Perform diet analysis on Western Arctic Caribou fecal matter.

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE: The National Park Service, Alaska Region intends to award a sole source contract to Washington State University for the following services: Perform diet analyses from excreta collected from Western Arctic Herd caribou. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (or SOLE SOURCE) Background: The laboratory that is being requested has been utilized by ARCN in the past. Diet analyses are known to be subject to lab/observer biases. To minimize this bias, diet analyses should be performed by the same lab/observer. 1. FAR Statutory Authority cited: 6.302, Circumstances Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition. Washington State University (WSU)'s Wildlife Habitat and Nutrition Laboratory has been the sole lab to conduct fecal analyses to determine the diets of Western Arctic Caribou Herd since at least 2005, including recently completed (7/2011) analyses performed for ARCN parks. 2. Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs. WSU shall perform diet analyses from excreta collected from Western Arctic Herd caribou. They have performed this task well previously for the NPS and this herd, dating back to 2005. The diet analyses from WSU's lab are the best we have found to meet the needs of our project goals. WSU lab meets or exceeds analysis specification. WSU provides excellent documentation of their findings. 3. A demonstration that the proposed contractor is the only source available to provide these services or goods (i.e. unique qualifications, proprietary rights etc.). Diet analyses are subject to laboratory variability. In order to maintain the highest level of data quality and control, continuity of vendors is extremely important. Although there are other vendors that perform diet analyses, WSU has been the vendor of choice for the Western Arctic Caribou Herd since at least 2005, several other prior purchase orders will attest to this. 4. A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason a market research was not conducted: To ensure compatibility, reliability and repeatability of diet analyses, we request WSU as the vendor, and waive further research. This purchase will be made under FAR Part 12 "Acquisition of Commercial Item" and FAR Part 15, " Other Than Full and Open Competition is authorized by FAR 6.302-1. The value of this contract is not expected to exceed $28,000. The anticipated award date is 22 June 2012. Please note that this is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all interested parties who believe they can meet the requirement are invited to submit in writing complete information describing their ability to provide the product/services listed above. Deadline date for the submittals is 21 June 2012 at 12 pm Alaska Standard Time. A determination by the government not to compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. For information regarding this purchase, contact Deryl Morse at (907) 644-3313 or [email protected].