A02-Midwest Swine BPA - JA Modified for FAR Part 13 cr (003).pdf

CUI

Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4

1 NOV 2024

Control Number: FY26-0460

Controlled by: Defense Health Agency (DHA) Controlled by: DHACA, Contracts Branch 5 CUI Category(ies): Source Selection Limited Dissemination Control: FED Only POC: Andy Shortall, 301-619-2212 william.a.shortall.civ@health.mil

Justification and Approval (J&A) Modified for Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.501

1. Identification of the Agency and Contracting Activity: The contracting activity responsible for this action is the Defense Health Agency (DHA), DHA Contracting Activity (DHACA) in support of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), Fort Sam Houston, TX.

2. Nature and/or Description of Action being Approved: This requirement is for a new Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for repetitive orders of research swine.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: Under the contemplated award, Midwest Research Swine, LLC, 3413 11th Street E., Glencoe, MN 55336-3400, will provide research swine to the USAISR under a BPA. The estimated total price of this request is $744,000.00 for a five (5) year ordering period.

Period Period of Performance

Estimated Value Type of Funding

14 JAN 26 - 13 JAN 31 $744,000 DHA RDTE

CUI Control Number: FY26-0460

2 NOV 2024

4. Statutory Authority Permitting the Sole Source Acquisition: 41 United States Code 1901 as implemented in FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii), sole source (including brand name) under the authority of the simplified procedures for certain commercial items.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Authority Cited: Under the contemplated award, Midwest Research Swine, LLC will provide research swine to USAISR under a BPA. The ability to compare current experimental data with historical data is imperative to the scientific process.

This is a follow-on award to W81XWH-21-A-0004 which was performed by Midwest Research Swine, LLC. W81XWH-21-A-0004 and its precursor, W81XWH-15-A-0015, and the contemplated award support the same research protocols. Direct comparison of all experimental data across each study is essential for maintaining the scientific integrity and design of the research. Comparison of data can only be reliably performed if genetic variability among the research animals is controlled. Vendors of commonly used laboratory animals produce genetically distinct animals. Their behavioral characteristics and physical traits are different due to genetic variability that has occurred over decades of selective breeding. Therefore, substituting one vendor’s strain for another has the potential to confound the scientific results and validity of previous research. The only way to control the effects of genetic variability and ensure valid experimental data is to procure animals from the same vendor as the animals used on previous experiments supplied under W81XWH-15-A-0015 and W81XWH-21-A-0004 by Midwest Research Swine.

The Midwest Research Swine also carries the “High Health Status Herd” designation. “High Health” was a requirement for W81XWH-15-A-0015 and W81XWH-21-A-0004. Past research at USAISR has shown that pigs originating from a “High Health” herd have a much higher survival rate when undergoing survival surgical procedures than animals from sources without this designation. The data required for the various research protocols are dictated by experimental design and statistical power analysis. When animals expire before established experimental endpoints, data collection is incomplete, and experiments must be repeated. As such, experience has shown that awarding the contemplated action to a vendor without the “High Health” designation will result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Efforts to obtain competition consisted of the following pre-solicitation notices:

Sources Sought Notice number HT9426-26-RFI-WS01 was posted on SAM.gov from 21 November 2025 to 03 December 2025 with one unqualified response received.

Sole Source Notice of Intent number HT9426-26-NOI-WS01 was posted on SAM.gov from 03 December 2025 to 18 December 2025 with no responses received.

a. Effective competition: Because this is a sole source action, effective competition is not applicable.

b. Subcontracting opportunities: All items must be provided by the prime contractor and no subcontracting opportunities are expected from this effort.

3 NOV 2024

7. Actions to Increase Competition/Remove or Overcome any Barriers to Competition: Prior to the posting of the required pre-solicitation notices, efforts were made to determine if circumstances have changed since the last swine acquisition (W81XWH-21-A-0004) that would now permit full and open competition. The customer indicated that current research protocols requiring direct comparison of results with historical data are ongoing. This precludes competition for this effort for the reasons previously discussed in Section 5 (above). As the research protocols with this requirement are closed, it is anticipated that future swine acquisitions may be competed.

8. Market Research: USAISR performed thorough market research before determining that Midwest Research Swine would provide the Army’s research swine. Market research conducted on the web sites include www.google.com www.guidelabanimals.com and www.laboratoryanimalsciencebuyersguide.com. Previously, swine have been obtained from a local swine farm, which was USDA registered and had a close herd. This farmer has retired, and swine are no longer available. Other sources providing research swine to the USAISR had endemic disease in the herds that resulted in skewed experimental results and the collection unusable data. The government is required to purchase from USDA registered vendors which further limits the potential sources of quality research swine. Sources Sought Notice number HT9426-26-RFI-WS01 was posted on SAM.gov from 21 November 2025 to 03 December 2025 with one unqualified response received.

9. Other Facts:

a. Procurement History:

(1) Is this a new requirement? No.

(2) If 9.a.(1) is No, was the action just prior to this one competed? No.

(3) If 9.a.(2) is Yes, what has changed where this action cannot be competed? Not applicable.

b. Additional Information:

(1) Contract numbers and dates of the last several contracts for these same requirements.

a. W81XWH-10-D-0008, 5 MAY 10 – 5 MAY 15

b. W81XWH-15-A-0015, 1 JULY 15 – 30 JUNE 20

c. W81XWH-21-A-0004, 14 JAN 21 – 13 JAN 26

(2) The competitive status of these actions.

a. W81XWH-10-D-0008 was awarded through full and open competition as an unrestricted procurement with two offers received.

4 NOV 2024

b. W81XWH-15-A-0015 – sole source BPA

c. W81XWH-21-A-0004 – sole source BPA

(3) Authority previously cited if less than full and open competition was used.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 United States Code 2304(c)(1) as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(A), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

10. Interested Sources: Sources Sought Notice number HT9426-26-RFI-WS01 was posted on SAM.gov from 21 November 2025 to 03 December 2025 with one unqualified response received.

Sole Source Notice of Intent number HT9426-26-NOI-WS01 was posted on SAM.gov from 03 December 2025 to 18 December 2025 with no responses received. To date, no other sources have written to express interest in the acquisition. To date, no other sources have written to express an interest.

5 NOV 2024

11. Technical Certification:

I certify the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Christopher V. Rose Veterinary Support Group (VSG) Facility Manager

USAISR

12. Requirements Certification:

I certify the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Christopher V. Rose Veterinary Support Group (VSG) Facility Manager

USAISR

6 NOV 2024

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination:

I hereby determine the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based on price analysis. Certified cost or pricing data is not required per FAR 15.403-1(b)(3).

Patrick K. Harris Contracting Officer

DHACA

14. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Patrick K. Harris Contracting Officer

DHACA