B08_Attachment_3_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 (1) 6475 TQ mass spectrometer with Masshunter 10.0 workstation bundle, on a limited source basis as required by FAR 8.405-6.

2. Nature of Action Being Approved. New firm fixed price award off the Federal Supply

Schedule for brand name Agilent Technologies 6475 AA mass spectrometer with Masshunter

10.0 workstation bundle.

3. Description of Supplies or Services. The item to be acquired is (1) Agilent Technologies

6475 AA mass spectrometer with Masshunter 10.0 workstation bundle. The requiring office is

Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC).

4. Estimated Dollar Value. REDACTED

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis under the authority FAR 8.405-6.

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5. The rationale supporting the use of this citation is as follows:

• The Agilent Technologies 6475 AA mass spectrometer with Masshunter 10.0 workstation bundle, are specifically compatible with the instrumentation and software configuration already own by UMESC. valued at approximately $125,000.00. Keeping our instrumentation as similar to each other as possible while assessing state-of-the-art science technology shows that this instrumentation will yield the least amount of downtime for UMESC scientists and keep data collection and analysis consistent and clear.

• The Agilent Technologies 6475 AA mass spectrometer with Masshunter 10.0 workstation bundle is required to help maintain the continuity of data. If other equipment were used, it could skew the long-term data and lead to substantial amounts of downtime.

• The Agilent Technologies 6475 AA mass spectrometer with Masshunter 10.0 workstation bundle will improve the data quality. Keeping all instruments on the latest version of software keeps them consistent and helps us to maintain our QMS compliance.

7. Other Information. N/A

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

Market research was performed by a search on GSA Advantage and multiple authorized resellers of this equipment were found, among whom competition will be obtained.

UMESC personnel are continuously assessing state-of-the-art science technology for activities related to research conducted by the laboratory. This assessment is done through scientific literature review, attending conferences and associated vendor exhibitions, electronic notifications from vendors, and periodic internet searches. For this requirement, extensive literature research has been performed by UMESC personnel to identify similar or compatible products to meet the current needs for streamlining the process of standard preparation, increasing accuracy, precision and traceability and no other products were found to exist.

9. Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition. In the future, market research for alternative sources will continue should a subsequent requirement arise. This will be done in the interest of promoting competition to the maximum extent possible.

Currently, A sources sought notice was published (See Tab A14_ Sources Sought. posted to

GSA Ebuy) to GSA Ebuy on 25 March, closing on the 31 March. The sources sought generated no responses.

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.

SIGNATURE REDACTED

11. Certifications and Approval from the Contracting Officer:

All the requirements of the Competition in Contracting Act, (41 U.S.C. 253), as implemented in the

Federal and Interior Acquisition Regulations, have been considered in preparing this justification.

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

Contracting Officer will be able to determine price fair and reasonable based on either competition, price list or previous invoices for the same/similar equipment.

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

12. Approvals

All signatures have been obtained and have been REDACTED.