KO Determination- Limiting Competition at or below the SAT (25 Aug 2026)_Redacted.pdf
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- Attached to
- Center Hill - Vacuum Circuit Breaker
- Solicitation number
- W912P526QA048
About this file
This is a Contracting Officer's Determination document for limiting competition at or below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Nashville District.
The procurement is for the supply and delivery of one (1) Eaton Vacuum Circuit Breaker (VCB) to Center Hill Power Plant under a firm fixed-price purchase order. The requirement is being solicited as a total small business set-aside with brand name specifications requiring Eaton products. The contract vehicle is a purchase order with fixed-price pricing, and funding will be provided through Operations & Maintenance, Army (OMA) and FY26 Civil Works accounts. The contracting officer determined that competition will be limited based on RFO 12.102(a) for acquisitions at or below the SAT threshold, citing only one source availability. The justification emphasizes that the Nashville District Hydropower Plants have standardized on Eaton VCBs, which are industry-standard equipment designed to meet specific quality, maintenance, and operational demands. Replacement units must match existing equipment in physical dimensions, mounting configuration, electrical specifications, and protective relay compatibility to ensure system integrity and avoid costly rework. Alternative solutions are not being considered due to elevated risk to hydroelectric generation and overall power grid stability, with potential damages from equipment failure exceeding one hundred million dollars. Market research indicates a reasonable expectation of receiving two or more quotes from a total small business set-aside solicitation. The justification for the brand-name requirement will be posted with the solicitation, and legal review has confirmed the adequacy of the brand name specification.
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Text version
CUI
Control No: LRN-FY26-26
CUI
The Nashville District Hydropower Plants have standardized Vacuum Circuit Breakers (VCBs) which are widely recognized as the best in the industry. Eaton VCBs are complex, purpose-built systems designed to meet the specific quality, maintenance, and operational demands of the LRN hydropower facilities.
To ensure continued reliable operation, it is crucial that replacements are exact matches to the existing equipment. All components within a power system must function seamlessly together, and even a minor deviation in design can create significant problems.
Specifically, replacement VCBs must match the existing units physical dimensions, mounting configuration, electrical specifications, and compatibility with existing protective relay settings. Any mismatch would introduce uncertainty, potentially requiring extensive and costly rework by USACE mechanics, electricians, engineers, SCADA specialists, and operators.
While competition is valued, in this case, it is limited to ensure the Government obtains the specific equipment needed to maintain the integrity and functionality of the hydropower generation systems.
c. Alternatives:
Currently, alternative solutions are not being considered due to the increased risk they pose to the Government. A comprehensive understanding of critical system characteristics is essential, and any oversight in defining these requirements could result in a component malfunction or the selection of equipment that does not meet project specifications.
To ensure a fully functioning Vacuum Circuit Breaker (VCB) compatible with the existing system, procurement from EATON is highly recommended.
are considered best suited to meet the necessary requirements and maintain system integrity.
d. Impact:
Failure to replace the VCBs with equivalent replacements presents an elevated risk to hydroelectric generation and overall power grid stability. VCB are critical for rapid and reliable fault interruption, utilizing a fast-acting arc quenching design to minimize the impact of transient faults common to power generation facilities.
The VCB breakers provide essential protection for key hydroelectric system components, including the generator, power transformers, and busbar systems. A failure in any of these protected systems would likely result in damages exceeding one hundred million dollars, in addition to significant repair costs. Furthermore, the extensive design, testing, installation, and
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