B SSJ_FS.pdf

Revised10/31/2016

FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)

SOLE-SINGLE SOURCE (including Brand-Name) JUSTIFICATION

“Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104”

1. Identification of the Agency and Contracting Activity.

a. Federal Agency and Contracting Activity.

Department of Health and Human Services National Institute of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse

b. Sponsoring Organization.

National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Division of Pre-Clinical Innovation

c. Project Officer Information.

• Project Officer Name. Carleen Klumpp-Thomas

• Mailing Address.

9800 MEDICAL CENTER DR

ROCKVILLE MD 20850

• E-mail Address. carleen.klumpp-thomas@nih.gov

• Telephone Number. 301.827.1789

2. Project Description.

a. Name of Item or Project Title.

Service/maintenance agreement for the Biosero Mobile Robot & Green Button Go Software for the Automation Group at NCATS.

b. Description of the Item or Service.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation’s leading medical research agency and the primary Federal agency whose mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability, conducting, supporting and making medical discoveries that improve people’s health and save lives.

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which mission it is to catalyze the generation of innovative methods and technologies that will enhance the development, testing and implementation of diagnostics and therapeutics across a wide range of human diseases and conditions.

ASPIRE program is a key initiative at NCATS which focuses on delivering turnkey solutions for chemistry automation. This includes development of state-of-the-art labs and equipment which

FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b) allow automation. One key piece of this development is the implementation of a mobile robot platform which can perform tasks in a chemistry lab which were performed by chemists. One example of such a task is performing batch evaporation of 20 ml vials using the Biotage V10 evaporator. Previously the chemist needed to manually perform evaporation of said vials one by one which was inefficient. The mobile robot designed and manufactured by Biosero has a robotic arm, vial rack holders and a barcode scanning system onboard. This allows the robot to perform actions like gripping the vial, placing it on the V10 evaporator, picking it up after evaporation is complete and putting them back in the vial rack and repeat the process for multiple vials. This process is enabled by the use of Biosero’s proprietary software Green Button Go which allows a user to create protocols and interface with the Biotage V10, making it capable of performing batch evaporations without human intervention. There are other similar tasks that the robot is capable of handling.

The requested service contract will ensure that an annual hardware maintenance check is performed on the various components of the Biosero Mobile Robot along with a software upgrade for the Green Button Go control software. This maintenance check and software upgrade will allow NCATS’ staff to work on the Biosero Mobile Robot and develop various protocols and tasks within the ASPIRE project without any interruptions.

Market Research was conducted and the results of market research are detailed in the attached market research document.

3. Acquisition Type.

This acquisition exceeds $3,500 and not expected to exceed $150,000, and conducted in accordance with FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

4. Acquisition Authority. This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source. (1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, or industrial mobilization).

5. Justification Rationale I hereby determine that the service agreement listed herein is available from only one source, and competition is precluded for the reasons indicated below. There are no substitutes available, as indicated by the market research above.

This acquisition is restricted to:

Biosero Inc.

9560 Waples St, Suite A San Diego, CA 92121 United States POC: Lori Pearson, loripearson@biosero.com

FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)

The estimated cost of the required item or service is $23,348.14 and the expected period of performance is 1 year upon PO award with three years optional years of service.

Brand-name or Items particular to one manufacturer:

The essential characteristics of the service required that limit the availability to a sole source are only this suggested source can furnish the requirements, to the exclusion of other sources, because the material or service must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with existing systems presently installed. The current equipment is, and the new item/service must coordinate, connect, or interface with the existing system. The mobile robot is designed and manufactured by Biosero and involves the use of Biosero’s proprietary software Green Button Go. The software allows a user to create protocols and interface with the Biotage V10, making it capable of performing batch evaporations without human intervention. This service agreement will ensure that an annual hardware maintenance check is performed on the various components of the Biosero Mobile Robot along with a software upgrade for the Green Button Go control software.

Biosero is the OEM of the Biosero Mobile Robot. They are the original manufacturers and assemblers of the components that are used in the Biosero Mobile Robot. Additionally the hold the proprietary software updates needed for the Green Button Go software.

6. Any other facts supporting the justification.

N/A

FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)

Project Officer Certification. The undersigned program official(s) certifies that the information in support of this justification for the proposed acquisition has been reviewed, is completed and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief and recommends approval.

Project Officer Date

7. Contracting Officer Certification. The Contracting Officer certifies that the justification for the proposed acquisition has been reviewed and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information and/or data provided to support the rationale and recommendation for approval is accurate and complete and in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), the facts of this acquisition preclude the use of full and open competition.

Contracting Officer Date

08/26/24

“Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104”