B08_SOL_A1_BNJ_Redacted.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

INTERIOR BUSINESS CENTER

Washington, DC 20240

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY

USING SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES (SAP) UNDER THE

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD (SAT)

AUTHORITY: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), 13.501(a)(ii), 6.305

1400423Q0649

1. Contracting activity/agency. Department of the Interior, Interior Business Center, Acquisition Services Directorate, Division 3 on behalf of Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Science& Technology (S&T) Directorate Advanced Technologies Intelligence (ATI-3) Innovation Team.

2. Description of supplies or services required to meet agency needs. This requirement is for

Peak Scientific Genuis XE35 Laboratory Nitrogen Generator to provide purified, high pressure, nitrogen gas for mass spectrometer systems. The estimated total value is $25,552.11.

Delivery is within 8 weeks from issuance of Purchase Order.

3. Identification of the single source to be solicited.

Limited to sources who can resell Peak Scientific Genius XE35 Laboratory Nitrogen Generator

4. Reason for authority cited. The contracting officer has determined the circumstances of the contract deem:

Brand Name – The particular brand name is essential to the requirement and market research indicates similar products do not meet or cannot be modified to meet agency needs.

5. Rationale.

The Peak Scientific XE 35 Nitrogen Generator is replacing a same brand and model system that has reached its end of life. ATI’s stateside and overseas teams are trained to operate the Peak Nitrogen Generator. Acquiring the same brand and model nitrogen generator to replace the previous will allow the program to keep its operating procedures and documentation in place and will prevent the need for ATI staff to retrain on different equipment. Using the brand and model will also allow ATI to continue to use its existing shipping containers to transport the new system.

6. Market Research.

A Dynamic Small Business Search was conducted using NAICS code 334516 and key word “Nitrogen.” There were seven small businesses found.

Further research was conducted on GSA using NAICS code 334516 and key words “Nitrogen generator” and resulted in exact product match and multiple potential vendors that could satisfy this requirement. Search results print screens are in the file.

Internet market search was done on 06/28/2023; the item is commercially available with the required specifications.

Based on the market research and in accordance with FAR 19.502(a), we proceeded with a total small business set-aside using GSA. Request for Quotes was issued on GSAeBuy on 07/03/2023 and closed on 07/12/2023. No quotes were received.

This requirement will be amended to the open market to obtain competition.

Under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), the undersigned hereby determines the circumstances of this contract action deem only the brand name will support this acquisition as supported herein.

Jamie Gregar Contracting Officer