08.09.24 FAR Part 13 JA_AB 3500XL GENETIC ANALYZER (1) (002)_Redacted.pdf

Control No.: Eisenhower-2024-33

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR 13.5 SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

Program/Equipment: United States Army Criminal Investigations Division (USACID) United States Criminal Investigation Laboratory (USACIL) procurement of three ThermoFisher AB 3500XL Genetic Analyzer

Authority: Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, Title 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by FAR 13.5. Brand name

Amount:

Prepared by:

Contracting Officer: Ashley T. Scott Contract Officer Email: ashley.t.scott3.civ@army.mil

DSN:

Date:

Technical:

Requirements:

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support brand name justification.

Program Manager:

Small Business Professional:

FAR 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items Brand Name Justification and Approval

1. Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC)-Fort Eisenhower, 271 Heritage Park Lane, Bldg. 35200, Fort Eisenhower, GA 30905

2. Description of Action: The Defense Forensic Science Center requests a firm-fixed price delivery order for AB 3500 XL Genetic Analyzer with Life Technologies Corporation Inc., 5781 Van Allen Way, Carlsbad, CA 92008. The funds type Operations and Maintenance, Army funds will be used. The projected award is July 2024, fiscal year 2024. An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement does not meet the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 207.103(d)(i)(B).

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory (USACIL) has a mission essential requirement for the brand name purchase of three Applied Biosystems 3500XL Genetic Analyzer, model 4406016.

For Actions without Options:

Delivery Date: 25 September 2024 Total Value:

4. Authority Cited: Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, Title 41 U.S.C.

1901 (or Title 41 U.S.C. 1903 for Special Emergency Procurement) as implemented by FAR Subpart 13.5: Brand Name

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

a. The purchase of three 3500xl to assist in providing investigative information to law enforcement agencies DoD and nationwide. This genetic analyzer is used to produce DNA profiles for thousands of individuals arrested for or convicted of crimes involving the Department of Defense and its personnel. The 3500xl is a 24-capillary instrument that can accommodate the high-throughput processing performed in the DNA Database Division. Not having this instrumentation would prevent the DDB Division from providing investigative leads to military and civilian criminal investigative organizations. The requested model is the same version as three other 3500xl genetic analyzers currently in use by the DNA Databasing Division and would therefore be compatible with consumables and processes currently in use, ensuring a quick and seamless integration within the division.

b. Procurement of the Applied Biosystems 3500xl ensures continuity and compatibility with our current laboratory processes, to include chemistry, consumables, and sample throughput requirements. The 3500xl Genetic Analyzer purchased will serve as a life cycle replacement for a 3500xl Genetic Analyzer that is 10 years old (purchased in 2014). The DNA Database has three Applied Biosystems 3500xl Genetic Analyzers currently in use. The purchase of any other brand name genetic analyzer would require extensive time and resources to bring the instrument into service and to establish a separate maintenance contract.

c. Failure to procure the 3500xl from Life Technologies Corporation will lead to service disruptions, damage to professional forensic reputation as the premiere forensic laboratory, and significant degradation in our ability to provide investigative leads to military and civilian criminal investigative organizations.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: DDB examiners are continually researching sources of information and services to enable forensic examiners to conduct effective and reliable examinations.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: DDB has dedicated equipment POCs who continually reach out to other vendors, based on competitive cost and functionality, for temporary assignment of competitive systems to validate whether the system can meet the needs of DDB both CONUS and OCONUS.

8. Market Research: Market research consists of internet research, literature reviews and face to face discussions with vendors, and other professional resources attending forensic science and technology conferences and industry events. If FXD identifies a similar requirement, every effort will be made to compete it to the maximum extent possible. Two vendors were identified that can provide the equipment, the manufacturer, Life Technologies Corporation and Government Scientific Source Inc.

9. Interested Sources: : Life Technologies Corporation and Government Scientific Source Inc. were interested based on the research.

10. Other Facts: N/A