A02.09 Brand Name Justification REDACTED.pdf

ERDC Control No. 22-2508

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: Army RDT&E

3. Description of Supplies/Services:

a. The total estimated dollar value of the proposed action is $160,500.

b. The Government has a requirement for a Keyence brand fluorescence microscope (model

#BZ-X810). It will be used for a variety of applications to elucidate the structure and dynamics of polymers and nanomaterials for several research projects.

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: The research team that will utilize this fluorescence microscope requires a broad range of capabilities in quality imaging to elucidate the structure and dynamics of polymers and nanomaterials. They require a system that offers high sensitivity and magnification, 3D imaging capabilities, is user-friendly and requires minimal manual adjustments, and can be used in a bright open space without suffering from darkroom-related restrictions. Specifically, the unit must meet the following capability requirements and specifications:

All-in-one, excluding the computer and monitor, as it must be able to fit in the limited laboratory space which is 500 mm (H) x 465 mm (W) x 500 mm (D) when the panel is closed.

Has a built-in vibration damping system with the ability to use up to 100x objectives in a typical lab environment.

Includes a specimen enclosure to provide an observation environment that, even without a darkroom, will not impair the background contrast required for fluorescence observation.

Includes as standard components, an electronic shutter, XY and Z motorized stages, an electronic revolver (to hold 6 objectives from 2x-100x, must be compatible with both Plan Fluor and Plan Apochromat lenses), an electronic filter turret (to hold 4 filters), electronic color camera filter, electronic phase-contrast slit switching mechanism, electronic dimmer filters, and an electronic aperture control; it is necessary that all of these components can be operated with the mouse.

Capable of recalling all capture settings which include the shutter, aperture, light intensity, XYZ stage position, magnification, filter, imaging mode (brightfield/fluorescence/phase). In addition, there must be Zero manual/mechanical adjustments related to the microscope structure or light path (aperture, focus, stage, condenser, lighting). Everything must be only controlled electronically.

The stroke of the motorized XY stage must be at least 114 mm x 80 mm and the smaller. Also, the stroke of the motorized Z axis

Equipped with a 14-bit monochrome CCD that is cooled to a temperature that is lower than the ambient temperature by at least 25°C. The camera also needs to have the capability to image into the near infrared spectrum (800-900nm range). The microscope must also be furnished with a mechanism that can capture full-color images using color filters inserted under electronic control.

Equipped a “low photobleach mode” to physically block the light to the sample when it is just stationary. Light is only let through when we move the sample or change the capture settings.

The number of pixels that can be recorded in a single image (not stitched) must be at least 4080 x 3060.

The analysis software must include some basic image processing software such as Haze reduction (no-neighbor deconvolution), image overlays, scale bar, cut/paste, zoom, lookup table, black balance.

Equipped with a navigation function that enables the user the following: to make observations at a high magnification while checking the position over the entire region using a wide-area map image linked with information on the XY stage coordinates and to move the observation position by clicking the desired point on the wide-area map image.

It must also be possible to create the wide-area map image using any of the mountable lenses.

Includes a function that enables the user, when using any of the mountable lenses, to set a maximum range of 50,000 x 50,000 pixels automatically by clicking the edges of the desired capture range, capture images in this range, and stitch them seamlessly.

Capability to set a multi-well plate on the chamber.

Includes an image cytometer function that can count/aggregate cells, areas, etc. for each well in a well plate. It is necessary to display statistics from acquired data with a heat map or histogram for each well or field of view. It must be possible to conduct analysis on multiple well plates under the same condition in a batch. It must be possible to save images that were the analysis base as a stitched image without reducing the resolution.

Market research has found that only the Keyence BZ-X810 meets all of these requirements.

6. Actions to Increase Competition: Market research has shown that Keyence has a network of small business distributors. A competitive posting will be advertised, open to any small business vendors that can provide this particular brand of equipment.

7. Market Research:

(1) Market research was conducted to find vendors who supply a highly sensitive, high magnification, motorized, fluorescence microscope with 3D imaging capabilities and a built-in dark room chamber. Top of the line microscope vendors were contacted, including Keyence Corporation of America, Olympus, and Zeiss. The Government has determined only Keyence Corporation of America offers an all-in-one product which meets our requirements. Olympus and Zeiss have high end inverted microscopes that can perform fluorescent microscopy with several attachments, however, this is accomplished with 3rd party suppliers, greatly increasing the lead time and instrument footprint that our lab does not have space to accommodate.

(2) Market research was performed by Clinton Cender starting in December 2022 prior to his paternity leave, then passed on to Marissa Campobasso and Elizabeth Gao, who completed the market research in April 2022.

8. Procurement History:

Previous Purchase Orders(s) or Contract(s): Yes No

Purchase order or contract number:_______________ Was action competed? Yes No If action was not competed, state the cited authority, summarize rationale:______________________________________________________________________

9. Additional information to support the justification: Not applicable.

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: Sean Wallace Position Title:

Email Address: Sean.M.Wallace@usace.army.mil Signature:

Date:

11. 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.

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 limited sources 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:

WALLACE.SEAN.MICHAEL.

1504078589

Digitally signed by

WALLACE.SEAN.MICHAEL.1504078589

Date: 2022.06.09 14:09:52 -05'00'

Andrea Thomas Digitally signed by Andrea Thomas Date: 2022.06.09 15:55:11 -05'00'