WBR_1413_106-1_Templ1_DeterminSolicitSingleSource_under_SAT_FAR13_140R4025Q0077_1.pdf

Solicitation Number: 140R4025Q0077 Page 1 of 3

WBR 1413.106-1 Template 1 eFile - B02

(11/2020)

DETERMINATION TO SOLICIT FROM A SINGLE SOURCE

Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), for purchases not exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) Contracting Officers may solicit from only one source if the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source is reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization).

Pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(ii), when a single source is identified to provide a portion of the purchase as a Brand-Name, the documentation in paragraph 3 must state that this determination is only for a portion of the requirement.

1. Agency and Contracting Activity.

U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office, Acquisition Management Division.

2. Name and Address of Single Source.

Wilco Manufacturing 111 Marsh Buggy Road Lafayette, LA 70508

3. Description of Supplies/Services and Estimated Cost.

The Bureau of Reclamation Socorro Field Division requires one replacement track set for the Wilco Manufacturing Amphibious Pontoons installed on the Reclamation owned Caterpillar 330CL amphibious excavator. The complete track assembly shall consist of two equal rolls of track systems. There are two track systems per amphibious excavator (one on each side of the excavator).

The track chain shall be a five inch heavy duty track chain with K3 attachments on every other link. The five inch track chain shall have alloy heat treated rollers, alloy heat treated pins, and a 70,000 pound minimum breaking load.

Each track system (2 total) shall include the installation of special extreme duty aluminum cleats and Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) wiper pads and wear pads. Each track system will include a minimum of 97 aluminum cleats mounted to K3 attachments, a minimum of 8 wiper pads equally spaced in pairs, and a minimum of 194 wear pads equally spaced in pairs.

The replacement track set is estimated at a cost of $72,463.49 and is required to replace the existing tracks on the Wilco Manufacturing amphibious pontoons installed on the Caterpillar 330CL amphibious excavator. The excavators are critical to field operations and require fully operational tracks sets to successfully operate the amphibious excavators in the field.

Solicitation Number: 140R4025Q0077 Page 2 of 3

4. Description of Circumstances, including why only one source is reasonably available.

In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), Wilco Manufacturing is the only company able to supply the amphibious excavator track assemblies for the Wilco Manufacturing amphibious pontoons installed on Reclamation’s Caterpillar 330CL amphibious excavator. Wilco Manufacturing custom made the amphibious pontoons for the Caterpillar 330CL excavator. Wilco Manufacturing states that replacement components for the Amphibious Hydraulic Undercarriage Serial # 194524 are exclusive to the specific unit.

The pitch, mounting hole pattern, and hardware used in assembling the track assemblies are proprietary and have been specifically engineered to fit this undercarriage. As a result, components from other units or aftermarket sources are not compatible and may adversely affect performance or safety.

5. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Price.

The Contracting Officer has determined the price of the replacement track set to be fair and reasonable in accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(ii) and (vi). Reclamation previously purchased the same type of track sets as follows:

Purchase Date

Contract No. Contract Amount

Track Chain Unit Price if Known

Contractor

4/20/2005 R05PG430069 $48,000.00 Wetland Equipment Co.

8/20/2009 R09PG400149 $99,000.00 Wetland Equipment Co.

9/01/2010 R10PX43065 $64,500.00 $64,500.00 Wetland Equipment Co.

3/21/2012 R12PX43013 $69,525.00 $23,175.00 Wetland Equipment Co.

3/13/2017 R17PX00220 $142,900.00 $46,300.00 Wetland Equipment Co.

12/6/2019 140R4020P0009 $144,350.00 $46,450.00 Wetland Equipment Co.

11/9/2021 140R4022P0005 $106,300.00 $49,550.00 Wetland Equipment Co.

The current year estimated unit price for each track set is $68,430.75 which amounts to a 32.00% increase from 2021 to purchase currently. The change in price is also attributed to a change in vendor from Wetland Equipment Co. to Wilco Manufacturing who provided the amphibious pontoons for the Caterpillar 330CL amphibious excavator. The price of excavator track chain has seen an increase in costs due to supply chain disruptions, raw material costs for steel, inflation, and an increased demand for excavator parts, including track chains, which increases prices.

6. Description of Market Research.

The market research performed by the Government’s technical expert, Waylon Billie, indicates that only Wilco Manufacturing can supply the amphibious excavator track assemblies for the Wilco Manufacturing pontoons installed on Reclamation’s Caterpillar 330CL amphibious excavator. As indicated in the letter from Bricen Breaux at Wilco Manufacturing which confirms the mounting hole pattern, and hardware used in assembling the track assemblies are proprietary and have been specifically engineered to fit

Solicitation Number: 140R4025Q0077 Page 3 of 3

Reclamation’s undercarriage. As a result, components from other units or aftermarket sources are not compatible and may adversely affect performance or safety.

Market research also indicates some companies only provide Tsubaki chain which is not acceptable as per the Statement of Work. Tsubaki domestic or foreign chain is not acceptable because the chain does not have alloy heat treated rollers and only has a 45,000 lb. average braking load instead of the 70,000 lb. minimum braking load required by the Statement of Work. Other companies could only provide four (4) inch chain and not the five (5) inch chain required for the Wilco Manufacturing pontoons.

Other market research indicates that it remains economical to purchase replacement track sets for the Reclamation owned pontoons instead of purchasing a new amphibious undercarriage for the excavator which ranges between $30,000.00 to $319,000.00 depending on the size and manufacturer. Market research indicates refurbished amphibious undercarriages for a 20-ton excavator costs approximately $165,000.00 and a new set of pontoons for a 30-ton amphibious excavator is approximately $319,000.00.

New amphibious excavators were purchased in 2023 and 2024; however, because replacement tracks will eventually need to be purchased, and depending on which company provided the amphibious undercarriage will depend on whether a new sole source action may be required.

SIGNATURES

PREPARED BY:

Name: Tina M. Villegas

Date: July 17, 2025

CONTRACTING OFFICER (CO) (FAR 13.106-1(b)):(All Values)

Name: Tina M. Villegas

Date: July 17, 2025

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