Brand Name 3M AC-350 B-2.pdf

This is a Memorandum for Record (MFR) documenting a sole-source justification for a brand-name purchase below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT).

The Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Tobyhanna Division, is procuring 425 cartridges of 3M AC-350 B-2 sealing compound, an aerospace polysulfide sealant conforming to SAE AMS-S-8802 Type II, Class B-2 and SAE AMS3276 Class B-2 specifications. The requirement is for 3.5-ounce cartridges with a 2-hour working time, to be supplied by 3M Automotive and Aerospace Solutions Division (Part Number 7160349768). Each cartridge must include a dispensing tip, and the pre-mixed frozen version will not be accepted. The required delivery date is December 11, 2026, and upon delivery, the material must have a minimum shelf life of seven months. The procurement is structured as a firm fixed-price contract under FAR Part 8, Subpart 13.1 for supplies at or below the SAT, with the fiscal year 2027 budget designated as AWCF funding.

The justification for limiting competition to a single brand is based on AC-350's superior performance characteristics, including the fastest cure time, shortest production rates, and compatibility with primer application procedures that reduce labor costs. The product is listed on Qualified Products Lists for both referenced SAE standards, and comparative testing conducted from 2022 to 2025 demonstrated that AC-350 outperformed alternative sealants on painted surfaces. The contracting activity certifies this sole-source procurement is in the Government's best interest due to efficiency gains in procurement, stock management, and utilization procedures, as well as mission-critical impacts on final product quality and program completion timelines.