C14 Redacted BNJ.pdf

Subj: BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION TO PROCURE LITHIUM HYDROXIDE

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Brand Name Justification.”

This is a brand name justification. Contracting activity is NSWC-PCD, 110 Vernon Ave., Panama City, FL, 32407.

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This action will award a firm fixed price contract to authorized sellers of the items listed in Paragraph 3.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated).

Brand: Albemarle Item: Lithium Hydroxide Qty.: 150 lbs.

This acquisition will be conducted using simplified acquisition procedures. The Government’s minimum needs have been verified by the certifying technical and requirements personnel. This memo does not authorize acquisition for other requirements. This acquisition will be conducted using simplified acquisition procedures with a total dollar value above micro-purchase levels, but not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold.

4. Identification of the justification rationale and, if applicable, a demonstration of the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications to provide the required supply or service.

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). Application for brand name description FAR 6.302-1(c).

The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) Hydrospace Laboratory currently has a need for the items listed in Paragraph 3 of this document for the duplication of system testing that has undergone rigorous inspection at Hydrospace Laboratory. In these tests, the particle size of the chemical impacted the results; specifically, the hydrolysis, the diffusion of ionic species across the intermediate Li2O layer from the LiH+H2O reaction, is impacted by particle size. In order to control particle size, the same brand/manufacturer is required.

As such, the Government does not expect significant savings through competition and does expect significant and unacceptable delays that will negatively impact this requirement.

Therefore, it is in the Governments’ best interest to acquire the Albemarle brand.

5. A determination by the ordering activity contracting officer that the order represents the best value consistent with FAR 13.106-1(b).

The Contracting Officer has determined that the order represents the best value and results in the lowest overall cost alternative (such as considering price, special features, administrative costs) to meet the Government’s needs.

6. A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

For the reasons specified in paragraph 4 above, Albemarle is the only brand that can meet the Government’s needs. This requirement will be synopsized in the government point of entry sam.gov.

7. Any other facts supporting the justification.

None.

8. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

As stated in paragraph 4 above, Albemarle is the only brand that can meet this requirement.