Description
Contractors interested in this acquition must submit a statement of capabilities (not to exceed 3 pages) showing how you meet the unique qualifications (see 3 below). This must submitted to the contracting officer via email no later than 1700 eastern time on 1 July 2016. 1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING ACTIVITY: Requesting Agency: USDA, APHIS, NVSL 1920 Dayton Avenue Ames, IA 50010 Contracting Activity: USDA, APHIS, MRPBS, ASD Minneapolis Procurement Branch Butler Square, Fifth Floor 100 North 6th Street Minneapolis, MN 55403 2. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING APPROVED: This upgrade purchase is critical to the operation of the NCAH Building 402 Freezer Warehouse (aka Freezer Farm/FF). The current NCAH Mesa/AmegaView system in Building 402 is obsolete and the Mesa Company notified us they can no longer provide spare parts. This is not a tenable situation, as this facility currently houses 53 Bio-sample-cold-storage-units, has the capability of real-time monitoring a total of 68 units, and offers space and power capacity to support +75 units. The NCAH AmegaView system in this facility provide monitoring NVSL and CVB accreditation requirements as dedicated in ISO 17025 Sec 5.5 and 5.9 and ISO 9001 Sec 7.1.5.1b The NCAH AmegaView monitoring system in Building 402 is part of the larger NCAH AmegaView system, comprised of +1110 points, providing freezer and refrigerator monitoring across the campus, along with monitoring egg incubators, Cryo Freezers, Walk-in-coolers, Walk-in-incubators, environmental chambers, CO2, O2, bulk gas alarms, 120 VAC Power, 0-30VDC Power and flood/leak detection. Along with 24/7 monitoring NCAH Amega system, records and stores readings and programing actions, offers multiple flexible alarming functions, auditing features, graphing, and statically tools. Amega reduces the stress of audits, as auditors value the speed and ease of data retrieval and analysis. 3. A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, OR SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET AGENCY NEEDS (INCLUDING THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE ACQUISITION INCLUSIVE OF OPTIONS): The vendor will provided installation new VP Connect Bare Panels with 4 Module slots for hardwired systems; VPC Panel with 32 to 48 input/output combinations using Input Module Bundles or individual Modules; 11-Input Analog Module Bundle;8-Input RTD Module Bundle;- 12-Input Thermocouple Module; 12-Output Relay Module; and termwire. (Please see quote QT-005063 for additional detailed specifications). Services provided will include: - Performance all relevant and required system verifications - Extended warranty including parts and onsite labor - Software updates with software operation manual - Additional user training as requested - 365 day, 24/7 telephone technical support 4. IDENTIFICATION OF THE STATUATORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING NONCOMPETITIVE ACQUISITIONS: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) or 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(t131) - Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. 5. A DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR'S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED: Mesa Labs recently bought the Amega Company and now offers AmegaView Hardware, Firmware, and Software. Only Mesa Technicians are certified to install and work on Amega proprietary software. Annual services and warrantee agreements cover all Mesa services and equipment purchased from Mesa. At this time we cannot afford to replace our system with one with the ability to monitor over a thousand points and offer acceptable levels of customer service. 6. A DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS ARE SOLICITED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS IS PRACTICABLE, INCLUDING WHETHER A NOTICE WAS, OR WILL BE, PUBLICIZED AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) SUBPART 5.2, AND IF NOT, WHICH EXCEPTION UNDER FAR 5.202 APPLIES: The Internet was searched for system upgrade capable options of meeting ISO 17025 Sec 5.5 and 5.9 and ISO 9001 Sec 7.1.5.1b requirements for this mission critical system. No compatible devices were identified that would meet the requirements to interface with the AmegaView System installed at NCAH, Ames, Iowa. 7. A DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE, AND THE BASIS FORTHAT DETERMINATION: Price is fair and reasonable as compared to prices from previous similar purchases. 8. A DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED (FAR PART 10) AND THE RESULTS, OR AN EXPLANATION OF THE REASON MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT PERFORMED: No market research was conducted based on the fact Mesa Labs, owner of the AmegaView System, provides all required Hardware, Firmware, and Software for this this system. Mesa installation, repair, calibration, and validation tasks, under purchase, service, and warrantee agreements cover services and equipment purchased from Mesa. Non-Mesa services or equipment would jeopardize the certified integrity of the NCAH AmegaView system. 9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION - The manufacturer of the proprietary hardware, software and firmware does not authorize any other companies to provide maintenance. 10. A LISTING OF SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED, IN WRITING, AN INTEREST IN THE ACQUISITON: FBO post 11. A STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY. THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THE SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, OR SERVICES REQUIRED: As the manager of the NCAH freezer monitoring program, I read scientific and engineering periodicals, routinely search the internet for new products and service, and maintain a network of colleagues in the bio- scientific-metrology community. At this time we cannot afford to replace our considerably large system, or is there a product or company that can offer acceptable levels of customer service and a large robust system with required options to replace the NCAH AmegaView System 12. I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS JOFOC IS ACCURATE AND COMPLETETOTHE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF. Approved Technical Representative Approved Contracting Officer