3 SSJ Redacted NR-MJ3000-21-00301.pdf

Version 3.0

Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

FOR AN ACTION EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

USING SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS

(AUTHORITY: FAR 13.501(a), 41 U.S.C. 1901)

PR NR-MJ3000-21-00301

1. Agency and contracting activity.

Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division (WAD) and the Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL), Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL).

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

This is a sole source justification for a new requirement. A firm-fixed price supply contract is anticipated. The Government intends to solicit an offer from Aerodyne Research, Inc.

3. Description of supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the total estimated value).

Two (2) high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometers to support the CSL airborne trace gas and aerosol measurement program:

One (1) Vocus Inlet for Aerosols with a high resolution, ultra-sensitive mass spectrometer (VIA-VOCUS 2R) with a mass range of up to 4,000 Thompson (Th) with a mass resolution of at least 10,000 Th/Th and up to 15,000 Th/Th.

One (1) High Resolution Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer system (HToF-AMS) with a mass range of up to 1,000 Th and a mass resolution of at least 3,000 Th/Th and up to 5,000 Th/Th.

Total estimated cost is . The award date is expected to be 2 June 2021 with a delivery date of 2 February 2022, or eight (8) months after award.

4. Statutory authority permitting the sole source (including brand name) acquisition.

41 U.S.C. 1901, using SAP up to $7M as authorized by FAR 13.500(a) and implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The contracting officer has determined the following circumstances justify the use of a sole source as supported below:

Only one source – Only one source is capable of providing the supplies required at the level of quality required because the supplies are unique or highly specialized.

Aerodyne Research, Inc. is the only company that manufactures or distributes a High- Resolution Time-of-Flight (HRTOF) Aerosol Mass Spectrometer system that includes a proprietary reagent ion source. This reagent ion source, Vocus, is an ion molecule reactor that operates at reduced pressure with multi-frequency Radio Frequency (RF) ion focusing that is compatible with reagent ion switching. Additionally, the HRTOF includes an extractive electrospray ionization source upgrade and a Linear Time of Flight (LTOF) mass analyzer with >10,000 Th/Th mass resolution.

These specifications are necessary in order to acquire data that meets the CSL research benchmarks.

The CSL research has established data benchmarks that require the above specifications in order to be compatible. Particularly, the HRTOF requirements are the switchable reagent ion source and a mass resolution of 10,000 Th/Th. The Aerodyne Research instruments are the only ones known that meet or exceed these required specifications.

6. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR

5.202 applies.

As required by FAR Subpart 5.2, WAD sought sources with available capabilities for the required equipment through a notification on the current Governmentwide Point of Entry (GPE) Contracting Opportunities Section of Beta.SAM.gov. The synopsis was posted on 4 March 2021, responses were requested by 8 March 2021, and zero responses were received.

7. Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The contracting officer anticipates that the price(s) will be fair and reasonable based upon price analysis techniques listed at FAR 13.106-3(a)(2). The proposed price will be compared to the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE). In addition, the Government anticipates comparison of the proposed price with prices found reasonable on previous purchases. Finally, listed catalog pricing will be requested from the contractor for comparison. These three (3) techniques will ensure fair and reasonable pricing will be obtained for this requirement.

8. Description of the market research conducted (see Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research was conducted using internet research and interviews with experts in the field to see if other brands of mass spectrometers could fulfill this requirement.

Four (4) companies offering flight-proven mass spectrometers were considered in the market research: THS Instruments (Atlanta, GA), Ionicon Analytik (Innsbruck, Austria), Livermore Instruments (Oakland, CA), and Aerodyne Research (Billerica, MA). THS instruments does not meet the technical specifications, as they do not sell high-resolution mass spectrometers. Ionicon Analytik does not meet the technical specifications, as they do not offer a bipolar extractive electrospray ionization source nor high enough mass resolution (at least 10,000 Th). Livermore Instruments does not offer an instrument that is capable of meeting the HToF-AMS technical specifications since it does not use thermal desorption. Aerodyne Research was found to be the only firm who meets all of the technical specifications.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of a sole source (including brand name), such as:

All facts have been documented in the above sections. There are no additional facts to be reported in this section.

10. List of the sources that expressed a written interest in the acquisition.

No sources indicated an interest as a result of the synopsis posted to the Contracting Opportunities Section of Beta.SAM.gov on 4 March 2021.

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

ESRL/CSL is constantly researching alternative equipment manufacturers for future projects that would allow competitive procedures. Through research with industry partners, as well as colleagues performing similar research projects, ESRL/CSL will attempt to locate alternate instruments brought to market that would be able to fulfil any similar requirements.