Attachment 3 - JA for Under SAT.pdf

This document is a Decision to Restrict Competition under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold for a federal contract opportunity.

The United States Department of Agriculture, through the USDA-ARS Acquisition and Property Division (1232SA), is procuring a microscope critical for determining cotton fiber maturity standards on behalf of the Cotton Quality and Innovation Research Unit (127B32). The requisition number is 1173916, and the identification number is 1232SA26Q1064. The acquisition is restricted to a single source: Nikon Instruments Inc., located at 1300 Wall Whitman Road, Melville, NY 11747. The microscope must be compatible with Fiber Image Analysis System (FIAS) software developed by Dr. Xu at the University of North Texas, which is the industry-recognized standard used by prominent cotton researchers. The Nikon model offers high-resolution objective lenses, a wide-view camera, and customizable user interfaces that are essential for measuring fiber maturity and cross-sectional circumference and for elevating data quality, accuracy, and reproducibility in cotton and natural fiber research. The justification for restricting competition cites the unique qualifications of the Nikon microscope, as no other manufacturer on the market can provide a microscope with the exact specific capabilities required. Market research was conducted reviewing comparable microscopes from vendors such as Canon and searching excess property and agency inventories, GSA Advantage contracts, and consulting peer researchers, confirming that no alternative microscope meets the government's criteria.