BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION.docx

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

For purchases made under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures (Under $250,000) Name and Location of the organization making the purchase: Federal Highway Administration 21400 Ridgetop Circle Sterling, VA 20166

Describe supplies and/or services being procured:

Cannon Bending Beam Rheometer TE-BBR SD Part Number 9728-V30

Rationale supporting specific brand name acquisition under the simplified acquisition threshold (Authority under FAR 11.105(a)(1) and FAR 13.501(a)(1))

FAR 11.105 “Items peculiar to one manufacturer. Agency requirements shall not be written so as to require a particular brand name, product, or a feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer, thereby precluding consideration of a product manufactured by another company, unless –

(a)(1) The particular brand name, product, or feature is essential to the Government’s requirements, and market research indicates other companies’ similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency’s needs.“

· Cannon BBR is a direct replacement for the equipment. The item has the correct dimension space established for the unit in the lab layout. All three divisions use Cannon BBR’s which provides continuity between divisions and ability to communicate how to adjust and troubleshoot. Cannon is the industry standard for BBR with impeccable service and high quality manufacturing to meet AASHTO T 313.

· The similar brands of BBR’s do not provide the continuity between labs. Additionally, service could not be matched on this high importance test for the laboratory.