Brand_Name_Justification_Pyrotechnics_12639519Q0213.pdf

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BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

Solicitation Number 12639519Q0213

1. Agency and Office USDA Wildlife Services – WA/AK State Office, 720 O’Leary Street NW, Olympia WA 98502

This Purchase is for the Moses Lake WA District (Eastern WA)

2. Description of Action Being Approved Pyrotechnic Supplies for the USDA, Wildlife Services Moses Lake District’s ongoing Bird Hazing Projects in Eastern Washington on the Columbia and Snake rivers. There are eleven different projects being conducted to protect Threatened and Endangered Salmon from fish eating birds on the Columbia and Snake rivers.

3. Description of Product, Supplies or Services Required To Meet The Agency’s Need:

A. 15mm Bangers – Line item 0001 15mm pyrotechnic also known as a noise bomb, scare cartridge, bird banger. Cartridge is designed to be ignited by a blank cartridge (6mm primer). After ignition the delay fuse will burn with a defined time and create a bursting charge exploding with a loud bang.

B. 15mm Screamer with two stage effect booster – Line item 0002 15mm pyrotechnic also called a screamer siren, whistle bomb, screamer-siren.

Cartridge is designed to be ignited by a blank cartridge (6mm primer). After ignition the pyrotechnic composition will burn for a definite time and create a screaming sound. The uniqueness to this cartridge is the small holes on the end opposite the ignition that allows a coupling collar to be placed in order to join 2 types of pyrotechnics to double the effectiveness. The ability to couple these screamer boosters with another type of 15 mm to change distances, sounds, colors, directions, etc. make them invaluable to the WS program. Without the booster, our hazing options become reduced significantly, which further reduces our ability to provide a service. The booster must be compatible with the other 15mm pyrotechnic devices it is propelling. This product is similar in design and performance to those manufactured by Zink-Feuerwerk GmbH.

C. 15mm Screaming pyrotechnic with trailing sparks and enhanced visibility tracer effect.

– Line item 0003

15mm pyrotechnic that creates a loud screaming sound with sparks that trail the cartridge during its path through the air. The sparks add an enhanced visual component to the auditory harassment method and make these types of 15mm a necessity to the WS projects. Enhanced visibility tracer must be similar in product design, function, and performance to the screamer with silver comet manufactured by Zink-Feuerwerk GmbH.

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D. 15mm Green sparkling/crackling flare – Line item 0004 15mm pyrotechnic that creates a unique green light after ignition that flies through the air about 50 yards and then is followed by a series of sparks and crackling sound. These cartridges are best when coupled with a screamer booster or an extended range rockets.

Comparable in product design and performance to the comet bangers that are manufactured by Zink-Feuerwerk GmbH.

E. 15mm Range extender rocket – Line item 0005 15mm pyrotechnic that has the ability to go 750-1,000 feet in distance. This product is unique due to the distance it can travel. It is designed to couple with additional styles of pyrotechnics. Comparable in product design and performance to the extended range rockets that are manufactured by Zink-Feuerwerk GmbH.

F. 6mm primers – Line item 0006 Ignition devices need to be 6mm in diameter to ensure proper fit in the launching devices. The discharge of the primer ignites the 15mm pyrotechnic and allows the pyrotechnic to launch from the launching device. Any deviation in size from the 6mm may impact the current inventory of WS approved launching devices.

G. Shell Crackers – Line item 0007 12 gauge shotgun shell designed to be similar in sound delivery to a 15mm banger, but has the ability to travel approximately 60-100 yards. The shell cracker is generally 2 ¾” in length and fits into a 12 gauge single shot, break action shotgun. Any deviation in size may impact the current inventory of WS approved launching devices.

H. Long range shell crackers – Line item 0008

12 gauge shotgun shell designed to be similar in sound delivery to a 15mm banger, but has the ability to travel approximately 100 – 140 yards. The shell cracker is generally 3” in length and fits into a 12 gauge single shot, break action shotgun. Any deviation in size may impact the current inventory of WS approved launching devices. The desired product is similar in product design and performance to the long range shell crackers manufactured by StoneCo, Inc.

4. An identification of The Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full And Open Competition The Statutory Authority for this action is 11.105(a)(1) The particular brand name, product, or feature is essential to the Government’s requirements, and market research indicates other companies’ similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet the agency’s needs.

The products requested are unique in design and application.

5. Identification of The Justification Rationale Our Wildlife Services program provides a service to a variety of cooperators to protect juvenile T&E listed salmon and steelhead during their migration to the ocean. The piscivorous birds that frequent the forebay and/or tailrace of the dam are attracted by the presence juvenile salmonids. Once attracted to the area, wildlife can be especially difficult to disperse from the area due to the food sources that exist by the presence of the juvenile salmonids. Promptness and persistence by personnel trained in wildlife damage management is necessary. Wildlife Services Specialists provide a service to the cooperators by utilizing an Integrated Wildlife

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Damage Management Approach (IWDM, also called Integrated Pest Management). The IWDM encompasses the integration and application of all approved methods of prevention and management to reduce wildlife damage. By using an IWDM approach, the birds that are attracted to the dams find the area is not necessarily a safe area, and disperse.

However, repetitive use of the same repulsion method decreases the fear, which decreases the frequency of dispersal, which is termed habituation. When birds have become habituated to a method they not only do not disperse, but they become an attractant for other birds (decoy effect), which increases the impact on salmonid survivability. By utilizing all of the pyrotechnic tools in varying applications, the likelihood of wildlife becoming habituated to the harassment tools decreases. By decreasing the habituation, we are able to provide a better service to our cooperators.

6. Best Value Determination The products that we have requested are unique in design and application and generally not provided by multiple vendors or multiple manufacturers. The need for the products specifically supersedes the value of other less effective products due to the service that is requested.

7. Market Research Conducted Due to the ability of wildlife to regularly habituate and adapt to changing environmental conditions, we are constantly looking for new methods, tools, or ideas to implement into our IWDM approach. Internet searches, phone calls, discussions in WS forums, and other forms of research are constantly being conducted in order to find applicable new ideas, methods, etc.

8. Statement of Actions, If Any To Remove Barriers To Competition In The Future We are looking at tools, methods, ideas that work. If products come available that will help us in our mission, we’ll be happy to look at other tools, methods, ideas, etc.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting Justification As the technical or requirement personnel, I certify that the evidence of the supporting data that forms the basis of this justification is complete and accurate.

Wildlife Services Technical Representative Date

Contracting Officer Date

09/03/2019