A16_J___A_FR_1.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR ACQUISITION UNDER THE

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITON THRESHOLD

PR 0040538349

1. Contracting Agency and Activity. The Department of the Interior, United States

Geological Survey, plans to contract on a sole source basis. This document sets forth the justification and approval as required by FAR 13.106-1.

2. Nature of Action Being Approved. This is a new firm fixed price contract for items described under Number 3 to Malvern Panalytical Inc.

3. Description of Supplies or Services. The Geologic Hazards Science Center of the U.S.

Geological Survey requires a field spectroradiometer to rapidly and non-invasively measure the spectral reflectance of rock and soils in the field. This capability is necessary because we are tasked with the development of new and improved earthquake-induced ground failure models, and soil/rock physical and mechanical properties can be inferred through multi and hyperspectral reflectance. These properties can be measured via airborne and satellite sensors, as well as handheld field units. The field units are essential for developing correlations between rock and soils for which the material properties are known with spectral reflectance. These correlations can then be used for airborne and satellite sensors for mapping the material properties that are essential to the U.S. Geological Survey Ground

Failure earthquake product.

4. Estimated Dollar Value.

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR 13.106-1.

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5. The specific instrument for which we are requesting a non-competitive procurement is the Malvern Panalytical Analytical Sepctral

Devices (ASD) Brand FieldSpec 4. This instrument has a spectral range of 350 nm to 2500 nm and a spectral resolution of 3 nm at 700 nm and 6 nm at 1400/2100 nm, which provides the range and resolution required for mapping material properties.

There are five (5) unique features that the ASD Brand FieldSpec 4 exhibits that are required to meet USGS minimum needs: (1) The ASD brand FieldSpec 4 is the only commercially available spectroradiometer with a factory installed fiberoptic cable that goes directly to the dispersion optics (this is not a detachable jumper cable). This design ensures optimal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), signal stability, and wavelength and radiometric calibration stability, which are all essential for accurately developing correlations with soil and rock material properties. (2) The ASD brand FieldSpec 4 portable spectroradiometer is the only one that also includes ASD proprietary ‘fiber checker’ hardware and software for checking the performance of the fiberoptic cable. Routine checking of fiberoptics integrity ensures accurate data collection. (3) The ASD FieldSpec 4 spectroradiometer fiberoptic cable includes a moving strain relief, steel coil jacket, and built-in Kevlon fiber to protect the fiber optics. This instrument protection is essential for the rugged field work required. (4) The

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR ACQUISITION UNDER THE

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITON THRESHOLD

PR 0040538349

ASD brand FieldSpec 4 is the only spectroradiometer that uses a combination of silicon photo-diode array for the region 350 – 1000 nm and single pixel SWIR detectors and scanning reflective gratings for no defective pixels, which is critical for obtaining the highest quality spectral profiles of materials, required for creating correlations to material physical and mechanical properties. (5) The ASD brand FieldSpec 4 uses ASD Proprietary Driftlock

(hardware and software system) for continuous update and subtraction of systematic dark offset. Without Driftlock, small changes in dark offset would affect the lowest signal points of the detector.

7. List of Other Interested Sources. None.

8. The Efforts to Identify Additional Sources Including the Market Research Conducted.

Market research indicates there are other manufacturers of field spectroradiometers, however, none meet the Government’s minimum needs described in paragraph 6. Competition is not available among resellers.

The Contracting Officer issued a sources sought posted on SAM.gov seeking firms capable of providing a product to meet the Government’s minimum needs, however, after a detailed review of a response received, it was determined the vendor did not meet the minimum need.

Lastly, Malvern Panalytical verified that they do not have any authorized resellers of this equipment among whom competition could be obtained.

9. Future Plans to Permit Competition. When more than one vendor offers a solution in a compatible configuration, sources will be competed.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) considers employee signatures to be Personal Protected Information, and therefore all employee signatures have been redacted. By posting this document, the Contracting Officer attests all appropriate signatures have been obtained.