wedges single source justification.pdf

Template for Single Source or Brand Name Justification under SAT, March 2019

Single Source/Brand Name Justification

United States Department of Agriculture

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) – Simplified Acquisitions

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting office.

USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory

2. Description of supply or service required to meet the agency’s needs.

We require linear anechoic wedges with a cut-off frequency of 250 Hz or below to treat between 400 and 500 square feet of area (varies depending on depth of treatment), along with appropriate hardware to mount to existing stud walls. We require the materials to retrofit a fire test chamber 113.5” wide by

144.5” long by 106.125” tall with an anechoic lining to allow for quasi-free field sound measurements of various types of fires and burning materials. The walls and ceiling of the chamber will need to be fitted with the anechoic material. Based on the intended sound measurements, a linear wedge design with a cut-off frequency of 250Hz or lower is required.

3. The rationale or circumstances for limiting competition.

Because this chamber is to be used to conduct research on burning materials it is required that the material of the anechoic wedges be fire resistant. Market research suggests that the best performing materials available which have good fire resistance properties are melamine foam or fiberglass. Both have adequate and similar sound absorbing properties and class A flame spread ratings. However, experimentation with samples of each material suggest that in the event of accidental flame impingement or over-heating, fiberglass will contribute less to a fire, making it safer, and be damaged less than melamine foam retaining more sound absorbing properties. Due to the experimental and high temperature nature of the research, it was determined that fiberglass would be the better material.

With the material of the anechoic wedges limited to fiberglass the other variable is the depth of the treatment. Literature suggests that the minimum depth of the wedge to achieve the required 250 Hz cut-off frequency is about 13.5 inches. Additionally, to achieve the maximum sound absorbing effect of the wedge and to reduce the risk of damage to the anechoic material by the fire, it is required to have as large an interior size of the chamber as possible. Since the chamber is existing and changing its size would require excessive resources, the best option is to minimize the depth of treatment.

The proposed vendor listed below is the only one found that would provide the required fiberglass wedges with a cut-off frequency of 250 Hz at a treatment depth of 13.5”.

4. A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Scientific literature was searched to look for reports on the design, including materials, of anechoic chambers for similar uses. Additionally, an internet search was conducted to find sources of the materials suggested by the scientific literature and was expanded to include commercially available anechoic treatments.

The above mentioned searches suggest that linear fiberglass anechoic wedges are the best available treatement material and that there are a limited number of suppliers of this material. Only three potential suppliers were found and contacted:

-Oshex Associates, Inc of Baldwinsville, New York

-IAC Acoustics of Naperville, Il

-Eckel Noise Control Technologies of Ayer, Ma

Inqueries to Oshex were not returned.

IAC Acoustics can supply 250 Hz fiberglass wedges, but the treatment depth is 17”. The IAC wedge has a 4” flat shoulder that increases the depth of the wedge beyond the minimum required 13.5 treatment depth.

Eckel Noise Control can supply 250 Hz fiberglass wedges with a treatment depth of 13.5”

5. Estimated price, including all options, if applicable.

$30,600 to provide 120 pieces of 250 Hz fiberglass wedges with a base of 24”x24” and a treatment depth of 13.5”, including mounting track and freight.

6. Recommended source(s).

Eckel Noise Control Technologies of Ayer, Ma eckelusa.com

Certifications

Supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel and which form the basis for this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.

Mechanical Engineer, Building and Fire Sciences

Insert Name of Program or Technical Personnel

Insert Title of Program/Technical Personnel

The information contained in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief and in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-1(b)(1), I hereby determine the circumstances described above deem only one source, or limited sources, reasonably available and competition is precluded for the reasons indicated in this document.

Insert Name of Contracting Officer

Contracting Officer