Attachment 3 - JA for Under SAT.pdf

This is a Decision to Restrict Competition under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold issued by the United States Department of Agriculture.

The document pertains to Requisition Number 1174345 from the USDA-ARS National Animal Disease Center, Animal Resources Unit, with the USDA-ARS Acquisition and Property Division (1232SA) serving as the contracting activity. The procurement seeks to acquire a Hydraulic Bale Processor for use as a skid loader attachment to tear apart straw and cornstalk bales and distribute material into covered animal housing areas. The restriction of competition is justified based on market research that identified no equivalent machines capable of performing all required functions: directional swivel discharge for precise bedding material placement, ability to handle both large square and round bales, and skid loader mountability for use in confined spaces. The market research, conducted through internet searches of alternate brands and models including TopSpread Bale Processor, Art's Way, SkidPro.com, MedWest Sidewalls, ABI Attachments, and Skidsteers.com, confirmed that only the proposed contractor's product meets these specifications. The equipment is required for animal housing locations in smaller barns with restricted movement areas, where skid loaders are necessary to minimize facility and equipment damage. The directional swivel feature provides cost and time savings by reducing bedding material waste and enabling the use of multiple bedding options for animal comfort.