A16_JOFOC_-_EIFO_eDNA_1.docx

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

eDNA Processing

In accordance with FAR Part 12, this memorandum justifies soliciting a single source procurement herein.

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity:

Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Eastern Interior Field Office (EIFO)

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved: Single source procurement for eDNA processing services to Oregon State University (OSU) to be issued as a firm fixed price commercial service contract.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value):

OSUs lab will undergo metabarcoding, selecting a proper primer set to test for fishes found in sample. Annotating primers: refining assays and determining taxonomic resolution, identifying mismatches or gaps among sequenced species using a reference data sets. Targeted assays will be used to highlight sensitive and rare species such as Lamprey. Sequencing and bioinformatics, which varies among processing labs and drives the confidence level for taxonomic assignments. OSU will need to report these confidence levels which is critical when creating a defensible design with results. Lastly, a QA/QC process will be incorporated and reported.

The estimated total value of this acquisition is $34,320.00 (base, plus one option period).

4. A description of the Market Research (MR) conducted and the results or a statement of the reason MR was not conducted:

Market research shows costs to be much higher to acquire a coarser taxonomic resolution. By contrast, other vendors do not identify some Alaska specific species given the challenging nature of detection and identification. Additionally, some vendors require their customers to use their filter products rather than other filter products and trained on the collection, suggesting BLM would have to pay additional costs for supplies and training when it’s not necessary.

5. An identification of the Statutory Authority permitting other than full and open competition: The authority permitting the single source consideration is FAR 12.102, 41 U.S.C. 1901.

6. Determination by the contracting officer that the order represents the best value: Commercial marketplace pricing is considered fair and reasonable because it reflects market-driven values, competition, and transparency.

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION:

I, hereby, certify that this justification for other than full and open competition is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief:

/s/ Lisa Brune Contracting Officer’s Signature

June 28, 2026 Date