Brand_Name_Justification-Redacted.pdf

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

PR: 0044011692

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 basis as required by FAR 13.106- 1(b)(1)(i).

2. Nature of Action Being Approved.

The action being approved is purchasing an Agilent 8900 Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS/MS) instrument.

3. Description of Supplies or Services.

This product is a mass spectrometer for use with the laser ablation micro-sampling technique to measure critical elements and isotopes in minerals related to the Mineral Resources Program.

This mass spectrometer must be able to collect isotopic data for elements that share the same mass but can be chemically separated in the collision / reaction cell (ICP-MS/MS). The mass spectrometer will be used for 187Re/187Os and 176Lu/176Hf beta decay systems in ore deposit and critical mineral research and so we need the ability to control the timing and formation of product ion clusters via the Axial Acceleration lens that is unique to the Agilent 8900 to fully separate the parent and daughter isotope pairs for accurate geochronology.

4. Estimated Dollar Value.

This instrument's estimated value is for all of the required options and accessories.

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

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

The Agilent 8900 ICP-MS/MS provides the highest sensitivity for laser ablation of any quadrupole ICP-MS on the market. The ability to perform MS/MS analysis, while not unique to Agilent was pioneered by Agilent and this mass spectrometer has a special feature called the Axial Acceleration lens that allows for the optimization of specific reaction cell products and this capability is not present on any other ICP-MS/MS instrument. This feature is required as it allows for the highest sensitivity of low-level elements and isotopes that are required by the Mineral Resources program and Earth MRI. This Axial Acceleration lens is unique to the Agilent 8900 and allows for the specific tuning of complex production ion clusters that allow for the best separation of parent and daughter elements required for accurate Lu-Hf and Re-Os geochronology.

The Agilent 8900 ICP-MS/MS instrument also has software that allows for the manual tuning and optimization for mass resolution, detector and sensitivity that are required for the laser ablation sampling mode and in particular for ICP-MS/MS analysis. This flexibility of software design is not available on all types of ICP-MS/MS on the market. The USGS-LTRACE laboratory also has one Agilent 8900 already and having two ICP-MS/MS of the same type allow for the sharing of methods, parts and standard operating procedures; allowing for long-term cost savings to the U.S. Government and ensure data continuity within the lab.

The instrument to be purchased will be upgrading an existing ICP-MS that is no longer functioning. Given the technical aspects above and to avoid any data continuity issues regarding the current working ICP-MS, the Agilent 8900 is the required Brand Name manufacturer and model of mass spectrometer.

7. Other Information. N/A

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

Market research has shown that there are only three quadrupole ICP-MS manufacturers that offer the ICP-MS/MS technology required by this need: Agilent, The Agilent 8900 ICP-MS/MS is the only option that allows for the high sensitivity needed for the analysis of minerals for ultra trace isotopes and elements related to the Mineral Resources Program and Earth MRI goals. Specifically, the ability to control the transmission of Hf and Os ion clusters in the Agilent 8900 allow for the best sensitivity of these ions as well as the best separation from their respective radioactive parent nuclides. This is accomplished using the Axial Acceleration lens and we require this feature to be meet the needs of the MRP and Earth MRI goals.

The Contracting Officer conducted market research as follows:

1. GSA Advantage:

a. Searched Agilent’s part numbers and found some of the parts were listed, however, the main component was not listed.

b. Searched key words, such as, “ICP-MS”, “inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer”, and found different components for Aglient’s ICP-MS, such as, an autosampler, sample tray, hyper skimmer cone, hardware maintenance manual, cell exit lens, and several other components.

2. MicroSoft Edge Internet Search:

a. Searched key words, such as, “Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer”, and found Agilent’s equipment.