SSJ_Chemical_analysis_Redacted_2.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR ACQUISITION UNDER THE

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

1. Contracting Agency and Activity. The Department of the Interior, United States Geological

Survey, South Biological Science Center, Canyonlands Research Station.

2. Nature of Action Being Approved. The U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological

Science Center, Canyonlands Research Station requests award of a noncompetitive procurement to the Brigham Young University Soil & Plant Analysis Laboratory of Provo, Utah, for chemical analysis and testing of soil and plant samples.

3. Description of Supplies or Services. Soil and plant sample chemical analysis is an on-going and integral part of the biological soil crust and climate change research being performed at

Canyonlands Research Station. Failure to procure soil and plant testing would be detrimental to current research and bring some research to a halt.

4. Estimated Dollar Value.

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR 12.102(a) - For acquisitions valued at or below the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), document the decision that only one source is available and the basis for the decision.

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5. The soil-testing lab at Brigham Young

University has been analyzing samples for USGS from the inception of our research on biological soil crusts, vegetation, and soils in dryland systems in 1993. In order to ensure that the results from previous years and sites are comparable, it is imperative that USGS stay with the same soil testing facility for future samples.

The USGS often compares current analyses with results from previous testing—all of which was performed at the BYU lab. There are many factors that control the results of soil analyses. After extensive consultations with other experts in the field, USGS has verified the following: 1.

Laboratories and their results vary substantially. Labs may use different techniques and protocols, they may use different equipment, or have varying protocols in the preparation and testing of samples, etc. 2. Quality control measures are the most important and the most variable in attempting to get results that can be used in comparison with other data. These measures may include temperature control, measurement of chemicals used in testing, and equipment calibration. After investigating labs at other government facilities and universities in the western

United States, USGS has found that the quality control measures taken by the BYU lab are superior to those of other labs. To change analytical labs in the middle of research projects where data are compared over time would compromise the integrity of the science being performed.

7. Other Information. The USGS has sent split samples sent to other soil testing facilities, and the results were distinctly dissimilar, indicating that using another testing facility would compromise our research.

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

As cited in item 7 above, USGS has done market research and made several attempts in the past

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR ACQUISITION UNDER THE

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

to compare analyses of the same (split) samples by sending them to different testing facilities.

The results returned were so dissimilar that they were considered unusable in the current research program. Sources Sought 140G0326Q0151 was posted on SAM.gov for four days, and no vendor responded.

9. Future Plans to Permit Competition. There are no other sources that can perform the lab analyses required by our dryland climate change research programs. The recommendation of the

Canyonlands Research Station of the Southwest Biological Science Center in support of this noncompetitive justification is made in recognition of the fact that competition must be obtained to the maximum extent practicable.

10. Recommendation and Certification from Program Office

Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a sole source basis and certify the technical data which form the basis for this justification that are the responsibility of technical or requirements of personnel are true and accurate.

Signature Date

11. Certifications from the Contracting Officer:

a. The contracting officer must include a determination that the anticipated cost to the

Government will be fair and reasonable with a short statement for the basis of that determination.

b. This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Yangzhi Deng, Contracting Officer Date