MT-YT & CF excitation system upgrade

The Bureau of Reclamation is seeking to procure excitation system upgrades for the Yellowtail and Canyon Ferry hydroelectric powerplants located in Montana through Solicitation No. 140R6026Q0007. The procurement involves retrofitting seven generating units (four at Yellowtail and three at Canyon Ferry) with Basler DECS-2100 voltage regulators and potentially BCM-2 bridge control modules to replace outdated and unsupported Eaton ECS-2100 and Cutler Hammer ECS-2100 systems. Contractors must be Basler factory-trained technicians and will be responsible for removing existing control components, installing modern equipment, providing configuration files, conducting testing, and commissioning the exciters at both dam locations. Award will be made using Lowest-Price-Technically Acceptable as the evaluation criterion. The offer due date is February 16, 2026, with a period of performance extending from February 16, 2026 to May 17, 2027.

This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside procurement with an estimated contract value of $1,175,500. The current contractors operating these systems are Eaton and Cutler Hammer, whose equipment is being replaced due to lack of ongoing support and obsolescence. Market research determined that Basler is the only compatible supplier capable of providing the necessary proprietary software and maintenance for these systems, resulting in a brand-name requirement under 41 USC 3304(a)(1) and FAR 6.302-1(c). The project encompasses work at two separate dam facilities in Montana—Yellowtail near Fort Smith and Canyon Ferry near Helena—with all work to be coordinated around planned unit outages. The contract delivery period is 365 calendar days from award, with work including comprehensive site access, safety protocols, post-installation training, and removal of legacy control components at both hydroelectric facilities.