BNJ_ConFlo_IV.docx

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Agency and Activity. The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey plans to contract by means other than full and open competition. This document sets forth the justification and approval for award of a purchase order on a limited source basis as required by FAR 13.106-1.

2. Nature of Action Being Approved. A new one-time firm fixed priced award to purchase a ConFlo IV, a universal continuous flow interface, manufactured by Thermo Fisher Scientific.

3. Description of Supplies or Services. The Mineral Resources Program's Geology, Energy, and Minerals Stable Isotope Lab (GEMSIL) at the Geology, Energy, and Minerals Science Center (GEMSC) needs a ConFlo IV universal interface for its isotope-ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS). The ConFlo IV Universal Interface includes intelligent connections to all necessary reference gases, automatic sample size recognition, sample and reference signal matching, and self-diagnosis.

4. Estimated Dollar Value.

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis under the authority FAR 13.106-1.

6.Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5. This requirement is intended to replace the current ConFlo IV in GEMSIL, which has faulty valves. The ConFlo IV's usable lifespan is unknown. Using a different manufacturer prevents GEMSIL from seamlessly connecting with the existing IRMS and eliminates the option for continuous and unattended analysis using three preparation devices. Any continuous flow sample preparation device can interface with the ConFlo IV interface thanks to its use of the Isodat script language (ISL). By altering the current processes, it risks the continuity of the analyses.

7. Other Information. N/A

8. The Efforts to Identify Additional Sources Including the Market Research Conducted.

The market research identified four additional manufacturers of IRMS systems: Nu Instruments, Elementar, Isoprime, and Secon. Each IRMS requires a user interface; however, the manufacturers mentioned are not fully compatible with the existing GEMSIL spectrometer Delta V Plus IRMS MFR by Thermo Fisher Scientific. Thermo Scientific confirmed that several small businesses are authorized distributors.

9. Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition. Future requirements will undergo market research for the same or similar items. At a time when other sources become available, USGS will compete for the procurement of these services to the maximum extent practical.

10. Recommendation and Certification from Program Office Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a limited source basis. I certify that technical data which form a basis for this justification, that are the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel are complete and accurate.

11. Certifications and Approval from the Contracting Officer:

a. Prices will be determined fair and reasonable by comparing prices paid on previous purchase orders and competition among resellers.

b. All of the requirements of the Competition in Contracting Act, (41 U.S.C. 253), as implemented in the Federal and Interior Acquisition Regulation, have been considered in preparing this justification. This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

13. Approvals

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) considers employee signatures to be Personal Protected Information, and therefore all employee signatures have been redacted. By posting this document, the Contracting Officer attests all appropriate signatures have been obtained.