WBR_1413_106-1_Templ1_DetermSolicitSgleSource_under_SAT_FAR13_140R4025Q0082_1.pdf

Solicitation Number: 140R4025Q0082 Page 1 of 4

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.

Wetland Equipment Company 118 West Main Street Thibodaux, LA 70301

3. Description of Supplies/Services and Estimated Cost.

The Bureau of Reclamation Socorro Field Division requires two replacement track sets for the Wetland Equipment Company (Wetland) Amphibious Pontoons installed on the Reclamation owned Caterpillar 330CL amphibious excavator and the Volvo EC300ELR amphibious excavator. The complete track assemblies shall consist of four 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 (4 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.

Solicitation Number: 140R4025Q0082 Page 2 of 4

The replacement track sets are estimated at a cost of $151,485.00 and are required to replace the existing tracks on the Wetland amphibious pontoons installed on the Caterpillar 330CL amphibious excavator and the Volvo EC300ELR amphibious excavator. The excavators are critical to field operations and require fully operational tracks sets to successfully operate the amphibious excavators in the field.

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

In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), Wetland confirmed on 7/8/2025 that replacement components for the Amphibious Hydraulic Undercarriage that is currently installed on the Reclamation owned Caterpillar 330CL amphibious excavator and Volvo EC300ELR amphibious excavator are proprietary in nature and can only be supplied by Wetland. This is due to the bolt holes in the track chains are specifically designed to align with the bolt holes in the cleats and wear pads on the tracks. Wetland owns the castings at the mill to produce the cleats, pads, and chain; thus, only Wetland can supply the replacement tracks for the undercarriage pontoons. 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 estimated unit price for the Volvo EC300ELR amphibious excavator track set is $77,185.00, which is $27,635.00 more than the 2021 purchase price, representing a 43.61% increase. The Caterpillar 330CL amphibious excavator track set is priced at $74,300.00, an increase of $24,750.00 or 39.97% from the 2021 purchase price.

Solicitation Number: 140R4025Q0082 Page 3 of 4

Although the track chain supplied by Wetland has increased in price, delivery is included in the unit price. The cost of excavator track chains has risen due to supply chain disruptions, higher raw material costs for steel, inflation, and increased demand for excavator parts.

The Volvo amphibious excavator track set is more expensive than the Caterpillar track set due to differences in their specialized undercarriages.

6. Description of Market Research.

The market research performed by the Government’s technical expert, Waylon Billie, indicates that only Wetland can supply the amphibious excavator track assemblies for the Wetland pontoons installed on Reclamation’s Caterpillar 330CL amphibious excavator and Volvo EC300ELR amphibious excavator. The contracting officer confirmed with Wetland’s Jody Simoneaux, that the bolt holes in the chains are specifically designed to align with the bolt holes in the cleats and wear pads on the tracks. Wetland owns the castings at the mill to produce the cleats, pads, and chain; thus, only Wetland can supply the replacement tracks for the undercarriage pontoons which are proprietary and have been specifically engineered to fit Reclamation’s undercarriages. 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 Wetland 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.

Solicitation Number: 140R4025Q0082 Page 4 of 4

SIGNATURES

PREPARED BY:

Name: Tina M. Villegas

Date: July 22, 2025

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

Name: Tina M. Villegas

Date: July 22, 2025

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