B08_Solicitation_140F1B25Q0005__Attachment_3_Brand_Name_SSJ_Grain_and_Seed_Cleaner.pdf

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

FROM: Department of Interior US Fish & Wildlife Service Joint Administrative Operations Contracting Activity: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Team

SUBJECT: Single Source Justification for portion of a purchase specifying a particular brand-name item (Clipper, Eclipse Model 324 Seed and Grain Cleaner)

PROGRAM NAME: SAND LAKE NWR (Internal Ref: PR0044003324, PPR2064566) Seed and Grain Cleaner

I. AUTHORITY

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) states 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, brand-name or industrial mobilization).

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(ii) states where a single source is identified to provide a portion of a purchase because that portion of the purchase specifies a particular brand-name item, the documentation in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section only applies to the portion of the purchase requiring the brand-name item. The documentation should state it is covering only the portion of the acquisition which is brand-name.

II. DESCRIPTION OF NEED & BACKGROUND

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is requesting the procurement of a Clipper, Eclipse Model 324 Seed and Grain Cleaner for the Western South Dakota Complex. This equipment is essential to support refuge operations, specifically for processing diverse seed types collected across thousands of managed acres. The same make and model of seed and grain cleaner is currently in use at the nearby Eastern South Dakota Complex, which presents an opportunity for significant operational efficiencies through shared resources. Procurement of the identical brand and model will:

1. Enable Screen/Parts Interchangeability: Sorting seeds requires specialized screens, which can cost between $90 and $150 each. To effectively manage diverse seed types, a wide range of screen sizes is necessary. Sharing screens across units could reduce duplication, lower costs, and improve operational efficiency. However, compatibility between existing brand-specific screens and those of other manufacturers is highly uncertain. Differences in mounting mechanisms, dimensions, capacity, and air flow or vibration systems are often tailored to specific models to optimize performance. As a result, it is unlikely that the current screens can be used interchangeably with equipment from other manufacturers. Furthermore, those and other parts can be exchanged between units as they age and can

SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION/BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

enable continuity of performance in the event parts break and become obsolete.

2. Simplify Maintenance and Training: Consistency in equipment across locations minimizes training requirements and simplifies maintenance procedures, as staff are already trained on this model’s operation and upkeep.

3. Ensure Standardized Performance: Utilizing the same equipment ensures uniformity in seed cleaning processes, preserving quality and compatibility with conservation objectives across refuge complexes.

III. RATIONALE FOR USE OF BRAND-NAME SEED AND GRAIN CLEANER FOR PURCHASE

The Clipper, Eclipse Model 324 has been identified as essential for achieving the above operational efficiencies and meeting the specific needs of the refuge. No other make or model offers compatibility with the existing inventory of screens or aligns with the USFWS’s need for standardized equipment and training processes. This compatibility is critical for cost-effectiveness and seamless integration into ongoing conservation efforts.

IV. DETERMINATION FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Only one source/brand-name, the Clipper Eclipse Model 324 Seed and Grain Cleaner, is reasonably available because the brand-name and model is an essential means to the Government’s requirements, thereby precluding consideration of use of a product manufactured by another company. The specific brand-name requirement ensures elimination of unnecessary costs related to duplicate screen purchases and ability to swap or salvage other parts as the equipment ages, consistency in operational performance across refuge complexes, and streamlined training and maintenance procedures.

This justification shall be posted with the solicitation in accordance with FAR 5.102(a)(6).

V. APPROVALS

Requirements Owner

Contracting Officer