AG-3C78-P-16-0189_SOLE_SOURCE_CONSERVATION_DEMO_REDACTED_NOTICE.pdf

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JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR

SOLE SOURCE PRODUCT

OVER THE MICRO-PURCHASE

ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

I. CONTRACTING ACTIVITY: The contracting organization responsible for this action is the USDA- NRCS, NSDT Acquisition Team 3, 4407 Bland Road, Raleigh, NC 27609. The contracting action is a Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition; FAR 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements Citations: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) or 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1).

II. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING APPROVED. This contractual action is for the sole source acquisition of conservation rainfall simulator devices and transport containers used in conjunction with USDA-NRCS educational outreach programs. This is a multi-state acquisition for USDA-NRCS NC Soil Science Lab, Kentucky, and Iowa. The devices were engineered and created by Conservation Demonstrations (CD) Inc, Salina, Kansas.

III. A DESCRIPTION OE THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE

AGENCY'S NEEDS (INCLUDING THE ESTIMATED VALUE).

CLIN MFR ITEM QTY DEST REQ

Overall estimated value of this acquisition is $137,626.91

CLIN PN

STAT

E ITEM QTY PRICE Extended

1 NC Travel-Lite Rainfall Simulator, 5 pan set with Cases 12 $4,499.00 $53,988.00 2 NC Expo Set of 2 (Large) 6"x9" Cutter W/Case Base Pan 10" x 12 3/4"x4" 8 $429.00 $3,861.00

3 SHIPPING NORTH CAROLINA $5,206.41 $5,206.41

4 CD0001BS5 KY

Table, Nozzle Tower, Pressure Reg , 6 Metal trays, Power source and cord adaptors, 75' 3/4" hose, 5 Jars and Hangers and brackets, 5 Funnels, 3 Rain gages

3 $2,826.00 $8,478.00

5 CD00125S KY Infiltration Demo 5 Tray Set - 5 Aluminum catch trays, 5 jars and hanger 3 $599.00 $1,797.00 6 CD0006DP1 KY Set of Upper and Lower display Panels 3 $198.00 $594.00 7 CD0011 FD KY Field Day Unit 65 gal tank, 2 12V 7gpm pumps mounted on a low profile 2 wheel cart 3 $998.00 $2,994.00 8 CD0008SC KY Soil Sample Cutter 3 $329.00 $987.00

9 CD005612T KY

Custom Transport and Storage Unit (66' x 12' Cargo Trailer w/custom cabinets, shelves, hangers and work top, interior paint w/non-skid floor, hitch spare tire rack, solar panel, 7way elec connector, soil buckets, locks and battery

3 $7,169.00 $21,507.00

10 KY Graphics Package Trailer Wrap 3 $1,689.00 $5,067.00

11 CD0001BS5 IA

Table, Nozzle Tower, Pressure Reg, 6 Metal trays, Power source and cord adaptors, 75' 3/4" hose, 5 Jars and Hangers and brackets, 5 Funnels, 3 Rain gauges

2 $2,826.00 $5,652.00

14 CD0006DP1 Set of Upper and Lower display Panels 2 $198.00 $396.00 14 CD0016WCv IA Water Containment w/vac 2 $649.00 $1,298.00

16 CD0008SC IA Soil Sample Cutter for soil pans 2 $329.00 $658.00

17 CD005612T IA

Custom Transport and Storage Unit (6' x 12' Cargo Trailer w/custom cabinets, shelves, hangers and work top, interior paint w/non-skid floor, hitch spare tire rack, solar panel, 7way elec connector, soil buckets, locks and battery

2 $7,169.00 $14,338.00

18 Graphics Package Trailer Wrap 2 $1,689.00 $3,378.00 19 CD0011FD IA Field Day Unit 2 $998.00 $1,996.00 20 CD2001WE IA Wind Erosion Demo w/o Vac 2 $653.00 $1,306.00

22 TRANSPORTATION IOWA 1 $1,651.50 $1,651.50

TOTAL $137,626.91

Infiltration Demo 5 Tray Set - 5 Aluminum catch trays, 5 jars and hanger $599.00 $1,198.00

Expo w/case Set of 2 Expo Display units packed in carrying case $340.00 $680.00

21 CD0019SWQ IA 2 $298.00 $596.00

Soil Quality and Water Movement Demonstration to show how soil quality and texture effects water movement through the soil

15 CD00092ESC IA 2

12 CD00125S IA 2

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IV. THE AUTHORITY AND SUPPORTING RATIONALE: FAR 6.302-1 -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. (a) FAR subpart 13.5 were used in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901 or the authority of 41 U.S.C.

1903.

The Agricultural Act of 2014 is important legislation that provides authorization for services and programs that impact every American and millions of people around the world. The new Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer.

In implementation of the Agriculture Act of 2014, the USDA-NRCS provides educational soil outreach demonstrations to communities including: elementary, high-school, college, and producers. In doing so, highly accurate simulators were developed by Conservation Demonstrations (CD), Inc in conjunction with leading US soil scientists. The rainfall simulators have been developed to provide insight into soil erosion and water run-off based upon soil types and ground cover. The simulators are adaptable to each unique location it will be shipped to since weather patterns and soil conditions vary drastically.

The Conservation Demonstration simulators, such as the oscillating heads and trays, have been engineered to accurately reflect rain size (droplets) and patters for the state in which the simulator would be used. CD has the capability to adjust (on-demand) the simulator to account for unusual weather patterns to accurately predict future impacts of excess rain or wind upon arid ground. In addition to rainfall simulation, the systems can simulate arid climates and accurately demonstrate the impact of winds upon ground lacking vegetation. These systems create awareness in producers, using their actual soil samples, on how to improve both vegetative quality and soil health.

The CD has also developed a methodology for transporting and setting up the simulators that reduces overall manpower requirements and the potential for transport damages. Due to the weight of some of the simulators, the CD has modified standard commercial trailers. These modifications include specialized jigs for holding rainfall simulator parts and for transporting water to trade sites without water available.

The special tooling within the trailer creates a safe environment for transporting the demonstrators risk free.

V. A DETERMINATION BY THE ORDERING ACTIVITY CONTRACTING OFFICER

THAT THE ORDER REPRESENTS THE BEST VALUE

I determine that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

VI. DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED OR A STATEMENT

OF THE REASON MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED.

A market survey was conducted in an attempt to locate other vendors. Several vendors were located but these units were created for use on large scale farms and not as a traveling demonstrator. A workshop for Rainfall Simulators was held in Trier, Germany in 2011 in which many countries provided unique simulators. Page 34 of the proceedings showed large scale scientific demonstrators that (1) were not readily transportable and (2) were not scaleable to those demonstrations warranted under the auspicious of the Agriculture Act. These units were not capable of being transported, assembled, or operated by one individual, as the simulators built by CD. The price to obtain these large units exceeded the budget of the USDA-NRCS and would exceed the operating budget of most soil units to demonstrate (the INRA- ORLEANS France) simulator cost roughly 500EU-2000EU a day to run.

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VII. A STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO

REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS THAT LED TO THE RESTRICTED

CONSIDERATION BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THE SUPPLIES

OR SERVICES IS MADE.

The resulting purchase order will be a Firm Fixed Price purchase order. The NAICS Code is 333318 “Teaching Machines (e.g. flight simulators) manufacturing with a size standard of 1,000 employees.

As of this date, no firms have been located or responded to previous inquiries for accurate, portable rain/wind simulators. The market place will continue to be monitors for scientifically accurate models that can be used to teach the concepts of wind/water erosion and conservation techniques.

VIII. TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION: The attached supporting data was provided by the USDA- NRCS personnel and was used as the basis for this justification. I hereby certify that the information provided is complete and accurate.

Jon Hubbert Assistant State Conservationist – Management and Strategy

USDA - NRCS

210 Walnut Street, Room 693 Des Moines, IA 50309-2180

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION: I hereby certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Steven J Alves Contract Specialist Team 3 Contracting Services Branch Acquisitions, Grants & Agreements Division Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

JON HUBBERT

Digitally signed by JON HUBBERT DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=Department of Agriculture, cn=JON HUBBERT, 0.9.2342.19200300.100.1.1=12001000045248 Date: 2016.07.27 16:36:04 -05'00'

STEVEN ALVES

Digitally signed by STEVEN ALVES DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=Department of Agriculture, cn=STEVEN ALVES, 0.9.2342.19200300.100.1.1=12001002618532 Date: 2016.07.28 06:59:55 -04'00'