JOFOC.pdf

Brand‐Name Sole Source Justification for Hitachi TM 3030+ Scanning Electron Microscopes

This document is a justification for other than full and open competition. The USDA‐APHIS‐PPQ National

Identification Services proposes to enter into a contract on a basis of other than full and open competition for Scanning Electron Microscopes and associated components.

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Justification for other than full and open competition.”

The APHIS‐PPQ‐NIS National Specialists located in Beltsville, MD and Philadelphia, PA provide the final determination on pest interceptions found on commodities at ports of entry. Many of these organisms are small, at immature life stages and cryptic at the species level making identifications difficult to impossible using dissecting and compound microscopes impossible.

The National Specialists would greatly benefit from seeing high resolution images of these cryptic pest organisms. Desktop scanning electron microscopes have the ability to provide images of high magnification (20x‐30,000x) and with topographical structures that cannot be seen using dissecting and compound microscopes. This would provide the National Specialists an advantage to see species‐level characters to make advanced identifications.

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This will be a new contract with Roberto Carozza Angstrom Scientific, Inc. (Hitachi TM3030+ local dealer) rcarozza#angstrom.us (202) 809‐4131 cell. This will be a sole source for the purchase of two Purchase of a Hitachi TM3030+ Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Includes low and high vacuum modes, charge suppression, 4 quadrant back scatter detectors, a secondary electron detector, and a combination of back scatter and secondary detector display, tungsten electron source that is easily exchanged, large stage 70mm, magnification 15x to

60,000x actual magnification without digital magnification, data saved in BMP TIFF and JPEG formats. Additional X/Y motorized stage with 55mm x 55mm traverse, maximum size 63mm x

68mm x 25mm; Universal adapter with stub rotation 360 degrees and 0‐90 degree tilt; and

Peltier cool/heating stage capable of reaching ‐25 to 160 degrees C.

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

The requirement of two Hitachi TM3030+ Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for two locations, Beltsville, MD (7 National Specialists) and Philadelphia, PA (2 National Specialists).

Includes low and high vacuum modes, charge suppression, 4 quadrant back scatter detectors, a secondary electron detector, and a combination of back scatter and secondary detector display, tungsten electron source that is easily exchanged, large stage 70mm, magnification 15x to

60,000x actual magnification without digital magnification, data saved in BMP TIFF and JPEG formats. Additional X/Y motorized stage with 55mm x 55mm traverse, maximum size 63mm x

68mm x 25mm; Universal adapter with stub rotation 360 degrees and 0‐90 degree tilt; and

Peltier cool/heating stage capable of reaching ‐25 to 160 degrees C.

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C._253(c)(1) as implemented by the Federal Acquisitions Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302‐1 entitled “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or service will satisfy agency requirements”.

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The National Specialists conducted a site and demonstration visit for the three vendors of

Desktop SEM’s. The Hitachi TM 3030+ SEM performed superior to the other two units, Phenom

(Nanoscience) and Jeol (Nikon).

a. 1. The Hitachi was able to reach vacuum in about 30 seconds whereas the other two did not. The importance of reaching vacuum pressure rapidly is critical to making rapid identifications. The pest specimens that are received for identification at the specialist level have been sent in from U.S. ports and the perishable commodities have been hold for 24 hours. The national specialist must make an accurate identification within a few minutes in order to release or mitigate the cargo.

b. 2. The Hitachi and the Phenom were able to achieve high magnification. However, the

Hitachi was able to maintain specimen integrity of the specimen for a longer period of time (30 min) before specimen dessication (dried and collapsed), whereas the time for imaging was reduced to about 15 min using the Phenom and the Nikon system resulting in rapid collapse. Maintaining the integrity of the specimen is important so that the

Specialist can access all the images needed for a rapid ID. If the specimen collapses within 15 min the specialist is limited to the images they can get within the 15 min if those images do not provide enough information then an accurate identification cannot be made.

c. 3. In addition, only the Hitachi could provide high quality images for regulatory decisions

(the other two were grainy) and High quality images are important for regulatory decisions and legal ramifications if our customers challenge the identifications made.

PPQ has an emergency response component within its program activities so it is vital that accurate, reliable and legal decisions are determined as a result of the final pest identifications processed by NIS’s National Specialists. The addition of the Hitachi TM

3030+ SEM will provide the accuracy, durability in decisions made by the National

Specialists that will hold up in legal quarantine decisions.

d. 4. Hitachi has on‐site maintenance service. Onsite maintenance is also extremely critical in terms of reduced down time. Sending the unit out for service as required by Phenom and Nikon takes about 1 week and this reduces our use of the system. Hitachi can take as little as one hour to perform maintenance on site allowing the lab to return to fully functioning. Thus allowing the lab to complete mission essential tasks on time.

All of these services were examined by ARS and NIS staff and provided a clear and concise analysis. Additional considerations are the manipulation of the platform and specimen, Jeol was the hardest in manipulating the specimen with a significant delay in reaching target or missing the target altogether, the Phenom system was completely automated and manipulating the specimen was done completely through the computer screen making it difficult to zoom in and out to find the detail needed. The importance of finding the specimen on the imaging stage is critical; if it takes too long to get the specimen in place to take images the specimen will begin to diminish and the Specialist will have little time for imaging. The Hitachi 3030+ scanning electron microscope is a small table top SEM. The SEM is small, lightweight and is extremely durable for capturing extremely small specimens at very high magnification and resolution. The Hitachi 3030+ SEM is the only table top SEM that is capable of obtaining secondary electron images at the low vacuum mode with charge suppression at 5kV. This is necessary for biological samples as they are very delicate and easily collapse due to high vacuums and intense electron beam. The Hatachi TM3030+ is the only table top SEM that can change from low vacuum mode to high vacuum mode while live imaging, thus allowing for greater contrast and resolution. The Hitachi TM3030+ is the only table top SEM that has 4 quadrant back scatter detectors capable of topography projections.

Plus a low vacuum secondary electron detector that allows the capability to obtain a mix of back scatter and secondary detector display for a combination image. It also has a Wehnelt tungsten electron source that is easily exchanged without shipment to the vendor. The

Hitachi 3030+ interfaces with a Windows PC computer thus, allowing compatibility with other PC based software. The Hitachi 3030+ is used by the USDA‐ARS who are the experts in insect, mite, nematode and fungi identification, thus, comparability with their instrumentation is important for correct identification of specimens by the USDA‐APHIS‐

PPQ‐NIS.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by

Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

Quotes for all three SEM microscopes were solicited as well as three quotes from Hitachi vendors. This is also being posted to FedBizOps.gov as a Brand‐Name Sole Source in order to solicit quotes from any other vendor that may supply this piece of equipment.

7. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Quotes were received from at least one vendor for each of the three SEM microscopes. The Jeol system is lower in price than the Hitachi but did not meet the minimum specifications needed to accomplish mission essential tasks. The Phenom is higher in price and it must remain on 24 hours a day adding additional overhead costs to the National Specialists location. In addition the

Phenom uses a different light source which extremely costly to replace adding maintenance costs for replacement of the light source and calibration.

The quote received thus far for the Hitachi brand is in line with the market. Similar microscopes in the market (that fail to meet the minimum specifications for this requirement) are comparably priced. Therefore it is realistic to anticipate that the cost will be fair and reasonable to the government.

8. A description of the market research conducted (see Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

There are only three manufactures of SEM microscopes. NIS National Specialists evaluated all three for the minimum specifications needed to accomplish the mission through hands on demonstration provided by all three providers. Of those three, only Hitachi met the minimum specifications needed for NIS to accomplish their mission (as detailed above). Once it was established that only the Hitachi brand met the specifications a search of the internet yielded more than one vendor that could supply the piece of equipment.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, This equipment is new technology only recently available as desktop models and would greatly benefit the National Specialists in conducting accurate identifications. We have worked with the

Hitachi vendor to achieve the highest discount available for the configuration of most benefit to

APHIS‐PPQ‐NIS National Specialists. The Deputy Administrator of Agriculture approved the purchase of two SEM’s for a total price of $200,000. The Hitachi quote is a savings in to our budget.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

There are two other sources that provided quotes and specs for their models. The National

Specialists visited with the representatives of these manufacturers and were provided demonstrations using specimens that the National Specialists provided. Only the Hitachi performed at the specs required by the National Specialists. The other two systems (Nikon‐Joel and Nanoscience‐Phenom) were inferior in high quality images, fast dessication of specimens

(within 15 min), and system maintenance was conducted off‐site. In addition, the Phenom system and supplies was more expensive. The Nikon system could not meet the specs they provided, with magnification reaching on 200x and the vacuum was extremely low if achieved at all.

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

N/A

12. I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS JOFOC ABOVE IS ACCURATE

AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF.

James Roloff Date Cheryle O’Donnell, PH.D. Date Contracting Officer National Taxonomic Specialist

MRPBS USDA APHIS PPQ NIS