Class Justification and Approval - Brand Name - Baldor-Reliance Motors

The contract authorizes the brand-name procurement of Baldor-Reliance motors for use in hydroelectric operating projects managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Walla Walla and Portland Districts, specifically to support fish screen systems at 153 hydropower turbines along the Columbia and Snake Rivers. The motors, specified as submersible, explosion-proof units with a 180TY frame, 5 HP, 240/480VAC, 3-phase, and integrated water leak detection, are essential for compliance with NOAA’s Columbia River System Operations Biological Opinion and to ensure uninterrupted environmental protection and operational reliability. Sole-source justification is supported by FAR 13.106-1(b) and FAR 11.105(a)(1), citing the absence of technically equivalent alternatives, compatibility with existing gearboxes, and mission-critical performance requirements that preclude substitution. Historical procurements dating back to 2020 consistently used the same brand without alternate suppliers, reinforcing the necessity of this specification under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul framework. Procurement occurs under Small Business Set-Aside procedures, with seven small businesses responding to the sources sought notice, all providing validated Unique Entity IDs. The contracting office is located in Walla Walla, Washington, with performance at hydropower facilities across Washington and Oregon. Delivery periods vary per individual contract but are typically short-term, ranging from three to four months. Inspection and acceptance occur at the installation site, with government personnel—including the Senior Fish Biologist and Chief of Maintenance Engineering—responsible for verification against technical specifications including TENV enclosure, 1.25” shaft with 0.25” keyway, 11.5” C-face mounting, and inverter rating. No formal packaging, preservation, or labeling requirements are specified beyond compliance with FAR and RFO guidelines; no MIL-STDs are referenced. Contracting officers and technical representatives are identified with direct contact information, and while pricing data is not aggregated, past awards indicate individual motor costs between $25,800 and $60,900, with funding spanning FY26 through FY31. The procurement does not follow LPTA methodology, and trade-offs prioritize technical acceptability over price, with compliance risk tied to environmental safety and fish passage obligations.