A05 Under SAT Justification Greenhouse Controllers 12444826P0011_Redacted.pdf

USDA Forest Service CSA East 6 1720 Peachtree St NW, Ste 876S Atlanta, GA 30309

Contracting Division September 30, 2026

JUSTIFICATION FOR AN ACQUISITION LIMITED TO A SINGLE SOURCE

REVOLUTIONARY FAR OVERHAUL (RFO) / AGAR SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

STREAMLINED PROCEDURES

Requesting Agency: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Southeast Area (SEA), Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit (PGRCU).

Location of Performance: University of Georgia (UGA) Griffin Campus, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223.

Requisition Number: 1173946 Estimated Total Value (Including Options): $293,241.00 (Base Bid: $40,440.00; Subject to Availability of Funds Options: $252,801.00)

Nature and Description of Action Being Approved

This justification authorizes a noncompetitive, unrestricted single-source contract action for the procurement and turn-key installation of replacement greenhouse control systems, digital vent controls, vent motors, weather station/lightning hardware, software, sensors, wiring, and associated structural 16mm triple-wall polycarbonate coverings. The contract structure will be executed as a firm-fixed-price (FFP) standalone vehicle containing one (1) definitive Base Bid line item and eight (8) distinct optional bid items to be exercised at the sole discretion of the Government based on performance and fund availability.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY AND RFO REFERENCE

This action is conducted under the streamlined authority of RFO FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) and AGAR 413.302, which permits contracting officers to solicit from a single source for purchases not exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available due to exclusive technical capability or extreme urgency.

In accordance with RFO FAR 19.502-2(a), the automatic small business set-aside has been formally dissolved by the Contracting Officer, as market research indicates no small business concern possesses the necessary manufacturer certifications or proprietary system access required to perform this turn-key installation without causing severe scientific risk.

DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES AND FACTUAL BACKING

The contractor must furnish all technical personnel, materials, certified diagnostics, and quality control systems to execute the USDA Replacement Greenhouse Controllers Project 2.0.

Base Bid (CLIN 0001 - Bldg. 4442): Structural removal of obsolete Wadsworth panels and a turn-key installation of proprietary Bartlett Climate Boss Controllers, integrated Weather Boss hardware, dual-output gear motors, and new electric control circuits ($40,440.00).

Bid Options (CLINs 0002–0009): Replicating controller and motor overhauls across Greenhouses #2, #3, #5, #6 (utilizing specialized Wadsworth SEED systems), #108, and #110, alongside the direct installation of 16mm triple-wall polycarbonate roof and ridge coverings on Greenhouses #110 and #4442 ($252,801.00 total optional value).

FACTUAL JUSTIFICATION: UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS AND CRITICAL

URGENCY

The basis for limiting this procurement to a single source rest on the following overlapping technical realities:

Critical Scientific Risk & System Obsolescence: The existing climate control panels on Building 4442 and associated greenhouses are entirely obsolete, out of production, and no longer supported by any secondary parts market. These controllers act as the primary structural life-support mechanism for the PGRCU genetic crop baselines. A failure of these controls immediately disrupts temperature, misting, and humidity regulation, which will result in the total destruction of irreversible federal agricultural research assets.

Proprietary System Interactivity: The statement of work explicitly mandates the seamless technical transition into a combined network utilizing Bartlett Climate Boss and Wadsworth SEED architecture connected via proprietary Head Grower remote programming interfaces.

Atlas Greenhouse holds exclusive territorial distribution, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) alignment, and certified technical installation rights for these specialized control assemblies within this local jurisdiction.

Turn-Key Responsibility and Site Familiarity: Market research confirmed that greenhouse control integration requires specialized specialized commercial contractors. Atlas Greenhouse holds the exclusive logistical capability to deploy certified technicians to the University of Georgia Griffin Campus to deliver a turn-key solution encompassing structural fabrication, electrical circuit deployment, and operational site training under the strict 180-day performance window.

CONTRACTING OFFICER DETERMINATION OF FAIR AND REASONABLE PRICE

In accordance with RFO FAR 13.106-3(b) and the USDA Acquisition Desk Book, the Contracting Officer will ensure the final price is fair and reasonable prior to award. Price reasonableness will be verified using price analysis techniques under FAR 12.204, comparing