A15_Brand_Name_Justification.pdf

Date: 02 April 2025

United States Department of the Interior

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

CONTRACTING OPERATIONS EAST

CONTRACTING PROGRAM

Justification for Brand Name Products

Project: RFP 140P4225Q0017 PETE Ground Penetrating Radar

1. Identifications

a. Agency: National Park Service

b. Contracting Office: CON OPS East Major Acquisition Buying Office (Philadelphia)

2. Description of the action being approved:

The National Park Service (NPS) shall be soliciting RFP 140P4225Q0017. 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:

Purchase Utility Scan Dual Frequency Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) system to support non-invasive archeological investigations for the Enslaved Field Laborers Project at Whitehill Plantation (PMIS 328966). This acquisition would also serve as a long-term investment in resource and facility management and survey at Petersburg National Battlefield and other NPS units. The utility scan and dual frequency functions of this equipment allow for the identification of subsurface anomalies at varying depths and resolutions, including archeological features and sites, as well as underground utilities and infrastructure.

The park has an identified need for both. This purchase would include the acquisition of a GPR cart, antenna, and proprietary software.

4. Authority:

a. 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(l): 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 Government'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 Government'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:

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) systems are one of several non-invasive tools that have been utilized in geophysical surveys to identify archeological resources and sites located underground. These systems generate radar pulses to image the subsurface and can detect reflected signals from underground structures and features. These systems can have a variety of applications including geological prospecting, locating buried utility lines, delineating burial sites, and identifying archeological features.

Dual-frequency antennas (300 and 800 MHz) allow these systems to survey for shallow and deep targets underground simultaneously, allowing for efficient data collection. This antenna is ideal for locating the position and depth of metallic and non-metallic objects, archeological features, and underground infrastructure.

The Enslaved Field Laborers Project (PMIS 328966) offers an opportunity to understand and interpret the daily life and experiences of African Americans who lived at Whitehill Plantation in Petersburg, Virginia during the nineteenth century. This project seeks to examine how enslaved people created homes and families, asserted their humanity and dignity, and sought to survive and resist the institution of slavery. To accomplish this, the project will conduct archeological investigations to determine the location of the enslaved quarters and related features. To date, few archeological features have been located below the plow zone that pervades this site. Geophysical survey will help to locate a cemetery for enslaved workers located in the vicinity of the site, as well as additional archeological features and structures that will help delineate the enslaved workers’ village and inform targeted archeological excavations at the site.

While the acquisition of GPR system would serve the immediate needs and goals of the Enslaved Field Laborers Project (PMIS 328966), this system would also support a variety of applications that would be beneficial to Petersburg National Battlefield, as well as other NPS units in Virginia. This may include, but are not limited to, additional geophysical surveys of archeological sites, delineating unmarked burials across battlefield and domestic cultural landscapes, and locating unmarked utilities and other underground infrastructure in the park.

Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc. (GSSI) is one of only a few companies that offers a dual-frequency GPR antenna (e.g., MALA, Leica), and of these companies, GSSI is the only manufacturer and vendor that supplies American-made products.

The Northeast Regional office (Northeast Archeological Resources Program) uses GSSI manufactured equipment and software. To guarantee smooth collaboration, cost and equipment sharing, and development of standard operating procedures, it is critical that the park utilize the same manufacturer as the geophysical experts in the regional office.

In consideration of the facts as stated above, it is the NPS and public's best interests to provide for Other Than Full and Open Competition under this effort.

6. Efforts to obtain competition:

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

For acquisitions over $25,000 the solicitation will be issued on the Government's Point of Entry, sam.gov.

b. Pre-solicitation notice per FAR 5.2:

For acquisitions over $25,000 a pre-solicitation notice shall be posted on the Government's Point of Entry, sam.gov unless the exception noted at FAR Part 5.202(a)(l3) applies.

7. Determination that costs will be fair & reasonable:

The price of the GSSI Utility Scan Dual Frequency Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) system compared against similar systems from past procurements, throughout the National Park Service.

8. Description of the market research conducted:

GSSI is one of only a few companies that offers a dual-frequency GPR antenna (e.g., MALA, Leica), and of these companies, GSSI is the only manufacturer and vendor that supplies American-made products. The Northeast Archeological Resources Program uses GSSI GPR equipment and software. To guarantee smooth collaboration between software and equipment workflows and standard operating procedures, it is critical that the park utilize the same manufacturer (i.e., GSSI) as the geophysical experts in the regional office.

Some companies lease this specific GPR system (GSSI UtilityScan DF), offering daily and weekly rates for equipment rentals:

AllGPR - $65/day or $325/week*, plus $50 prep fee and shipping costs *This is just for the digital antenna, does not include all-in-one system package needed for the park’s survey purposes.

Exploration Instruments - $210/day*, plus $200 prep fee *Based on these calculations, these equate to approximately $6,300/month

Based on these leasing options, it is more cost effective and beneficial for the park to own this equipment outright, as the use-life of a standard GPR system is approximately 10 years.

Please see Ground Penetrating Radar Equipment | Utility Scan DF System | GSSI.

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

It is critical that the equipment and software acquired by the park be compatible with the GPR equipment owned and operated by geophysical specialists from the regional office to best facilitate training, technical support, and data integration. That equipment is carried only by a single vendor: GSSI. This vendor is the only manufacturer of this equipment that produces American made GPR carts and software.

GSSI also offers unlimited in-person training at their headquarters to customers during the Extended Warranty period of purchased GPR systems, as well as unlimited access to online resources and free training webinars. In conjunction with technical support from geophysical experts in the regional office, the government has many resources to support training for NPS staff that utilize this equipment. In addition, the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for this acquisition has received formal and informal training provided by the National Park Service on this specific GSSI GPR system and software.

a. Data, estimated costs or other rationale as to the extent or harm to the Government:

The purchasing of another Ground Penetrating Radar would have addition hidden and training staff to operate the new system.

10. Interested Sources:

Please see

11. Actions to remove barriers to competition in the future for similar acquisitions:

The government will continue to promote competition in the future, with the use of full and open competition to small businesses.

12. Certifications:

Technical / Requirements Certification:

I certify that any supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel (i.e. verifying the

Government's minimum needs or schedule requirements or other rationale for other than full and open competition) and which form a basis for the justification have been certified as complete and accurate:

COR Signature: ______________________________________

Contracting Officer Signature: _____________________________________________

Date 2025.01.14122013-08'00' (Date) an

(Type or Print Name):

Up to $50,000

I certify that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief:

(Signature)

(Type or Print Name):

Contracting Officer