JOFOC Oliver Products 1.doc

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Authority 41 U.S.C. 253 ©{1}

Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements

AGENCY: United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service, Pink Bollworm Rearing Facility CONTRACTING ACTIVITY: Minneapolis Business Services DATE:03/14/2012

FACT:

1. Description of Contract Action:

The proposed action was submitted under Procurement Request #566919. The contract performance period will consist of a single delivery of 60 rolls of lidding material {PN 10190493} manufactured by Oliver Products. The material is used to seal PVC plastic rearing containers that house pink bollworm larvae. Approval is requested to use other than full and open competition to procure this specialized material as an integral part of our Pink Bollworm Rearing Facility (PBWRF) insect rearing operation. The proposed contract will be a firm fixed price contract for the procurement and delivery of the stated material to the PBWRF in Phoenix, AZ by March 16th 2012.

2. Description of Supplies or Services:

This acquisition is for the procurement and delivery of 60 rolls of PN10190493 lidding material (top webbing to the United States Department of Agriculture {USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHISL Plant Protection &

Quarantine Pink Bollworm Rearing Facility in Phoenix, AZ. The estimated value of this contract is $37,872.00

3. Reasons for Authority Cited:

A considerable amount of research went in the selection of this material in the early 1990's as a lidding material for our larval rearing containers. Over 20 materials were test at the time over a three {3) year period. The porosity (gas exchange) of the material is matched to our pin perforation system currently mounted on our Tiromat 3000 thermoforming machine. This specific gas exchange is critical to the efficient rearing of pink bollworm larvae. Additionally the glue type and the type matrix the glue is applied to this paper/plastic material match the temperature setting at our sealing station in the production process. The adhesive is also not toxic to our insect. We have used this material to successfully rear PBW moths for 14 years. PBW rearing in the Phoenix facility are used in the International PBW Eradication Program as the SIT component of the program.

The R&D costs required to test other potential lidding materials (top webbings) would be prohibitive to the USDA.

4. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

No efforts have been made to obtain competition because any new material would have to be thoroughly tested by the USDA to determine if the porosity of the material meets our specific needs. The is critical in the PBW rearing process. The adhesive would also have to be evaluated to determine if it meet our operation specifications, i.e. melting point, toxicity to the insect and would the insect in larval stage have the ability to chew it way out of the container as it now does. These tests would require multiple insect generation studies. Costs to conduct such studies would be significant.

5. Fair and Reasonable Determination:

The anticipated costs to the Government will be fair and reasonable. Prices have been reasonable stable over time even though fossil fuel prices have escalated. However, it is difficult to get rates from other sources since this is a specialized material and the adhesive used by Oliver Products is proprietary. The specifications on this material are specific to our operation.

6. Market Research:

7. Other Support Factors:

The estimate of cost to the Government would be significant to conduct testing of other materials before they could be selected. I do not believe that we can take any off the self material and use it in our application. USDA testing would have to be done to tailor a material to meet the specific porosity and adhesive requirements that we need to incorporate in our lidding material.

8. Interest Sources:

No other known companies can produce an exact duplicate of this material since the adhesive used is the property of Oliver Products.

9. Actions to Increase Competition:

10. Technical Certification

I certify that the fact and representations under my cognizance which are included in this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge are belief.

Name Eoin B Davis

Date 03/14/2012

Title Facility Director Signature

11. Contracting Officer Certification file_2.png

I certify that the fact and representations under my cognizance which are included in this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge are belief.

Name q.

Title Ctltii:Ji<u;t Date 0.3/Jtf /JOfC)..

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Signature _