AG-3JL0-S-17-0001_Sole_Source_Justification.docx

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. CONTRACTING ACTIVITY: USDA, ARS

Eastern Regional Research Center 600 east Mermaid Lane Wyndmoor, PA 19038-8598

2. NATURE/DESCRIPTION OF ACTION: Issue a firm, fixed-price purchase order for “Silver” service contract by Agilent Technologies.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES: ERRC requires a repair parts service contract from Agilent Technologies for its VNMRS 600 MHz spectrometer. Agilent is the manufacturer of this spectrometer. This contract is for the replacement parts for the instrument, it does not include labor costs. Any labor costs for repairs will be paid by the ERRC. The Silver contract (R-25T) provides parts and labor for repair or replacement of all console components, ancillary components and software updates, as well as of four room temperature probes. Such components include: disk drives, power supplies, frequency synthesizers, preamplifiers, transmitter and receiver modules, all associated interconnections, printed circuit boards and cable and wiring harnesses, etc. It also provides Preventative Maintenance and Telephone Support to isolate and resolve hardware and software problems, on-site hardware troubleshooting and repair within standard response times. (Replacement parts are normally shipped to arrive the next day.) It does not cover the magnet or magnet components.

4. STATUTORY AUTHORITY: FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and not other supplies or service will satisfy agency requirements. 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1).

5. DEMONSTRATION OF CONTRACTORS UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS:

Agilent Technologies is the manufacturer of all of the ERRC’s NMR spectrometers and is most familiar with their operation and maintenance. They are capable of complete replacement of any system component using new parts. Without a contract, access to replacement parts will be more time consuming, all third-party contractors would still need to obtain the parts from Agilent, as there is no other source. Loss of instrument time would greatly impact the progress of ongoing research projects.

The Service Contract/Operation of NMR Spectrometers is highly dependent upon current UNIX-based software that is very complicated. They have directly connected routine operations along with more sophisticated experiments to the software. Small software problems can mean a great loss of instrument times that in turn would greatly impact the progress of ongoing research projects. Therefore, it is imperative that personnel who are responsible for the service of the instrumentation be knowledgeable in both the area of electronics and software maintenance including software upgrade maintenance. This Agilent Silver Customer Support Agreement provides for factory-trained and certified experts who give prioritized responses to these service needs. Agilent is the only vendor who has the capabilities to provide NMR service that the Center requires to prevent and minimize any possible instrument downtime and thus meet the current research needs of the Center.

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

6. FEDERAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES (FEDBIZOPS)ANNOUNCEMENT/

POTENTIAL SOURCES: A FBO announcement was issued on 11/17/2016.

7. DETERMINATION OF FAIR AND REASONABLE COST: The cost of the services is considered fair and reasonable based on the established catalog or market prices of commercial services sold in substantial quantities to the general public. The price was increased by approximately 3% from the previous year and was attributed to a cost of living adjustment.

8. MARKET SURVEY: N/A

9. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT: N/A

10. OTHER INTERESTED SOURCES: No other known sources.

11. ACTIONS TAKEN TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO COMPETITION: The Government will make every effort when acquiring a follow-on purchase order to look into barriers restricting competition.