust bushings are greased bronze. The purpose of these bushings and bearing plates is to provide a lubricated wear surface at locations of low speed rotation and frequent high load start/stop operations.

During this contract, the greased bronze materials will be replaced with self-lubricating materials for reasons discussed in the following sections.

4. AUTHORITY CITED:

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) & FAR 6.302-1. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED: Pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) “Contracting Officers may solicit from one source if the Contracting Officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g. urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name or industrial mobilization.)”

(1) Background: The materials currently used for bushings and bearing plates within the wicket gate operating mechanism are greased bronze. There are efforts to move away from greased bronze in bushing and bearing plate applications to self-lubricating materials as discussed in the 2016 memorandum from Head Quarters, ““Clean Water Act Compliance at USACE Hydropower Facilities”. Additionally, it is HDC’s policy to replace greased bronze materials with self-lubricating materials during major turbine replacements/rehabilitations such as this contract. There are currently only thirteen self-lubricating materials that can be used by a contractor based on HDC’s review of testing results against defined criteria.

(2) Justification: The contract lists thirteen self-lubricating materials from specific brands because these have provided their materials to be tested by Powertech Labs and those results have been reviewed by HDC for certain friction and wear qualities. In the 1990’s HDC worked with Powertech Labs to design a test procedure and test rig to mimic wicket gate motions/loads and to evaluate characteristics such as coefficients of friction, wear rates, and bond integrity at different dynamic operations and wet/dry conditions. It is understood that contractors may have a preference on self-lubricating materials, but it needs to be one of the identified products in Section 2 that have already completed testing and approval.

(3) Impact: There are several advantages with moving towards self-lubricating bushing/plate materials in the wicket gate operating mechanism. The built in lubricant or low friction material reduces on-site maintenance by removing the need to externally supply lubricants, reduces costs of lubricating greases, eliminates lubrication system failures, smoothens operation with reduced material friction, and reduces grease/lubricant exposure to water downstream.

(4) Alternatives: Alternatives to using the approved list of self-lubricating materials includes 1) maintaining greased bronze materials and 2) Contractors proposing to use a self-lubricating material currently not included on the approved list. In the first alternative, this would be a path going against current recommendations and Corps policies to replace existing greased bronze materials within the wicket gate operating mechanism. Additionally the improvement impacts identified above with self-lubricating materials would not be applicable anymore. In the second alternative, there is a lot of uncertainty with proposing a material for testing in the middle of design efforts. If a material is not on the current approved list, the Contractor or company of the material needs to send material samples to Powertech labs, pay for the required tests, and wait for HDC review. There is a possibility that after this process, the proposed contractor material doesn’t meet the criteria to be added to the approved material list. This could cause delays in the design process.