A15_Brand_Name_Justification_AUG2024.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

CONTRACTING OPERATIONS - CENTRAL

1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240

Justification for Brand Name Products

Date: Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Project: SUPPLY OF A TRIMBLE R12I SURVEY UNIT AND ACCESSORIES

1. Identifications

a. Agency: National Park Service – Glacier National Park

b. Contracting Office: IMR

2. Description of the action being approved:

The National Park Service (NPS) shall be soliciting for Trimble R12i, Trimble TSC7, and accessories. The documents included with the solicitation call for specific brand name products that are peculiar to one manufacturer. This written justification provides approval for limiting competition to the listed brand name products as authorized by the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

3. Description of supplies and services:

The Trimble R12i GNSS receiver, combined with the TSC7 Controller and essential accessories, offers a comprehensive and advanced surveying solution. The R12i features Trimble ProPoint™ GNSS technology for enhanced positioning accuracy, Trimble TIP tilt compensation for precise data capture even when tilted, and multi-constellation support including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou. It also boasts CenterPoint RTX technology for real-time centimeter-level accuracy in remote areas, and a rugged design for harsh field conditions. The TSC7 Controller, with its large 7-inch touchscreen, Windows 10 OS, ergonomic design, robust connectivity options, and long battery life, maximizes the capabilities of the R12i. Essential accessories include a lightweight carbon fiber range pole, an external battery kit for extended field sessions, a protective carrying case, a high-performance GNSS antenna, versatile mounting brackets and clamps, and necessary charging and data cables. Together, these components provide a high-precision, reliable, and user-friendly solution for professional surveyors and geospatial professionals working in diverse and challenging environments.

4. Authority:

a. 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1): Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

b. FAR Part 11.105: The Brand Name products are essential to the Park’s requirements, and market research indicates other companies’ similar products do not meet and cannot be modified to meet the agency’s needs.

c. FAR 6.302-1: The use of the name brand products are essential to the Park’s requirements, thereby precluding consideration of a product manufactured by another company.

5. The description of the product’s unique qualifications or the unique nature of the acquisition:

The Trimble R12i GNSS receiver represents the industry leading GNSS technology, featuring Trimble ProPoint™ for enhanced positioning accuracy, even in challenging environments. Its unique Trimble TIP tilt compensation technology allows precise data capture without the need to hold the receiver perfectly vertical, streamlining field operations.

Supporting all major GNSS constellations, including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou, the R12i ensures performance and improved satellite visibility. The integrated CenterPoint RTX technology provides real-time centimeter-level accuracy, making it ideal for backcountry use where traditional corrections may be unavailable. Advanced signal management capabilities, rugged and durable design, and seamless integration with Trimble's survey software enhance productivity and data accuracy. Its user-friendly interface simplifies operation, and Trimble's commitment to innovation ensures the R12i remains future-proof, making it the ideal choice for our surveying and geospatial data collection needs.

6. Efforts to obtain competition:

a. Efforts to ensure offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable:

An RFI/sources sought was posted to GSA Advantage to find if any other brand item had the same/similar capabilities.

No responses were received.

b. Presolicitation notice per FAR 5.2:

Exception at FAR Part 5.202(a)(6) applies as this is an order in accordance with FAR PART 8 procedures.

7. Determination that costs will be fair & reasonable:

The determination that the costs associated with the acquisition of the Trimble R12i GNSS receiver will be made by comparing the offered price to the list price on the GSA schedule.

8. Description of the market research conducted:

To verify that no other products can meet the Park’s needs and that no other products could be modified to meet those needs, a research process was conducted. This process involved a market analysis of current GNSS receivers from leading manufacturers . Each product was evaluated against the specific requirements set forth by the Park, including advanced positioning accuracy, reliability in challenging environments, tilt compensation, multi-constellation support, and real-time centimeter-level accuracy in backcountry areas.

The Trimble R12i was identified as the only GNSS receiver that integrates all these essential features, particularly its Trimble ProPoint™ technology for enhanced accuracy, Trimble TIP for tilt compensation, and CenterPoint RTX for real-time accuracy in remote areas. Furthermore, consultations with industry experts and technical reviews of potential alternatives confirmed that while other receivers offered some of these features, none could provide the comprehensive suite of capabilities needed without significant modifications.

Attempts to identify potential modifications to alternative products revealed that achieving the required performance and feature set would involve custom development, resulting in prohibitive costs and extended timelines. Additionally, such modifications could not guarantee the same level of integration, reliability, and futureproofing offered by the Trimble R12i.

Consequently, the research conclusively determined that the Trimble R12i is uniquely qualified to meet the Park’s needs without requiring costly and time-consuming modifications to other products.

9. Other facts supporting other than full & open competition:

a. Reason why documents suitable for full & open competition have not been developed:

The specific operational and technical requirements of the Park can only be met by the Trimble R12i GNSS receiver.

Through comprehensive market research, it was determined that the Trimble R12i uniquely integrates critical features such as Trimble ProPoint™ technology for enhanced accuracy, Trimble TIP for precise tilt compensation, multi-constellation support, and CenterPoint RTX for real-time centimeter-level accuracy in remote areas. No other products on the market offer this combination of features without requiring significant modifications, which would introduce additional costs, delays, and potential risks.

Given these unique requirements, the development of documents for full and open competition would be impractical and inefficient. It would necessitate either compromising essential performance criteria or specifying extensive and costly custom modifications to other products, neither of which are viable options. Therefore, to ensure the Park’s needs are met effectively and without unnecessary expenditure or delays, a sole-source procurement approach was determined to be the most appropriate course of action.