A13 - 2022 07 22 - 75D301-22-Q-75376 - SSJ (Redacted).pdf

Rev. 5/14/19

D. Justification:

1. The justification for this non-competitive action is: (NOTE: Must select only ONE of the listed justifications for other than full and open competition and fully support the justification in the following paragraphs. Please delete this note prior to submitting the justification.)

☒ In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), “only one source [is] reasonably available” which states that, “For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. (i) 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). (ii) Where a single source is identified to provide a portion of a purchase because that portion of the purchase specifies a particular brand-name item, the documentation in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section only applies to the portion of the purchase requiring brand-name item. The documentation should state it is covering only the portion of the acquisition which is brand- name.”

☐ Urgency

☐ Exclusive licensing agreements/Proprietary data

☐ Brand name required

☐ Industrial mobilization

☒ Other (e.g., compatibility, space issues, continuity, etc.)

☐ In accordance with FAR 8.405-6 “Limiting Sources” which states that, “the only circumstances that may justify the action are – (A) An urgent and compelling need exists, and following the procedures would result in unacceptable delays; (B) Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized; or (C) In the interest of economy and efficiency, the new work is a logical follow-up to an original Federal Supply Schedule order provided that the original order was placed in accordance with the applicable Federal Supply Schedule ordering procedures. The original BPA must not have been previously issued under sole-source or limited-sources procedures.”

☐ Urgency

☐ Only One Source

☐ Logical Follow Up

☐ Brand name required

2. Other facts supporting sole source procurement:

a. What can this product/service do that other products/services cannot do?

The Perkin Elmer Health Sciences Zephyr G3 NGS Automated Liquid Handler instrument is specifically designed to process DNA library preparations, perform nucleic acid cleanup steps, and basic molecular biology tasks at small to medium throughput levels. Compared to other liquid handling instruments on the open market, 1. The Zephyr G3 instrument is extremely flexible and highly programmable by both the end user and the Manufacturer. 2. The instrument comes with an integrated UV light, which is a cost savings to the Government, as additional purchases for equipment accessories are not required. 3. The instrument is compatible with consumables from many different manufacturers and/or suppliers, whereas other laboratory equipment uses proprietary technology that is only available from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and may not integrate with laboratory equipment currently in use. 4. The instrument fits in the small confines of the laboratory area that’s available, which measures no more than 32 inches wide, 25 inches deep, and 30 inches high. Instruments produced by other manufacturers are too large to fit in the available physical laboratory space. 5. The Zypher G3 instrument can also process 96 samples at one time with the supplied pipetting head, which is not a widely supported feature, but is a requirement because processing 96 samples at one time provides increased laboratory efficiencies resulting from decreased costs associated with smaller amounts of consumable and reagent waste produced from one large instrument run compared to multiple small instrument runs, decreased total run time for one larger run compared to multiple smaller runs which also decreases wear and tear on the instrument, and also decreases personnel hands-on time which minimizes the opportunity for human error, and a larger format also increases sequencing library consistency across samples. 6. The Zypher G3 is an enclosed unit that can be isolated from contaminants, and also reduces the risk of physical harm to the end user.

b. What other products/services were considered and why did they not meet the need?

A wide variety liquid handling instruments were considered from different Manufacturers; however, none of these instruments met or supported our laboratory needs for a compact instrument that fits in a laboratory space measuring no more than 32 inches wide, 25 inches deep, and 30 inches high is a closed unit with a 96 well head, integrated UV light, that is highly programmable with included scripts, and can be used with many brands of consumables. The following platforms were considered and found to be unsatisfactory due to the aforementioned deficiencies. The ThermoFisher AB Library Builder only supports the processing of 12 samples at a time. The Eppendorf epMotion 5073 only supports processing of 8 samples at one time and is only compatible with Eppendorf branded consumables which increases cost to the Government and decreases possible instrument applications due to lack of alternative, equivalent consumables from competing Manufacturers. The Tecan EVO does not ship standard with a UV light to prevent carryover contamination nor a 96 well pipetting head. The Beckman Coulter Biomek is not equipped with the software programs that will be needed in our laboratory workflows, and scripts for our methods are not available. The Hamilton NGS Star physical footprint is too large for out dedicated laboratory space. The Agilent Bravo has an open box design that does not isolate the workspace to prevent contamination and risk of injury to the user.

3. Program Office efforts to seek potential offerors:

The Government performed Internet and online catalog searches (in the FisherScientific and VWR Vendor online catalogs) for Vendors and Mmanufacturers, who carry and sell laboratory liquid handling instruments, using search terms “liquid handler”, “automated liquid handler”, “liquid handling instrument”, and “liquid handler robot”, with specifications that may meet our laboratory space requirements of no more than 32 inches wide, 25 inches deep, and 30 inches high, those that were compatible with our laboratory performance parameters for sample preparation of 96 samples in a single run using a 96-well pipetting head, software support, protective instrument enclosure, integrated UV light for decontamination, and wide compatibility with different brands of consumables, as detailed in sections 2a and 2b.

When the Government requires new and/or additional laboratory equipment, it will perform market research to determine if there are new Vendors in the market, enabling a competitive acquisition method.

E. Program Office Certification:

I have reviewed this sole source justification and certify the justification is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Center/Institute/Office COR/Program Official Name/Title:

Center/Institute/Office COR/Program Official Signature:

Certification Date:

F. Contracting Office Certification:

I have fully relied on the information provided herein and hereby certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief:

Contracting Officer Name: Lee Catherine Kennedy

Contracting Officer Signature:

Certification Date:

vhg0 Text Box 22 July 2022