Sole Source Justification 1.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture

Limited Sources Justification for an Order/BPA Exceeding the Micro-Purchase Threshold But Less Than the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT)

Federal Supply Schedules/Multiple Award Schedule Program

FAR 8.405

Control No.: Requisition 1120055

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

USDA US Forest Service, National PPS Team

2. Description of supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

Line 001 – Translucent Tree Shelters (58-60" in length) Must be vented – Qty: 6,800, estimated unit price $4.00 each, total $27,200.

Line 002 – Fiberglass Planting Stakes (must be 70-74" in length) – Qty: 6,800, estimated unit price $3.20 each, total $21,760.

Total $48,960

3. The authority and supporting rationale.

The following circumstance justifies limiting the source under FAR 8.405-6:

FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B) – Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required.

4. A statement demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority.

Plantra provided a specialized 70” tree canopy in FY2022. The tree survival rate was higher than with comparable like products order in other years from the GSA Standing supply schedules.

Plantra’s proprietary technologies and unique shelter design allow for an increased sapling survival rate. The Government has determined that it would be in the best interests to sole source form Plantra to ensure the public funding is invested to adequately support the reforestation plan and not require another order in out years.

5. Description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results, or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

We have used Tree Pro shelters before on the forest. Trees grow very well in their shelters and they deter deer from browsing the terminal bud. The one negative factor on their shelter is the rigidness of their design. When removing a Tree Pro shelter from a sapling, they are used to using that shelter as support and the saplings tend to want to fall over. The Plantra shelters are more flexible by design. They are designed this way so that the saplings still sway in the wind and are forced to build up their own support rather than relying on the stiff shelter.

Tubex is another shelter company that many foresters use, but the negative factor for them is the coloration of their shelter and a related less than stellar survival rates on seedlings. Also, the shelter venting goes only a short distance up the shelter, and the vents are sometimes filled in by competing vegetation in the field. For these reasons, Plantra is the only technically acceptable shelter for this effort.

Market research across existing Federal Supply Catalogue schedules produced several like products that could be implemented. However, the shelters that Plantra provided on the FY2021 order showed superior survival rates for saplings. If these same shelters can be procured in FY2024, the Government would not risk a reorder on a similar product. In out years prior to FY2021 the Government did not produce the equivalent target survivability rates as the proposed Plantra Shelters.

6. Recommended source(s).

Planta 1230 Eagan Industrial Road, Suite 100 St. Paul, MN 55121

Certifications & Approval ☐ The information provided for this justification has been reviewed and certified accurate and complete by

Kevin Wiltsie Program/Technical Personnel.

Contracting Officer (less than SAT)

I have reviewed this justification and certify it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Jalisa Sims

Contracting Officer