A15_-_Brand_Name_Justification_-_Termite_Bait_Stations.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: 14 May 2026

Project: CAVE: Termite Bait Stations

1. Identifications

a. Agency: National Park Service

b. Contracting Office: NR Major Acquisition Buying Office

2. Description of the action being approved:

The National Park Service (NPS) at Carlsbad Caverns National Park (CAVE) has a requirement to purchase and install termite bait stations. 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 contractor shall furnish all labor, materials, equipment, and supervision necessary to install, monitor, and maintain a Recruit® HD (Sentricon) termite bait system at CAVE.

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 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:

The Government requires the Sentricon termite bait system with Recruit HD bait because it provides a contained, low-impact termite treatment method suitable for the sensitive cave and karst environment at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Unlike conventional liquid soil termiticides, the enclosed bait station system minimizes the potential for pesticide movement through soil or groundwater and reduces the risk of contamination to the underlying cavern system. The Recruit® HD bait uses noviflumuron for targeted termite colony elimination without trenching, drilling, or large-volume chemical applications, making it uniquely suited to protect historic structures while meeting National Park Service environmental protection requirements.

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. Presolicitation notice per FAR 5.2:

For acquisitions over $25,000 a presolicitation notice shall be posted on the Government’s Point of Entry, sam.gov unless the exception noted at FAR Part 5.202(a)(13) applies.

7. Determination that costs will be fair & reasonable:

Price fairness and reasonableness will be determined through competition and comparison of vendor quotations in accordance with FAR Part 13 procedures.

8. Description of the market research conducted:

A sources sought notice was posted to GSA eBuy on 13 April 2026 with a closing date of 22 April 2026. The notice resulted in one interested vendor response. Additional market research included review of similar National Park Service requirements and the SBA Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS), which identified numerous potentially capable small business vendors. Based on the market research conducted, the Contracting Officer determined there is a reasonable expectation of receiving two or more quotations from responsible small businesses through a total small business set-aside solicitation posted on SAM.gov.

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

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

Documents suitable for full and open competition were not developed because the National Park Service requires the Sentricon system with Recruit HD bait due to the unique environmental protection requirements associated with the sensitive cave and karst environment at Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Similar non-brand name termite treatment systems, including conventional liquid soil termiticides and alternative bait systems, do not provide the same contained application method or reduced risk of pesticide migration through soil and groundwater. The enclosed Sentricon bait station system minimizes the potential for contamination of the underlying cavern system while allowing effective termite colony elimination without trenching, drilling, or large-volume chemical applications around historic structures.

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

Failure to procure the required Sentricon system with Recruit HD bait could increase the risk of pesticide movement into the cave and karst environment beneath Carlsbad Caverns National Park, potentially resulting in environmental damage to sensitive natural resources and increased regulatory or remediation costs to the Government. Use of alternative treatment methods may also require more invasive application techniques around historic structures, increasing the risk of impacts to cultural resources and resulting in additional repair, mitigation, or preservation costs. In addition, ineffective termite colony elimination could lead to continued structural damage, increased maintenance costs, and the need for repeated treatment efforts.

10. Interested Sources:

Market research conducted through GSA eBuy and the SBA Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) identified multiple potentially capable small business sources for this requirement.

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

The Government will continue to conduct market research for future requirements, including review of commercially available termite treatment systems and outreach to small business vendors, to determine whether additional products or services can meet the National Park Service’s environmental protection and operational requirements. If equivalent products are identified that provide the same level of environmental protection for sensitive cave and karst resources, future requirements may be competed without a brand-name restriction.

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:

(Signature)________________________________________ (Date) _______________________

(Print Name): VALERIE MORGAN

Biologist, Carlsbad Caverns National Park

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

(Signature) _______________________________________ (Date) _______________________

(Type Name): KIARA STEWART

Contracting Officer