Intent to Sole Source Diachemix Fluorescence Polarization Instrument

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION for SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS OVER $3,000 AND UP TO $100,000 (See FAR 13.106-1) Date: July 24, 2012 1. Nature and/or description of the item/service being procured and its intended use (include the anticipated cost): Diachemix Fluorescence Polarization Instrument for disease (Brucellosis) testing Yellowstone National Park bison. This instrument will be used primarily at Stephens Creek bison capture facility to test bison for presence or absence of brucella titers in blood samples but needs to be portable in order to be used at Duck Creek capture facility, and other quarantine and potential research projects. This is the primary test used to determine the disposition (release, ship to slaughter, interagency research, etc.) of Yellowstone bison captured and handled for management purposes. Anticipated cost is $5,000. 2. Sole Source Justification rationale (Check one and explain below): ____X Only one responsible source. ______ Urgent and compelling circumstances exist. Include critical delivery or performance dates, and when you became aware of the requirement. Provide a specific statement of the impact on Government operations, financial or otherwise, if the required delivery or performance dates are not met. Explain: This is the only rugged and portable instrument available for the conditions that we work under. All of the agency partners in the Bison Management Plan and involved in Brucellosis testing use the Diachemix, Sentry 100 instrument. The Montana Department of Livestock serology lab in Bozeman, Montana completes all of the Brucellosis testing in livestock for the entire state of Montana, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) performs Brucellosis testing on livestock and wildlife across the country. 3. Market Research. Please explain the results or why one was not performed. State whether any other offers were received or anyone expressed interest: An online search turned up one other single-well instrument that is semi-portable. Other companies produce large multi-well instruments much better suited to a laboratory setting rather than being in the field. The other potential instrument is called Beacon 2000 and is produced by Invitrogen Life Technologies, reading through the specs it does not fit our needs as well for these reasons: 35 pound instrument versus 2 lb. (Portability) operating temperature 15-25 C versus 4-46 C (field use) accuracy 2mP standard deviation rather than 1mP at 1nM fluorescein no external power source versus battery pack (portability) 4. If this is a determination for sole source, the Contracting Officer certifies: a. Only one source is available, or urgent and compelling circumstances exist. b. The anticipated price will be determined fair and reasonable using the price analysis techniques described in FAR Part 13.106-3(a). Doug Blanton 7/23/2012 Project Officer Date Stacy Vallie 7/23/2012 Contracting Officer Date Over $25,000: Delegated Assistant Bureau Competition Advocate Date or Assistant Bureau Competition Advocate v9-22-2009