JOFOC_-_Mass_Spec_Revised_-_Final_Redacted.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity

USDA/ARS/AFM/EBSC

1001 Holleman Drive EAST College Station, TX 77840-4117 Nicholas D. Langley, Contract Specialist

2. Nature/Description of Action

Firm-fixed-price purchase order for a Mass Spectrometry Imaging System from AB Sciex for approximately

3. Description of Supplies/Services

This system is comprised of an LMD-7 Laser Capture Miro-dissection (LCM) apparatus, a TripleTOF 6600 UPLC/mass spectrometer and associated software that is fully compatible with other existing LCM and LC-MS/MS applications that are already part of the mission critical experimental repertoire of the scientists of the R.W. Holley Center..

4. Statutory Authority

The statutory authority permitting this sole source acquisition is 41 U.S.C 1901, using SAP up to $7M as authorized by FAR 13.500(a) and implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

5. Demonstration of Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition that Requires use of the Authority Cited

The Sciex LMD7/6600 TripleTOF laser capture microdissection-driven mass spectrometry imaging package is the only commercially available system that integrates the advantages of LCM image capture with an accurate mass, high resolution mass spectrometer equipped with differential ion mobility technology.

The spatial resolution offered by LCM-based MS-imaging offers an order of magnitude improvement over competing technologies. The LCM-based image capture process ensures that the biological material used to generate each pixel of the image is captured in separate and distinct vessels. This arrangement makes it possible to treat the samples appropriately to enrich for compounds of interest and to eliminate components that suppress or otherwise interfere with the assay. Competing technologies involving direct in situ analysis using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) or desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) offer no opportunity for analyte enrichment or suppression of interfering compounds.

Furthermore, the two major components (an upright LCM-enabled microscope and an accurate mass high resolution mass spectrometer) can be decoupled easily for independent operation. Thus, they can also be used to support existing protocols for single cell type-based proteomics and LC-MS/MS applications involving natural product identification and metabolite analysis. This capacity to decouple and operate independently is a significant advantage in that it allows for the seamless integration of this instrumentation into existing experimental procedures permitting us to leverage previous investments in instrumentation and software. In particular, the R W Holley Center has recently been granted a license to proprietary software developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory that integrates the operation of the LCM scope and mass spectrometer permitting facile image capture analysis. This software is only compatible with the Sciex/Leica operating systems, making the Sciex/Leica instrumentation the obvious choice.

6. FedBizOpps Announcement/Potential Sources

This justification will be posted to FedBizOpps.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost

Cost is determined to be fair and reasonable due to the fact that price obtained through formal quotation is anticipated to include a 33% discount from the firm’s advertised price. This discount, exceeds the GSA Schedule discounted price for this type of equipment. Given that GSA Schedule pricing is already considered to be fair and reasonable in accordance with FAR 8.404(d), a discount resulting in a lower price than the GSA Schedule price is fair and reasonable by comparison.

8. Market Survey

A market survey was carried out via trade journal analysis and internet searches comparing the features and performance of commercially available LCM-based MS imaging systems. At this time only Sciex offers such a system. Therefore, we have determined that only the LMD7/6600 laser capture micro-dissection offering from Sciex is capable of delivering the required performance while simultaneously integrating, fully, with our existing instrumentation and analytical workflows for both targeted and untargeted applications. Thus, this is the only system suitable for our needs.

9. Additional Support

N/A.

10. Other Interested Sources

N/A.

11. Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Competition

Future competition is not planned, this JOFOC covers all known requirements and there is no indication that this system will need to be purchased again in the near future.

However, should an additional system be required, we will conduct additional market research to determine if the sole source is still applicable prior to purchasing a new item.

12. Certifications

Requirements/Program Office:

I certify the facts and representations under my cognizance included in this justification form are complete and accurate basis for the justification.

Dr. Theodore Thannhauser Date Chemist (Protein)

Contracting Officer:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Nicholas D. Langley Date Contracting Officer

Reviewed By:

Cindy J. Cose Date Branch Chief

THEODORE THANNHAUSER Digitally signed by THEODORE THANNHAUSER Date: 2018.08.29 10:08:50 -04'00'

Digitally signed by NICHOLAS LANGLEY DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=Department of Agriculture, cn=NICHOLAS LANGLEY, 0.9.2342.19200300.100.1.1=12001002840052 Date: 2018.08.29 09:13:36 -05'00'

Digitally signed by LUCINDA COSE Date: 2018.08.29 09:19:44 -05'00'