A02.08 Brand Name Justification 01.pdf

ERDC Control No. 23-2843

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

1. Agency/Contracting Activity: Engineer Research and Development Center – Construction and Engineering Research Laboratory (EDRC – CERL)

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: CPI RDT&E FY 22

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The ERDC-CERL Cultural Resources Team has a requirement to procure Ulrich brand archival storage equipment to house original Master Plans and historic maps. The requirements include one Planfile Cabinet and one Minifile Cabinet each of which will house 36” x 48” documents with archival quality folders, and two package of twelve file folders (size 24” x 36”).

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.)

5. Reason for Authority Cited: CERL houses one of (if not the) largest collections of original WWII Master Plans for military construction outside of the U.S. National Archives. These are fragile, irreplaceable, historic documents. Ulrich brand Planfile and Minifile cases have been found to be the only brand of storage equipment reasonably available to house these documents.

Ulrich file cases are the only ones found to be water, dust AND fire resistant, while also allowing for vertical storage and without requiring any sort of extra adhesion to be utilized in the storage process. No other case seen in extensive online research had all three characteristics.

6. Actions to Increase Competition: A competitive solicitation will be advertised on SAM.gov contracting opportunities open to vendors capable of supplying Ulrich brand storage cabinetry.

7. Market Research: (1) Describe the extent and the results of the market research. List all the sources identified.

Actively engaged with industry and acquisition contracts for archival storage. As part of these engagements, only 1 meets the intent of this contract, Ulrich. Other venders/distributors for similar capabilities do not meet the requirements for archival storage. The Masterfile brand was the only one that came close, but it was only water and dust resistant, did not protect against fire and required a self-adhesive tape be attached to every map/plan which would damage the vellum that many of these documents are printed on. Ulrich files are stored vertically in folders, which can be acid free (archival).

ERDC Control No. 23-2843

(2) Provide the timeframe the market research was completed and who compiled the data.

(Research must be meaningful and have been conducted within the previous 12 months) Market research was conducted by Carey Baxter in October 2022, December 2022, and March 2023. Market research was conducted online by visiting numerous websites including ones for filing cabinet and map case manufactures, as well as general supply sites that would carry multiple brands. Prices for map storage cases were posted on these websites.

8. Procurement History: Previous Purchase Orders(s) or Contract(s):

Purchase order or contract number:

Was action competed? Yes No If action was not competed, state the cited authority, summarize

Yes No rationale:

9. Additional information to support the justification: None

10. Technical/Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which is included in the abbreviated J&A is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Submitted By:

Position Title:

Email Address:

Signature:

Date:

.WILLIAM.10898

15815

Digitally signed by

CALFAS.GEORGE.WILLIAM.

1089815815 Date: 2023.07.19 10:43:27 -05'00'

11. Fair and Reasonable Price Determination: As the Contracting Officer, I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. Basis for the determination: price analysis techniques.

12. Contracting Officer’s Approval: I hereby certify that this Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Based on the foregoing, I approve this brand name justification subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition

Signature:

Typed Name:

Title:

Date:

Andrea Thomas

Digitally signed by Andrea Thomas Date: 2023.07.28 10:28:05 -05'00'

CALFAS.GEORGE