A02.06 Brand Name Justification (Redacted).pdf

ERDC Control No. 24-3085

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

(Simplified Acquisition Procedures under FAR Part 13 Not Exceeding $250K)

1. Agency/Contracting Activity: Engineer Research and Development Center – Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (ERDC-CRREL).

2. Description of Action:

Nature: New Requirement Follow-On Requirement Mod to Existing Purchase Order/Contract Number

Pricing: Firm-Fixed Price Time and Materials

Funds: OMA Other Funds: Army RDT&E (2040)

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC), Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL)’s Office of Technical Directors at Fort Wainwright, Alaska seeks to procure the following Brand Name Trimble items: one (1) Trimble X7 Laser Scanner Equipment Bundle (i.e., The laser scanner bundle includes a Trimble X7 instrument, transportation case, backpack, Trimble X7 tripod, and T10X data collector) and two (2) Trimble R12i GPS Receiver Kits (i.e. data controllers, and other associated equipment such as extra batteries, laser scanner targets, Trimble Real-works Advanced software, Tunnel Module to existing hardware keys). The X7 Laser Scanner and R12i GPS Receiver Kit is required to support multiple surveying applications required for Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory Alaska Research Office (AKRO) in Fairbanks, Alaska. This purchase is necessary to complement the existing Trimble equipment currently used at AKRO and will allow for expanded capability for accurate surveys. The full Description of Requirement is in the contract file.

The total estimated dollar value of the proposed action is .

4. Authority: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1): For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), 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.)

ERDC Control No. 24-

5. Reason for Authority Cited: CRREL requires Trimble Brand Name items in order to purchase new items to add to the measurement network that will be fully interoperable with existing Trimble Brand Name equipment. The new sensors will be used interoperably with current hardware, while replacement receivers will be used to repair existing Trimble hardware, which will prolong and expand current measurement capabilities.

CRREL uses Trimble survey grade Differential GPS units (R10, R8 GPS receivers and data collectors). Hardware and software service and support through the Trimble Business Center will allow compatibility between all units, including the Trimble X7 3D laser scanner and other accessories requested. For example, the R12 receivers are to replace Trimble R8 receivers on current systems thus must also be Trimble Brand Name to be fully interoperable. This purchase would add to the existing capability to acquire high accuracy survey data in areas where high resolution surveys are needed for topography surveys. The Trimble X7 Laser Scanner and R12i GPS Receiver Kits is the only brand producing items that, if procured, would avoid the excessive cost associated with purchasing an entire new suite of sensors and software and testing new products to ensure they work to generate equivalent quality, which would create very substantial duplication of cost to the Government and cause unacceptable delays (program milestone failure) in fulfilling current agency program requirements.

6. Actions to Increase Competition: A combined synopsis/solicitation will be posted on SAM.gov to promote competition to the maximum extent practicable. The solicitation will be set-aside for small business concerns.

7. Market Research: Market research was conducted as prescribed by FAR 10.001(a) by CRREL technical representatives and the contracting office who both identified the Trimble brand name as the only products capable of fulfilling the Government’s requirement offering features and configurations necessary to meet all factors. Other companies like Leica and FARO were identified as other brands that sell 3D laser scanner hardware, but these hardware solutions are not compatible with the existing Trimble systems and software currently in use. Trimble, Inc.

is the proprietor and manufacturer of their X7 Laser Scanner Equipment Bundle and R12i GPS Receivers. Market research indicates there are distributors of Trimble, Inc. equipment, which is why this procurement is being restricted to the brand name items and not sole source to the manufacturer in accordance with FAR 13-106-1(b)(1). The following three (3) commercial distributors were identified: