W912EF24Q0043 - Brand Name Justification.pdf

Control Number

SINGLE BRAND DETERMINATION

FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)

1. CONTRACTING AGENCY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Goose Lock and Dam, 1001 Little Goose Dam Rd, Dayton, WA 99328

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION: This requirement is for the purchase of two (2) brand name sets of ABB SF6 HECI-5R 15 year breaker rebuild kits. The kits will be used to keep our main unit breakers in service at the Little Goose project.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE SERVICES/SUPPLIES: This action will provide capability for the

Little Goose crews to overhaul two of our existing systems SF6 main unit breakers which are beyond the manufacture recommended service interval of 15 years.

4. AUTHORITY CITED:

FAR 13.106-1 (b), Soliciting from a single source. (1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, 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).

FAR 11.105-(a)(l): the particular brand name, product, or feature is essential to the Governments' requirements, and market research indicates other companies' similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency's need.

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED:

A. BACKGROUND: Little Goose Dam currently has six (6), 163 Megawatt Generators in the

Powerhouse. Each generator has a Generator Circuit Breaker (GCB). These breakers are the operating devices between the generating units and the step-up transformers (GSUs). Our GCBs were installed in 2003 and 2004 and are SF6 gas filled breakers known locally as the XJ breakers. These XJ SF6 breaker manufacture recommends an overhaul every 15 years. None of Little Gooses units and a have been overhauled - there are six units needing rebuilt. The purchase of a brand name overhaul kit is necessary because our XJ SF6 breakers and controls are ABB and only ABB Overhaul Kits will work in these controllers.

B. JUSTIFICATION: Based on market research, the ABB Overhaul Kits are not interchangeable with other brand products and are essential to the Government’s requirements, and market research indicates other companies’ similar products, or products lacking the required features, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency’s needs. It is not possible to add other brands to this ABB XJ

SF6, breaker, the equipment must be OEM equipment. This is not advantageous to the Government.

C. IMPACT: If these kits are not procured to complete the 15-year overhaul, the breakers will continue to operate until failure. Currently installed breakers are showing wear and need to be overhauled.

Failure could be both structurally and/or financially catastrophic and could potentially cost the

Government more than $300,000 per month in lost generation revenue and costs to the

Government to replace/repair the entire SF6 circuit breaker, the breaker enclosure, and the Iso-Phase bus. The current GCB has been obsolete from the manufacturer for over 10 years. It would take several months to get funding, research new equipment, get the equipment approved, then have it built and installed at our location. Potential loss could cost the Government for just one damaged GCB. The cost of all overhaul kits combined is far less than the financial loss to just one damaged GCB.

D. ALTERNATIVES: The Government is unable to purchase brands that are equal to the requested brand due to the incompatibility issues with ABB Inc., GCB equipment. Currently, there are no alternatives at this time that can produce this product.

6. DETERMINATION OF FAIR AND REASONABLE COSTS: The market for ABB 15 Year

Overhaul Kits is mature. ABB is the sole supplier of the parts required for the overhaul kits of our

SF6 Breakers for our GCB equipment. There are no competitive parts available as the parts are proprietary to ABB.

7. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION: ABB Inc. was contacted, and they forwarded a quote for 1 overhaul kit. Contact with other projects verified that ABB is the only source for these parts.

8. MARKET RESEARCH: Market research was conducted, and it was determined that only the ABB brand name 15 Year Overhaul Kit will meet the Government’s need. Previous contract purchase, W912EF-21-P- 0044 and that contract was awarded directly to ABB.

Technical Certification: I certify that the information supporting this brand name determination is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge based on the supporting data provided by technical or requirements personnel.

DETERMINATION: In accordance with the authority of10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(l), as implemented by FAR

13.106-1 (b) and based upon the foregoing, I hereby determine that a brand name procurement is authorized and is in the best interest of the Government.