B08_Attachment_1_Brand_Name_Justification_Redacted.pdf

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Agency and Activity. The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey plans to contract by means other than full and open competition. This document sets forth the justification and approval for award of a Parr 1 L C-276 high pressure high temperature (HPHT) reactor on a limited source basis as required by FAR 13.106-1.

2. Nature of Action Being Approved. Purchase of a HPHT 1 L reactor constructed of C-276 alloy custom manufactured by the Parr Instrument Company.

3. Description of Supplies or Services. The USGS Geology, Energy, and Minerals Science Center (GEMSC) hydrous pyrolysis laboratory has a need to purchase a C-276 alloy 1 L HPHT reactor for pyrolysis experiments. The laboratory is modernizing and replacing older equipment which is nearing its useable lifetime. The brand name manufacturer is Parr Instrument Company.

4. Estimated Dollar Value.

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis under the authority FAR 13.106-1.

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5. The USGS has exclusively used Parr Instrument Company reactors and associated equipment for hydrous pyrolysis laboratory experimentation since 1991 in multiple laboratories. In the thirty-five years of USGS hydrous pyrolysis experimentation with Parr instruments, the USGS has accumulated: 1. an extensive library of ancillary equipment custom-fit to Parr instrumentation, e.g., tubing, connectors, manifolds, heaters, controllers, 2. extensive expertise in the use and maintenance of Parr instrumentation, 3. a library of spare and replacement parts for Parr instrumentation, all of which support a business case for modernizing our hydrous pyrolysis capability through continued use of Parr instrument reactors.

We will be fitting the reactor into an existing customized laboratory setting which includes a controlled heating system and custom-built gas and oil collection manifold which is uniquely configured for the Parr reactor vessel considered in this brand name justification. Purchase and use of a reactor vessel manufactured by a different company would require separate purchase of the corresponding heating and controlling system and adaptation to a newly purchased and customized effluent collection manifold, which are both prohibitive constraints to use of equipment manufactured by others than Parr Instrument Company. Because of these prohibitions, Parr Instrument Company is the only manufacturer which can satisfy the government’s need.

7. Other Information. N/A

8. The Efforts to Identify Additional Sources Including the Market Research Conducted.

Market research included review of other autoclave and HPHT equipment manufacturers on the internet, e.g., Büchiglasuster https://www.buchiglas.com/en-us/index.html, CORETEST https://coretest.com/, Global Reactors https://en.globalreactors.com/. These manufacturers cannot provide a reactor that can be retrofitted into the existing USGS hydrous pyrolysis laboratory without extensive and expensive additional customization.

9. Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition. N/A

10. Recommendation and Certification from Program Office

Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a limited source basis. I certify that technical data which form a basis for this justification, that are the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel are complete and accurate.

11. Certifications and Approval from the Contracting Officer:

a. The anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable based on previous procurement history and competition amongst resellers.

b. This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

13. Approvals