Brand name Justification Under SAT.pdf

Brand Name Justification under SAT, March 2019

Brand Name Justification United States Department of Agriculture

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) – Simplified Acquisitions

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting office.

Forest Service - Francis Marion National Forest, Huger, SC 29809 PPS, Field Procurement Operations East Zone, Supply & Services CSA #3

2. Description of supply or service required to meet the agency’s needs.

50” wide 500 Class UTV with automatic geared transmission for trails maintenance and periodic fire operations.

3. The rationale or circumstances for limiting competition.

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1): only one brand name is reasonably available to satisfy the government’s requirement. Honda’s dual clutch transmission is the only automatic UTV, currently on the market, that uses gear drives as opposed to belt drives. This capability is necessary for fire operations on the Francis Marion National Forest due to the varied terrain, including, wet and swampy areas. Gear driven transmissions greatly reduce slipping that frequently occurs with belt driven models. Gear drives offer a longer service life compared to belt and chain drives. Gear drives can transmit larger power, they have a higher transmission frequency, and they also can transmit motion over small center distance to the shafts. The Francis Marion National Forest past experience with belt driving transmissions resulted in broken and stretched belts leaving the UTV and the operator stranded. Broken or stretched belts and can render the UTV immobile. Potential immobility during fire operations is an unacceptable safety risk.

4. A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Internet research and vendor interview determined that Honda is currently the sole manufacturer of dual clutch automatic transmission UTVs that offer a gear driven solution. Market research was conducted.

Vendors local to the forest were only able to provide a Honda solution to this requirement. Posting RFQ to GSA eBuy and National OHV BPA contractors resulted in zero solutions.

5. Estimated price, including all options, if applicable.

$26,084.00

6. Recommended source(s).

Honda UTV’s are available through GSA.

Certifications

Supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel and which form the basis for this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.

Robert B Stewart Francis Marion RD, Recreation Program Manager

The information contained in this Brand Name Justification is certified accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Tobi Underwood Contract Specialist

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

Insert Name of Contracting Officer Contracting Officer

Notes and Guidance. Delete these Notes prior to finalizing document for signature

For acquisitions greater than the micro-purchase threshold but less than the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) the Contracting Officer may solicit from one source only if the Contracting Officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, etc.). Contracting Officers must document the rationale for soliciting from a single source, including brand name in accordance with FAR 13.106- 1(b)(1)(i) and FAR 13.106-3(b)(3)(i).

Program personnel are advised to work with contracting personnel early on in order to promote and provide for full and open competition to the maximum extent practicable. In circumstances permitting other than full and open competition, program personnel shall provide necessary information to contracting personnel to support and document the circumstances limiting competition through the use of this form

Advance planning. Contracting without providing for full and open competition shall not be justified on the basis of (1) a lack of advance planning by the requiring activity or (2) concerns related to the amount of funds available to the agency or activity for the acquisition of supplies or services.

Brand Name. Items peculiar to one manufacturer can be a particular brand name, product, or feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer. A brand name item, whether available on one or more schedule contracts, is an item peculiar to one manufacturer. Brand name specifications shall not be used unless 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.

Posting. When an acquisition contains brand name specifications, the Contracting Officer shall include the justification required by FAR 13.103-1(b) with the solicitation when synopsizing in the GPE (actions exceeding $25,000) or displaying in a public place (actions exceeding $15,000 but not expected to exceed $25,000), as required by FAR 5.102(1)(6).

Screening. Before posting the justification, in accordance with FAR 6.305(e) and 24.202, the Contracting Officer is responsible to redact any information that is exempt from disclosure under Freedom of Information Act or information proprietary to the contractor.

Signatures. After review and completion by the Program Office and Contracting Officer, the Word document shall be converted to an Adobe PDF file and routed for electronic signatures. Signature blocks shall include dates.