SSJ.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT (OPEN MARKET OR GSA)

UNDER $250,000

Sole source acquisitions may be used on a limited basis and only when the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)/Program Official has provided sufficient justification and the Contracting Officer has determined that the circumstances warrant such action. The content for a justification must contain detailed facts and rationale to justify the sole source acquisition. Soliciting from a single source must be done in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b) or 8.405-6. At a minimum, the following information must be included:

Identification of Program Office, Contracting Activity, and Proposed Requirement, Justification and Program Office Certification:

A. Program Office:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 3156 Rampart Road Fort Collins, CO 80521

B. Contracting Activity:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Financial Resources Acquisition Branch 1

C. Identification of Requirement:

1. Nature of Action to be Approved by Contracting Officer:

a. Sole source acquisition of: epMotion® 5075t NGS Solution,

b. Procurement Request (PR) Number (if available): 000HCRJC-2024-84366

2. Proposed Vendor and Estimated Procurement Amount (if available):

a. Proposed Vendor: Eppendorf North America

b. Estimated Procurement Amount: $176,803

3. Is the requirement on GSA Schedule? ☐ Yes ☒ No

If yes, provide schedule number:

Rev. 5/14/19

D. Justification:

1. The justification for this non-competitive action is:

☒ In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), “only one source [is] reasonably available” which states that, “For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. (i) Contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name, or industrial mobilization).

(ii) Where a single source is identified to provide a portion of a purchase because that portion of the purchase specifies a particular brand-name item, the documentation in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section only applies to the portion of the purchase requiring brand-name item. The documentation should state it is covering only the portion of the acquisition which is brand- name.”

☐ Urgency

☐ Exclusive licensing agreements/Proprietary data

☐ Brand name required.

☐ Industrial mobilization

☒ Other (e.g., compatibility, space issues, continuity, compatibility, etc.)

☐ In accordance with FAR 8.405-6 “Limiting Sources” which states that, “the only circumstances that may justify the action are – (A) An urgent and compelling need exists, and following the procedures would result in unacceptable delays; (B) Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized; or (C) In the interest of economy and efficiency, the new work is a logical follow-up to an original Federal Supply Schedule order provided that the original order was placed in accordance with the applicable Federal Supply Schedule ordering procedures. The original BPA must not have been previously issued under sole-source or limited-sources procedures.”

☐ Urgency

☐ Only One Source

☐ Logical Follow Up

☐ Brand name required.

2. Other facts supporting sole source procurement:

a. What can this product/service do that other products/services cannot do?

We can integrate this liquid handling robot into our already established protocols for detecting human pathogens in ticks. As part of CDC’s national tick surveillance program, our team is responsible for screening ticks submitted by states for human pathogens (typically ~12,000 ticks per year). This equipment will facilitate increase throughput and provide reproducibility and consistency for NGS library preparation in support of tick and tick-borne disease surveillance efforts.

b. What other products/services were considered and why did they not meet the need?

Other liquid handlers were considered (Beckman Coulter, Opentrons, SPT Labtech), but this liquid handling robot is very flexible and will allow us to customize our current protocols. Since we already have one of these models, it can be integrated in our current workflow without work stoppage. The flexibility and the options to add components, like the thermo module, the magnetic module, and different pipettes, is a unique feature that will allow us to use our already optimized

Rev. 5/14/19 workflow. The CDC’s national tick surveillance program relies on “in-house” developed workflows/processes and this liquid handler allows for that flexibility.

3. Program Office efforts to seek potential offerors:

We used the Google and Bing search engines to educate ourselves about the market. We contacted vendors (Beckman Coulter, Opentrons, SPT Labtech, Eppendorf) to learn specifics about their products and options, and this vendors product was very attractive due to its great flexibility and small footprint. Eppendorf North America, Inc. is the sole distributor of Eppendorf products in North America and the sole provider authorized to service all Eppendorf products within the U.S.

E. Program Office Certification:

I have reviewed this sole source justification and certify the justification is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Center/Institute/Office COR/Program Official Name/Title:

Center/Institute/Office COR/Program Official Signature:

Certification Date: 06/17/2024

F. Contracting Office Certification:

I have fully relied on the information provided herein and hereby certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief:

Contracting Officer Name:

Contracting Officer Signature:

Certification Date:

MJ Sipin