Brand_Name_Justification-Redacted.pdf

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Agency and Activity. The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey plans to contract by means other than full and open competition. This document sets forth the justification and approval for award of a Brand Name requirement on a limited source basis as required by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1).

2. Nature of Action Being Approved. The requested procurement is for a new purchase order for an Agilent Cary 5000 UV-Vis-NIR spectrometer. The U.S. Geological Survey, G3 Science Center of the Rocky Mountain Region provides for the acquisition and interpretation of remotely sensed and laboratory spectral data for projects supported by USGS programs in the Energy, Minerals, and National Land Imaging mission areas, by NASA, and by other federal agencies. Specifically, the new UV-SWIR benchtop spectrometer will expand our current capacity to allow us to accomplish new work funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) under the Earth Resources Mapping Initiative (EMRI).

3. Description of Supplies or Services. The U.S. Geological Survey, G3 Science Center of the Rocky Mountain Region requests one (1) Agilent Cary 5000 UV-Vis-NIR spectrometer on a firm-fixed price basis. Competition will take place among Agilent resellers.

4. Estimated Dollar Value.

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis under the authority FAR 13.106-1(b)(1).

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5.

The Cary 5000 is a high spectral resolution benchtop spectrometer with variable slit widths that allow for bandpasses (spectral resolution) of down to 0.01nm. Currently, the highest spectral resolution possible in the Denver spectroscopy laboratory, in the VIS-NIR range, is 3.5 nm (excluding the old Cary 100). Having a spectrometer that is capable of achieving such fine bandpass is important in keeping up with the latest imaging spectrometers being developed. The spectral range of this instrument covers the entire wavelength range of the airborne Visible to Shortwave Infrared (VSWIR) imaging spectrometers we plan to use for EMRI.

7. Other Information. See above statement in #6.

8. The Efforts to Identify Additional Sources Including the Market Research Conducted.

The Cary 5000 UV-Vis-NIR Spectrophotometer meets or exceeds the technical specifications needed to conduct our current research. The Cary 5000 will replace our 20+-year old Cary 100.

The Contracting Officer posted a sources sought notice 140G0222Q0118 via SAM.gov (Contract Opportunities) from June 9, 2022 through June 16, 2022 for market research purposes and received only one response which is from Agilent. Agilent provided information on their product which is a Cary 4000/5000/6000i Series UV-VIS-NIR Spectrophotometer. Agilent also noted that the product is manufactured in Germany. The Contracting Officer e-mailed Agilent to see if they have any small business resellers/distributors. The Contracting Officer received an e-mail from Agilent with four small business resellers.

9. Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition. The recommendation of the Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Science Center in support of this sole source justification is made in recognition of the fact that the competition must be obtained to the maximum extent practicable. Future requirements will undergo market research and will be competed to the maximum extent practical.

10. Recommendation and Certification from Program Office

Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a limited source basis. I certify that technical data which form a basis for this justification, that are the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel are complete and accurate.

<Program/Project Officer Name> Signature Date <Title>

11. Certifications and Approval from the Contracting Officer:

a. Price reasonableness will be determined through competition among resellers.

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

12. Approvals

Lisa D. Williams, Contracting Officer Date

Annie M. Howard, Chief of the Contracting Office Date

Jennifer Kelley, Bureau Competition Advocate Date

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) considers employee signatures to be Personal Protected Information, and therefore all employee signatures have been redacted. By posting this document, the Contracting Officer attests all appropriate signatures have been obtained.