FBO_JOFOC_Version.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity

USDA/ARS/AFM/PA

2150 Centre Ave.

Bldg. D Fort Collins, CO 80526 Jessica Massey, Contracting Officer Phone: 970-492-7003

2. Nature/Description of Action

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) intends to award a firm fixed-price contract to The University of Nebraska. The contract is for the purchase of 289 male calves that have the appropriate genotypic and phenotypic traits.

3. Description of Supplies/Services The USDA ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) needs to purchase 289 head of male calves.

4. Statutory Authority

The procurement is in accordance with FAR 6.302-1 and 41 U.S.C 3304(a)(1).

5. Demonstration of Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition that

Requires use of the Authority Cited For biosecurity reasons, USMARC does not allow animals to be brought onto the Center from outside sources. The University of Nebraska has had a long term cooperative relationship with USMARC on the ARS owned property. This relationship is documented in ARS agreement number 58-3040-5-002. The university herd and the ARS herd are both on this property. As a result, the university animals are the only animals that can be supplied to ARS.

The U.S. Meat Animal Research center needs 289 steer calves for its research programs in genetics, breeding, meat safety, meat quality, reproduction, nutrition, and environmental management. This policy has been in place for decades and is in place to protect the animal herd that is valued at greater than $12M. This value is strictly a market value. The research value of these herds is many multiples of the market value.

These 289 animals provided by the University comply with the necessary biosecurity policies and procedures in place in order to protect that substantial tax payer investment in the animal herds at USMARC. Also, the University has already collected the necessary data to move the above mentioned projects forward. The University and ARS have a close collaboration at USMARC and these animals have the necessary scientific and phenotypic information already collected on them that will allow congressionally funded research projects to move forward. These projects will not be able to move forward without these animals.

6. FedBizOpps Announcement/Potential Sources

The Intent to Sole Source was posted to FedBizOpps in announcement # 939971- NoticeofIntent on 10/31/2018.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost

A fair and reasonable cost will be determined based upon the market price for the weight of the animal at the day of weaning. The cattle market across the nation is extremely variable from year to year. Past prices are not Indicative of current prices. The price for this procurement will be based upon mutually agreed local market conditions that are published and available to the public. The USMARC has a subscription to the CattleFax Update where the market prices are obtained from.

8. Market Survey

Because of the collaborative research with the University of Nebraska and not being able to bring other Animals onto the Center because of Biosecurity reasons, this is a sole source purchase. In compliance with the ARS Agreement 58-3040-5-002 and the USMARC Biosecurity Plan 2009 this requirement will be acquired on a sole source basis.

9. Additional Support

None.

10. Other Interested Sources

None available sine no other vendor can provide the specific genotypic and phenotypic traits that USMARC requires.

11. Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Competition

The are no actions right now that would allow USMARC to remove the barrier.