A02.09 BNJ FAR Part 13.5_REDACTED.pdf

CUI ERDC Control No. 25-3483

Controlled by: Army USACE ERDC CUI Category: General Procurement and Acquisition Limited Dissemination Control: FED ONLY POC: Angela Holcomb, Email:

angela.holcomb@usace.army.mil

Brand Name/Limited Source Justification and Approval Under FAR 13.501

1. Contracting Activity: United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineering Research and Development Center Contracting Office (ECO) – Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL)

Description of Action: Controllable Vacuum Pump for a Microfluidic Device (CoVPM)

Nature: X New Requirement □ Follow-On Requirement

□ Mod for Existing Purchase Order/Contract Number:

Pricing: X Firm-Fixed Price □ Time and Materials/Labor Hours

Funding: □ OMA X Other Funds: 021*2040 RDT&E Funds

2. Description of Supplies/Services:

a. The total estimated dollar value of the proposed contractual action is $22,147.50.

b. The project “Volatile Compound Emission Signatures as Sentinels of Permafrost Thaw in Arctic Environments" examines the different volatiles emitted from different states of permafrost thaw. CERL plans to examine chemical release from soil bacterial cells, so the Vacuum Pump will help researchers to control the visualization of the cells under a fluorescent confocal microscope. In this requirement, CERL will visualize and measure the particle preparation steps including bacterial cells on the microscope using the CoVPM.

3. Authority Cited: FAR 13.501(a)(2) Justifications and approvals are required under this subpart for sole-source (including brand-name) acquisitions or portions of an acquisition requiring a brand-name. If the justification is to cover only the portion of the acquisition which is brand-name, then it should so state; the approval level requirements will then only apply to that portion. This justification applies only to the required compatibility of the Controllable Vacuum Pump for a Microfluidic Device (CoVPM) with a Nikon IX-81 Fluorescent Microscope.

mailto:angela.holcomb@usace.army.mil

4. Reason for Authority Cited: Market research, as documented, demonstrates that the equipment to be procured, specifically a Controllable Vacuum Pump, must be compatible with an existing Nikon IX-81 Fluorescent Microscope, which limits competition.

5. Efforts to Obtain Competition: The Contracting Team (CT) researched the GSA’s Federal Supply Schedule and Acquisition Gateway’s Solution Finder for established contract vehicles such as a Blanket Purchase Agreement, Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts, and other Spend Under Management Tier offerings. Internal USACE research of available Multiple-Award Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity contracts were also considered. Additionally, a targeted and proactive outreach was conducted by CT to identify Vendors who commercially offer a Controllable Vacuum Pump which is compatible with the Nikon IX-81 Fluorescent Microscope. Market Research resulted in identification of four potential Vendors who offer this commercial equipment with the required compatibility.

6. Actions to Increase Competition: Requirement will be posted to the Government Point of Entry (GPE), SAM.GOV to obtain competition.

7. Market Research: Customer conducted market research was performed by CERL’s research team members in the August 2025, which entailed email and telephonic outreach with respect to equipment meeting the Government’s needs.

The following manufacturers were researched: Fluigent, Inc., Elveflow, On-Chip Biotechnologies, and PreciGenome.

a. Key Findings: Companies contacted included Fluigent Inc, Elvesys, On-Chip, and PreciGenome. After conducting market research comparing product offerings from multiple companies, we found that the four companies that consulted offered products that meet our requirements, such as having a pressure-controllable system, support of at least 3 channels, compatibility with standard lab vials (2mL to 15mL tubes), and compatibility with biological samples.

b. Interested Sources: As a result of Market Research, the below listed table identifies potential competition for this requirement.

FIRM NAME UEI BUSINESS SIZE

Fluigent, Inc. NDHRU4ZLGJ79 Small Business

PreciGenome KL24S78JR9W3 Small Business

8. NAICS Determination: 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, size standard 1000 employees. Product Service Code 6640 – Laboratory Equipment and Supplies.

9. Procurement History:

Previous Purchase Order(s) or Contract(s): □ Yes X No

Purchase Order or Contract Number:

Was action completed: □ Yes □ No

If action was not completed, state the cite authority, and summarize rationale:

10. Commercial Item Determination: IAW FAR 10.002(b)(1)(i), the results of the market research have demonstrated that the Government's needs can be met by items of a type customarily available in the commercial marketplace that would meet the definition of a commercial item at FAR 2.1, to include commercial items with customary or minor modifications, or non-developmental items. Therefore, IAW FAR 10.002(d)(1), the contracting officer shall solicit and award any resultant contract using the policies and procedures in FAR Part 12.

11. Additional information to support the justification: N/A

12. 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.

LANDAS.DALE Digitally signed by

LANDAS.DALE

JASPHER.DUARIO.1619945383

1619945383 Date: 2025.09.05 13:36:45 -05'00'

Dale Landas Technical/Requirements Reviewer

13. Fair and Reasonable Price Determination: As 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.

Digitally signed by

SHUCK.CHRISTINE.LUANNE.10861

72018

Date: 2025.09.05 14:54:32 -06'00'

Christine Shuck Procuring Contracting Officer

14. 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 sole source justification subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition

SHUCK.CHRISTINE.L Digitally signed by

SHUCK.CHRISTINE.LUANNE.1086172018

Date: 2025.09.05 14:55:14 -06'00'

Christine Shuck Procuring Contracting Officer

JASPHER.DUARIO.

UANNE.1086172018

SHUCK.CHRISTINE.L

UANNE.1086172018