B13_Attach_1_J_A_Approved_Redacted.pdf

United States Department of the Interior U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, Office of Acquisition and Grants

Reston, VA 20192

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

PURSUANT TO FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)

1. Contracting Agency and Activity. The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey Office of Acquisition and Grants (OAG) - Reston plans to contract on a brand name only basis. This document sets forth the justification and approval as required by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1).

2. Nature of Action Being Approved: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Mission Area, Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF) requests award of a noncompetitive contract for a Turner Designs fluorometer sensor. The delivery date will be 3 months from the date of award.

3. Description of Supplies or Services: This request is for an additional Turner Designs Model C6P Submersible Fluorometer which will be used at the Sulfur Bank Mercury Mine Superfund site in Lake County, CA.

The superfund project currently has two Turner C6P’s for the development of models for mercury proxies. The project will be expanding the modeling effort and requires another Turner C6P with the same configuration as the ones currently deployed to maintain model consistency and data quality objectives. The C6P configuration is as follows:

(1) turbidity (850 nm LED; range 1 -1,500 ntu)

(2) chlorophyll (excitation 450-460nm, emission 674-718; range 0.3 – 200 µg/L)

(3) chlorophyll (excitation 625-635, emission > 695nm; range 0.3 – 200 µg/L)

(4) optical brighteners (custom configuration (excitation 360-370, emission 415-440 nm); range 0-30 ppb

(5) fluorescein (excitation 45-470, emission 530-560 nm; range 0.1 - 100 ppb)

(6) Tryptophan/wastewater (excitation 270-280, emission 322-378 nm; range 0.3 – 200 µg/L)

The device must be robust for long-term field deployment with minimum maintenance and be telemetry capable. The optical brightener sensor needs to be customized to meet USGS requirements to match previously purchased C6P’s for consistency within and across USGS projects.

4. Estimated Dollar Value. The estimated dollar value for this contract is .

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a brand name only basis under the authority outlined in FAR 13.106-1(b)(1).

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5. Brand name and no other supplies or services will satisfy the agency requirements. The rationale supporting the use of this citation is based on Turner Design’s unique qualifications as follows:

Turner Design is the manufacturer of a 6-parameter in-situ fluorometer that provides simultaneous coverage of multiple critical regions of the EEMs spectra of natural waters.

Turner Design can develop custom sensor design and applications which is essential to the USGS projects’ specific needs that may not be widely applicable in other systems.

The individual fluorescence probes for the Turner Design multiparameter sensors are readily interchangeable that allows project flexibility in method development and instrument maintenance.

There are two of these devices in use equipped with the custom OB sensor and consistency in measurements (data continuity) is imperative.

7. Other Information. Turner Design holds copyrights on the integrated in-situ fluorometer sensors, probes, and software.

8. The Efforts to Identify Additional Sources Including the Market Research Conducted. A detailed market analysis for the requested device was conducted. The research included: (1) contacting subject matter experts for input, (2) internet research for potential vendors of required instruments, and

(3) direct outreach to vendors for technical details.

Other vendors of field-deployable in-situ multiparameter sensor technology were identified, and analysis of the information identified the Turner Design brand as uniquely qualified to provide the required equipment to meet data continuity requirements. A previous GSA search also came back with no results that matched the specifications.

9. Future Plans to Permit Competition. Future requirements for same/similar needs will undergo market research and be competed to the maximum extent practical.

10. Recommendation and Certification from Program Office

a) Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a brand name basis.

b) I certify the above statements are true and accurate.

Project Manager Date

11. Certifications from Contracting Officer

a) Prices will be determined fair and reasonable by comparison to published list prices and/or invoices for similar goods/services.

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

Contracting Officer Date

Contract Specialist certifies required signatures were obtained.