A130 Sole Source JA FAR 13.501 (ARI Scanner Maintenance) REDACTED.pdf

JUN 2023

Sole Source Justification and Approval Under FAR 13.501

1. Contracting Activity: Army Contracting Command – New Jersey

2. Description of Action: This action requests approval for a new purchase order. The contract type is firm-fixed-price (FFP), utilizing Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDTE) funds. There are no sharing or ceiling arrangements.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: On behalf of the Army Research Institute (ARI), the Army Contracting Command – New Jersey has a requirement for Scantron OMR imaging scanner (Model iNSIGHT 150) hardware maintenance services, including the scanner, its auxiliary transport printer, and controller hardware. The place of performance is ARI, located at 6000 6th Street, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5610. The contract will cover a base period of 12 months with one 12-month option period.

4. Authority Cited: 41 U.S. Code 1901, as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) "Sole source (including brand-name) acquisitions under the authority of the simplified acquisition procedures for certain commercial items."

5. Reason for Authority Cited: ARI requires hardware maintenance services for its iNSIGHT™ 150 scanner, used in support of mission-critical data collection for Army readiness assessments. is the only source reasonably available to provide this maintenance. According to a letter from they are the sole authorized provider of hardware maintenance and support services for iNSIGHT™ and OpScan® brand scanners manufactured by SCN Worldwide d/b/a Scantron. The proprietary design of the iNSIGHT™ 150 scanner and its internal hardware components limit maintenance to the original equipment manufacturer’s authorized service provider. No other vendor is authorized by the manufacturer to perform maintenance on these scanners.

Use of an unauthorized vendor would:

• Risk damaging the equipment

• Void any remaining manufacturer warranties

• Compromise the reliability of the scanner’s operation

The iNSIGHT™ 150 scanner is capable of processing over 7,000 sheets per hour and plays a central role in ARI’s ongoing operations. Without authorized maintenance, scanner failure would:

• Delay critical Army readiness assessments

• Disrupt operational timelines

• Potentially require replacement of the unit at a cost of

Based on this information, the requirement meets the conditions of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i)—only one source is reasonably available. The Government intends to award a sole-source contract to to meet ARI’s continued operational needs.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: A notice of intent to sole source was publicized on SAM.gov.

However, given the unique circumstances of this requirement, is the only known source capable of providing the required maintenance services. No exception under FAR 5.202 applies.

CUI

6 JUN 2023

APPROVAL

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of maintenance services for a Scantron OMR Imaging Scanner (Model iNSIGHT 150), including its auxiliary transport printer and controller hardware, for a total dollar value of $33,336.78, on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901, as implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) (Sole source acquisitions under simplified acquisition procedures for commercial items), subject to availability of funds and provided that the services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.