14 Sole Source Justification 1139038 EXECUTED.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture Limited Source/Brand Name Justification

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) – Simplified Acquisitions

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

USDA-APHIS, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Plant Germplasm Quarantine Program (PGQP)

2. Description of supply or service required to meet the agency’s needs.

PGQP seeks the purchase of a service contract that will allow to provide regular performance maintenance to the entirety of the automated liquid handler system. Any repairs and replacement of parts must allow the Bravo to perform up to standards and enable the production of sequencing-ready libraries (next-generation sequencing, NGS) from nucleic acids. The seek service will enable to operate the instrument through a computer connected to the liquid handler with precise displayed steps, helping personnel reducing repetitive motions as well as reducing the risk of injuries and contamination while maintaining the quality of data and adhering to established APHIS standard operating procedures (SOPs) for NGS-based plant pathogen diagnostics.

3. The rationale or circumstances for limiting competition.

The automated liquid handler system known as G5573A Bravo NGS Option A and all its accessories was purchased in June 2023 with a one year of warranty. The BRAVO NGS system is manufactured by Agilent Technologies Inc. Highly trained technicians, field specialists and engineers from Agilent Technologies Inc. are the only personnel capable of properly addressing any maintenance and repairments on the BRAVO NGS system using genuine parts and according to manufacturer’s compliance. The BRAVO NGS system must be receiving annual performance maintenance so our USDA APHIS unit can continue preparing the nucleic acids into library-ready material for pathogen diagnostics.

4. A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

The G5573A BRAVO NGS Option A system is solely manufactured by Agilent Technologies Inc. and therefore no other repair or service equipment company can better conduct the necessary repairments than Agilent Technologies Inc. This service is available through GSA contract #GS-07F-0564X.

5. Estimated price, including all options, if applicable.

The estimated total cost is $14,739.12

6. Recommended source(s).

Company: AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES INC

UEI: SD9JZ9S7MEA6

Company Address: 2850 Centerville RD, Wilmington, Delaware 19808 Company Point of Contact: Tom Goodkind, tom.goodkind@agilent.com, 302-636-3888

Certifications

Supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel and which form the basis for this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.

Oscar Hurtado Program Manager

The information contained in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief and in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-1(b)(1), I hereby determine the circumstances described above deem only one source, or limited sources, reasonably available and competition is precluded for the reasons indicated in this document.

Robert Zeglin Contracting Officer