Decision to Restrict Competition under the Simplified Acquisistion Threshold - REDACTION.docx

United States Department of Agriculture Decision to Restrict Competition under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold Identification Number: #1232SA36Q0446

In accordance with the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul (RFO) FAR 12.102 (a), the following documents the decision to restrict competition for this acquisition.

Mission Area and Contracting Activity.

Requisition Number: #1163981

Mission Area:

Center for Grain and Animal Health Research Hard Winter Plains Area Hard Winter Wheat Genetics Research Unit 1712 Claflin Road 4007 Throckmorton Hall, Kansas Stat Manhattan. KS 66502

Contracting Activity:

Marian Dyson Contract Specialist, Contacting Operations Branch Acquisition and Property Division (APD) Administrative and Financial Management (AFM) USDA – Agricultural Research Service (ARS) 5601 Sunnyside Avenue Beltsville, MD 20705 Desk: 301.504.1700

Estimated Value

Grand Total

Brief Description of Supplies or Services

The award of this contract will be to provide service on equipment, provide technical support and preventative maintenance to propriety equipment and software through LGC Genomics, LLC. The research unit has congressionally mandated requirements for wheat genotyping services under the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative, Wheat Resilience Initiative, and Small Grains Genotyping Initiative. This high throughput DNA extraction robot is required to complete these requirements in a timely and cost-efficient manner. The unit also has approved research plans for wheat improvement that require high throughput, cost-effective DNA extraction. Rapid service response times are required to maintain the flow of samples through testing. If the DNA extraction is not operational, information on wheat cultivars in development pipelines will not flow to stakeholders in time frames required for selection decisions. This will delay the development of disease resistant wheat varieties for farmers.

(1) Suggested Source

LGC Genomics, LLC 3600 Minnesota Street Alexandria, MN 56308

Justification for Restricting Competition and the Basis for that Decision.

A. Explain the unique qualifications/characteristics of the proposed contractor or product and why no other contractor or product/service can meet the Government's need.

The equipment and software offered by LGC Genomics, LLC are proprietary and incorporate unique design features, interfaces, and operating capabilities that are not available from alternative suppliers. Specifically:

· The equipment uses manufacturer‑exclusive components that are not interoperable with third‑party hardware.

· The software includes proprietary algorithms, data formats, or communication protocols that are necessary to operate the equipment.

· Only the manufacturer provides updates, patches, and technical support required to maintain system security and USDA compliance.

· Integrating a non‑proprietary system would require significant reconfiguration, additional development, or replacement of existing USDA systems, resulting in substantial cost increases, schedule delays, and mission risk.

B. Describe market research conducted and the results or the reason why no market research was conducted.

Contracting Officer’s Certification I certify that the data supporting the recommended use of other than full and open competition accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. I hereby approve this justification.

Name Contracting Officer

Rev. 3/4/26