A12 JOFOC.pdf

USDA, AMS, Livestock and Poultry Program 1400 Independence Avenue, SW STOP 0249

Washington, DC 20250-0249

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR

ACQUISITIONS UNDER THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

1. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b)(1) and FAR 12 -acquisition of commercial items, I hereby determine that the commercial items - USDA Government Membership in the American National Standards Institute (for the period 1/01/2026-12/31/2026), International Activity Assessment for Technical Advisory Group Administration of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee (TC) 34/Subcommittee (SC) 5, ISO TC 34/SC 6, ISO TC 34/SC 17 and three related program specific fees listed on ANSI 10/23/2025 Invoice INV-113137-R1C2M5 (annex 1), are available from only one source, and competition is precluded for the reasons indicated below. There are no substitutes available.

2. This acquisition is restricted to the following source:

Company: American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Company Address: 1180 Avenue of the Americas, 10th Floor New York, NY 10036

Company Point of Contact and Phone Number: Penny Kokias Program Administrator, Membership Tel: 212-642-4926 Email: pkokias@ansi.org

3. The USDA Membership in ANSI for the TAG Administration of ISO TC 34/SC 5, ISO TC 34/SC 6, ISO TC 34/SC 17, and an international activity assessment covers accreditation and annual fees for three USDA AMS L&P sponsored U.S. technical advisory groups that are committees accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for participation in ISO standardization activities for 2026. The three ISO technical advisory committees develop U.S. national positions in the International Standardization Activities of ISO respectively for Dairy (SC 5); Meat, Poultry, Fish, Eggs, and their products (SC 6) and Management Systems for Food Safety (SC 17). The AMS Livestock and Poultry Program horizontally covers US national standardization for these products with other USDA divisions, programs, and agencies as necessary. AMS is the only USDA ANSI member and coordinates US National standardization with ISO international standards to reduce barriers to trade. The membership and fees include the ANSI appointment of the USDA as the U.S.

TAG Administrator organization for three US TAGs. The administrator is responsible for TAG management and ensuring compliance with ANSI TAG procedures.

http://agnis/AMS%20Logo/AMS%20Final%20Color%20Text%20on%20Right%2011-19-09.jpg

Through its membership, USDA AMS will continue to have access to all working documents related to the ISO standards developed by the committees as well as all liaison reports.

Members are eligible for nomination as U.S. experts to international ISO committee meetings and may review, comment and vote on all standards under development. The standards developed within ISO TC 34/SC 5, ISO TC 34/SC 6 and TC 34/SC 17 are critical to the programmatic goals of the USDA AMS and the USDA. ANSI has various costs, including corporate taxes, office equipment and rental, administrative staff salary/benefits, and web site maintenance costs, which are all provided by membership dues.

4. Sole source determination is based on the need to update and renew a government membership to ANSI for one year, because ANSI is the sole ISO member and the only US liaison to ISO TC 34/SC 5, ISO TC 34/SC 6 and TC 34/SC 17. Participation as a voting member in ISO TC 34/SC 5, ISO TC 34/SC 6 and TC 34/SC 17 standards development committees and working groups requires an ANSI membership.

5. Check and fill in all that are applicable:

The material or service must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with existing systems presently installed. The current equipment is <insert description of current equipment>, and the new item/service must coordinate, connect, or interface with the existing system by <insert description of how the new item/service must coordinate or interface>.

A patent, copyright, proprietary data, or licensing agreement limits competition. The proprietary data are described as follows:

These are "direct replacement" parts/components for existing equipment.

Other information to support a sole-source buy:

ISO is a voluntary organization whose members are recognized authorities on standards, each one representing one country. Membership and administration of ISO TAGs for TC 34/SC 5, TC 34/SC 6 and TC 34/SC 17 are offered only through ANSI the sole US ISO member; the USDA AMS contribution will ensure that the United States remains in a leadership position for the Dairy; Meat, Poultry Fish, Eggs and their products ISO; and Management Systems for Food Safety committees, respectively TC 34/SC 5, TC 34/SC 6 and

TC 34/SC 17.

CERTIFICATION

I certify that statements checked and information provided above are complete and correct to the best of my knowledge. In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). The facts of this acquisition preclude the use of full and open competition.

______________________________ ___1/12/2026_ Date Project Officer

Date Contracting Officer

Annex 1

INV-113137-R1C2M5