Brand_Name_Justification.docx

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

(FAR 13 Under the SAT)

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES/SERVICES REQUIRED

The Mount Whitney Ranger District of the Inyo National Forest requires approximately 25,000 human waste disposal kits worth approximately $35,000 by 9/30/24. Human waste disposal kits are issued to people hiking or backpacking Mt. Whitney. With the kits, visitors remove their human waste from the wilderness and deliver it to a disposal facility located at the trailhead. The kits must safely contain human waste, be easy to use, suitable for multiple uses, small and light enough that people will carry them, and degradable in the environment.

2. JUSTIFICATION FOR SOLICITING FROM A SINGLE SOURCE or FOR A BRAND NAME

There are three human waste kits designed for backpacking: the Cleanwaste Go Anywhere Toilet Kit, the Restop 2 Toilet-To-Go, and the Biffy Bag. There are a handful of other products designed for car camping or climbing, but they do not meet our needs of small, multiple use, degradable, and sturdy enough to safely contain waste while backpacking.

Experimentation and field testing revealed that the Go Anywhere Toilet Kits degrade in the environment and are easy to use more than once. The Restop 2 is difficult to use more than once, degrades very slowly in the environment, is the heaviest option, and has split open in tests. Biffy Bags were not extensively tested, but they have a Mylar outer bag which is not degradable.

Given the comparison of the three available options the Cleanwaste Go Anywhere Toilet Kit is the best product for the district’s needs.

3. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION

Extensive research and testing were done in the late 2000s and early 2010s when the district first started requiring and providing human waste disposal kits in the Mount Whitney Zone. We continue to annually research additional available products and reviews online and within the outdoor community. However, the options have not meaningfully changed since the program began in 2007.

4. STEPS TO PRECLUDE FUTURE SINGLE SOURCE (or BRAND NAME) AWARDS

The district will continue to investigate new products that come on the market and will occasionally revisit the evaluation of the current products. This is a very specific type of product so new entrants to the market have been infrequent.

5. CONTRACTING OFFICER’S DETERMINATION

I have determined, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b) that the circumstances of this contract action deem only a single source is available for the required services.

Requesting Office:

Jessica May Assistant Recreation Officer

Concur/Does Not Concur:

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