2.2.1 LSJ_Brand_Name_Liquid Handler_REDACTED.pdf

Brand Name Limited-Sources Justification (B-LSJ) For orders or BPAs exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

LSJ No: Page 1 of 3

03.21.2022 v.1.0

LSJ Number: PR Number:

Brand Name Limited-Sources Justification

1. Agency and Contracting Activity.

The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Procurement Division, proposes to award a task order for a base year with four, one year, option periods on behalf of Special Services Division (SSD) pursuant to FAR 8.405-6, Limiting Sources.

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

USSS intends to limit the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contractors solicited to a particular brand name product, or a feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer. A brand name item, whether available on one or more schedule contracts, is an item peculiar to one manufacturer.

USSS, SSD, is seeking to purchase a new firm fixed-price task order for sole Brand Name Beckman Coulter PT Protective Service Plan for three (3) equipment systems. Multiple Award Schedule Category 532490L, Laboratory Maintenance, Repair, Leasing and Warranties.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

The Beckman Coulter PT Protective Service Plan is for the preventative and curative repair for the following systems:

Two (2) o Biomek i7 Hybrid automated liquid handlers (MC + Span-8) with Enclosure, each with:

Pipetting head, Orbital Shaker ALP, Automation Controller, and;

One (1) o Biomek i5 Span-8 automated liquid handler with Enclosure, with:

Automation Controller

The service also includes instrument warranty and meets the most current International Organization for Standardization (ISO) requirements. This service provides professionally trained service engineers to repair or authorize release of parts for this equipment. This will be a task order with a base year and four, one year, option years. The anticipated period of performance for the base year is from June 04, 2025 to June 03, 2026 with the provision of four (4) one (1) year option periods.

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4. Authority and supporting rationale.

The proposed order or BPA will be placed or established under the authority of the Multiple-Award Schedule Program, 41 U.S.C. 152(3), Competitive Procedures, and 40 U.S.C. 501, Services for Executive Agencies.

Pursuant to FAR 8.405-6(b), this brand name specification must be used for the eight (8) pieces of equipment as described above as it is manufactured by Beckman Coulter and utilizes model and manufacturer specific components which require preventative maintenance and repair to ensure accurate and continued functionality.

The equipment is ISO certified as required by law. In order to uphold that certification, the equipment must be repaired and serviced to the manufacturer’s specifications which requires professionally trained service engineers to adhere to the manufacturer’s standards, specifications, access to manufacturer parts, hardware, and software, as well as technical support. Without access to these components, the service provider cannot meet manufacturers specifications and warranty requirements which involve manufacturers service schedules, parts, and processes, which causes the equipment to fail in obtain ISO certification.

The service plan providers will be able to reserve parts, provide technical support, hardware and software patches, and access to technical repair documentation as authorized service personnel. While other variations on the PT Protection plans exist, the two business day turn around timeframe meets the needs of the Government to ensure that accurate, reproducible testing for highly sensitive biological threat agents can continue in a defensible, accurate, and traceable manner. Other plans from other manufacturers do not utilize the same service schedule, parts, or meet technical specifications as the Beckman Coulter plan.

5. Determination by the ordering activity contracting officer that the anticipated order represents the best value consistent with FAR 8.404(d).

The contracting officer has determined that issuing the proposed Task Order for Beckman Coulter PT Protective Service Plan represents the best value and will result in the lowest overall cost, considering price and administrative costs, to meet the Government’s needs. The General Services Administration (GSA) has already negotiated fair and reasonable price. USSS will solicit competition from authorized FSS vendors to ensure a fair price. Discounts from the GSA schedule prices will be requested.

6. A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results, or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

The results of the recent market research decribed below indicate other companies’ similar product(s) lack the particular/unique feature(s) required and do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the needs of USSS.

Market research was conducted from May 2023 to September 2024 and found three vendors on GSA can provide these services. Technical Security Division will conduct annual market research to ensure if other vendors are able to meet the two business day turn around timeframe and ensure that accurate, reproducible testing for highly sensitive biological threat agents can continue in a defensible, accurate, and traceable manner.

If other vendors are identified this requirement will be opened for competition.

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7. Any other facts supporting the limited-sources justification.

N/A

8. A statement of actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

As stated above, Technical Security Division will conduct annual market research to ensure if other vendors are able to meet the two business day turn around timeframe and ensure that accurate, reproducible testing for highly sensitive biological threat agents can continue in a defensible, accurate, and traceable manner. If other vendors are identified this requirement will be opened for competition.

9. USSS intends to post this justification with the solicitation on GSA’s e-Buy site in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(b)(3)(i)(B).

10. Technical/Requirements Personnel Certification.

Pursuant to FAR 8.405-6(c)(2)(x), I certify that this requirement meets the Government’s minimum need and that the supporting data, which form a basis for the Limited-Sources Justification, are accurate and complete.

Technical Representative/COR Date

11. Contracting Officer’s Certification and Approval

Pursuant to FAR 8.405-6(c)(2)(ix), I certify that the Limited-Sources Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer Date