A17_Thermo_iCAP_Sole_Source_Justification_Redacted_1.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR ACQUISITION UNDER THE

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

1. Contracting Agency and Activity. The Department of the Interior (DOI), United States Geological Survey (USGS), Upper Midwest Water Science Center plans to contract on a sole source basis. This document sets forth the justification and approval as required by FAR 6.103-1;

only one responsible source, and no other supplies or services, will satisfy the Agency’s requirements.

2. Nature of Action Being Approved. This will be a new contract for maintenance and repair of ICAP RQ Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometer from Thermo Electron North America LLC.

3. Description of Supplies or Services. United States Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center requires maintenance and repair on ICAP RQ Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS, SN: ICAPRQ0040). The program office requiring the work is the Upper Midwest Water Science Center in Wisconsin.

4. Estimated Dollar Value.

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole-source basis under the authority of FAR 6.103-1, as there is only one responsible source, and no other supplies or services will satisfy the agency requirement.

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5. The use of Thermo Electron North America LLC is required because preventive and corrective maintenance on the iCAP RQ Quadrupole ICP‑MS demands specialized, manufacturer‑specific training that is only provided to Thermo‑certified service engineers. This proprietary training is not commercially available to other vendors, and untrained service attempts could result in instrument damage requiring costly replacement components and repairs. The expertise needed to safely and effectively service this system is beyond the capabilities of USGS personnel and any other commercial providers currently available, making Thermo Electron North America LLC the only source capable of meeting the agency’s technical and reliability requirements.

• Technical Necessity: Servicing the iCAP RQ Quadrupole ICP-MS requires access to proprietary diagnostic software, calibration procedures, and manufacturer-specific tuning protocols that are not commercially available. Only Thermo-certified engineers possess the specialized training needed to safely service the instrument and maintain performance to OEM specifications.

• Unique Features: The iCAP RQ incorporates exclusive design elements—including its QCell technology, low-mass cut-off controls, specialized cone assemblies, and OEM calibration algorithms—that can only be properly maintained using Thermo-authorized methods and parts. These unique components and service requirements make Thermo Electron North America LLC the only source capable of providing fully compliant, technically sound support.

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR ACQUISITION UNDER THE

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

7. Other Information. None

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

Market research was conducted to determine whether other qualified vendors could provide maintenance and repair services for the iCAP RQ Quadrupole ICP-MS. This included reviewing third-party laboratory instrument service providers, assessing commercially available ICP-MS maintenance capabilities, and evaluating potential vendors based on required technical qualifications, access to proprietary diagnostic tools, OEM parts, and manufacturer-specific training. Although several independent service providers offer general ICP-MS repair services, none possess the Thermo-certified training, proprietary software access, or authorization to service the iCAP RQ Quadrupole ICP-MS to manufacturer specifications. No alternate sources were identified that can meet the specialized technical requirements necessary to ensure safe, compliant, and reliable maintenance of this instrument (TAB A14 Market Research Summary of Service Differences). Therefore, we cannot identify another competitive source that can provide a service contract to maintain a ICAP RQ Quadrupole ICP-MS due to the specialized nature of the instrument at this time.

9. Future Plans to Permit Competition. While Thermo Electron North America LLC is currently the only vendor with the proprietary training and authorized access required to service the iCAP RQ Quadrupole ICP-MS, the USGS will continue to monitor the market to identify any future vendors that may acquire the necessary qualifications, certifications, or manufacturer authorization. If additional capable sources emerge, they will be evaluated for potential competition in future service requirements.