Metrohm_OMNIS_Titrator_Sole_Source_Letter.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION –

BRAND NAME SOLE SOURCE

1. Identification of the Agency/Project/Sponsor

The requirements of this procurement will be used by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).

Procuring Activity: USDA, AMS, Science & Technology, LATD, National Science Laboratory (NSL) Gastonia, NC

2. Nature of Action Being Taken

This is a sole source justification recommendation to purchase a Metrohm USA Inc. OMNIS Titration system based on Quote #M2M6R8-2.

3. Supplies or Services Required

Purchase of a OMNIS Titration system with Professional License for Parallel Titrations and 20mL Dosing Unit is to be located in the USDA-AMS-S&T-LATD-NSL Gastonia, NC laboratory.

4. Statutory Authority FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Supporting Rationale for Authority Cited

The USDA National Science Laboratory is investing in equipment that has the ability of performing multiple, but different titrations, on different samples simultaneously while utilizing a minimual footprint on laboratory bench space and providing accurate results. This equipment purchase will be for use in the Chemistry Section of the laboratory and has the ability to expanded. The laboratory will utilize this instrumentation to analyze samples for the agricultural and food industries.

The purchase of this equipment must include the following:

Titrator:

• with stirrer attached, titrator must only consume 5.5” of linear bench space

• must have the expansion ability to perform 5 simultaneous titrations (1 without robotic autosampler)

• must have the ability to work with digital or analog measuring interfaces with simple, drop-in connection where service visit is not required

• must have built-in buret drive motor with 100,000 steps

• must have dosing/filling times of 10s

• must have a temperature measuring range using Pt1000 of -150°C to 250°C

• must have measurement range of ±2400mV

• must be able to use digital electrodes with built-in signal amplifier

Autosampler Robotics:

• must be expandable for analyzing up to 4 samples simultaneously

• must use pick and place robot arm technology to transport beaker to work station

• must have dedicated rinse station without consuming a sample rack position

• must have sample racks that are removable while the instrument is working

• must have the ability to interchange 120mL and 250mL sample beakers

• must be able to expand from 2 sample racks to 7 sample racks

The purchase of this equipment will upgrade the precision and accuracy of results provided to NSL customers for testing by moving to automated precision measurements and reduce the need for performing manual titrations thus reducing the time to perform tesing thus increasing the throughput of samples. This will also reduce staff exposure to harmful chemicals.

6. Efforts to Secure Competition

One other vendor (Mettler-Toledo) provided a demonstration and quotes and a third vendor (Hanna Instruments) was contacted with no response received back by any staff member.

7. Fair and Reasonable Cost

The cost offered by Metrohm is considered fair and reasonable based on the equipment being requested.

8. Market Research See Block 6

9. Other Supporting Facts N/A

10. Other Interested Sources

N/A

11. Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition in the Future

Compared to the Metrohm equipment the footprint required for the competitive equipment was 30 – 50% greater, which reduces the functional space of the bench top area for the laboratory staff to perform other testing tasks. The cost of the equipment was less, however, future additions to the equipment will require greater space than the Metrohm equipment to provide an increased number of simultaneous titrations. The competitive equipment does not have the accuracy of the buret drive motor with 100,000 steps which is needed for sensitive titrations.

12. Program Official:

I do hereby certify that the information provided in this justification recommendation is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Name and Title Date

12. Contracting Officer:

I do hereby certify that the information provided in this justification recommendation is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Name and Title Date