DnF for OTFOC.doc

DETERMINATION & FINDINGS FOR OTHER THAN FULL & OPEN COMPETITION

(ACTIONS SAT AND BELOW)

1. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROCUREMENT: The Government requires the purchase of application support for the existing Tecan Fluent 1080 system for DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory-South, University of Texas at Austin, 2506 Speedway Ave, NMS 3.248, Austin, TX 78712.

2. PROPOSED CONTRACTOR/MANUFACTURER:

Nucleus Automation LLC

142 Appaloosa Cove Jarrell, TX 76537

CAGE: 9ZPF4

UEID: HFYEYDH3LLU5

Business Size: Small Business

3. ESTIMATED TOTAL VALUE: $74,500.00

4. STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION: The statutory authority permitting sole source is 41 USC 1901(e), implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i):

_x__ Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

___ Unusual and Compelling Urgency

___ Industrial Mobilization; Engineering, Developmental, or Research Capability; or Expert Services

___ International Agreement

___ Authorized or Required by Statute

___ National Security

___ Public Interest

5. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE AUTHORITY CITED ABOVE:

The item(s) listed in section one above is available from only one source and competition is precluded for reasons indicated below. There are no substitutes available.

___ Compatibility: The item(s) must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with existing systems presently installed. Describe the equipment you have now and how the new item/service must coordinate, connect, or interface with the existing system:

___ Proprietary: A patent, copyright, or proprietary data limits competition. The proprietary data are described as follows:

___ Experimental Continuity: The item(s) must be consistent with prior materials in order to ensure experimental continuity. Describe the conditions that necessitate the use of experimental continuity:

___ Warranty: Purchasing item(s) from another manufacturer/provider would void existing warranty. Provide a brief explanation for the use of this reason and the impact that would occur if the item was purchased from another manufacturer/provider:

___ Direct Replacement: These are “direct replacement” parts/components for existing equipment and no substitutes exist.

_x__ Other reasoning to support a sole-source buy:

The Synthetic Biology Tools Branch and Biotechnology Sciences Division of the Army Research Directorate (ARD) of the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) currently owns one (1) Fluent Liquid Handling Platform, manufactured by Tecan U.S. purchased under contract W911QX-20-P-0041. The Fluent Liquid Platform requires the purchase of application support in the form of scripts needed to upgrade features on the existing liquid handling system.

The purpose of this application support is to increase the sample preparation and processing workflows for synthetic biology projects. As previously mentioned, the Fluent Liquid Handling Platform was purchased from Tecan U.S. under contract number W911QX-20-P-0041 for $387,193.93. Various upgrades to the system have been purchased under contract numbers: W911QX24P0206, W911QX24P0061, and W911QX24P0041 totalling $249,163.73. While the manufacturer, Tecan U.S, performed hardware installation and integration, there was zero application support. With no formal training in Tecan Control software, these upgrades were inoperable to DEVCOM ARL employees who maintain and use the instrument.

Only Nucleus Automation LLC possesses the experience and expertise to supply the required application support for the Tecan Fluent 1080 system owned by the Government. Nucleus Automation LLC Partners have been in the liquid handling and automation industry for over 10+ years, and the company employs ex-Tecan workers well-versed in the operational requirements of the Tecan Fluent system. They have direct experience integrating the following devices on the system with all devices being included in application support requirements:

1) Infinite M200 reader (below deck)

2) Incubator, MIO2, 6-Pos, Calibrated to 37°C, ambient + 5°C to 53°C, Shaking

3) Incubator, MIO2, 4-Position, Calibrated to 37°C, ambient + 5°C to 53°C, Shaking

4) Hotel, Fluent, 9-Position, Microplates or Tip Boxes, Adjustable Shelves

5) Hotel, 5-Position, Microplates or Tip Boxes, Static Shelves

6) SHAKER QINSTRUMENTS BIOSHAKE Q1 (quantity 3)

7) Q.Instruments ColdPlate

8) Vacuum Separation, High Throughput, Te-VacS

9) BCR MICROHAWK V430 FIX FOCUS 190MM

10) Barcode Scanner, Wasp, Hand-held, 2D

11) SciRobotics, Petri Plater, for EVO and Fluent, Kit

12) SciRobotics, PetriSelMX (Carousel for Petri Dishes and SBS)

In addition, Nucleus Automation LLC are a certified partner of SciRobotics, a major hardware component of the most recent Tecan Fluent upgrades. Further, Nucleus Automation LLC is located nearby to Austin, TX, providing convenient and rapid on-site technical support.

Based on all this information, and a thorough analysis of the competitive marketplace, the Government has determined that Nucleus Automation LLC is the only company that meets the Government’s requirements. It is important to stress that the requirement is scripting and validation of those scripts, which requires operation of the Tecan Fluent automated liquid handling platform. A single robot vector being off by as little as a few millimeters can cause instrument damage resulting in thousands of dollars in damage and significant downtime while waiting to procure repairs. Scripting in Fluent Control requires specialized expertise and validating the scripts by operating the robot also requires special training and experience. Because the team at Nucleus Automation Partners LLC includes ex-Tecan employees, they are most capable of meeting our requirement.

Failure to procure the required application support will result in failure to meet deliverables outlined by the Office of the Secretary of Defense program titled Triservice Biotechnology for Resilient Supply Chain (TBRSC). Specifically, this procurement supports the SABRE project, with the objective of building infrastructure within the Army to deliver synthetic biology products to the tri-service (Army, Navy, Air Force) product development pipeline. Additionally, the Government’s investment in the liquid handling platform is more than $600,000.00 already, and this cost is not expected to be recovered through competition if Nucleus Automation partners is not used.

Randi Pullen, a Research Biologist in FCDD-RLH-HD, with over five (5) years of experience in this field, conducted market research between 01 May 2024 and 01 October 2024. Market research techniques included searching Government required sources such as the GSA federal supply schedule, Unique Corporation (UNICOR), and Ability One Procurement, contacting knowledgeable subject matter experts within the Government and industry, and utilizing internet websites of vendors such as SciRobotics (https://scirobotics.com/petriplater-spiral-plater/). Additionally, on 05 December 2024, a Sources Sought notice was issued on SAM.gov for five (5) days for this opportunity to expand the Government’s market analysis of small businesses’ capabilities and to determine industry interest, capability, and relevant experience. No other companies were deemed capable of meeting the requirement of having past experience with this specific Tecan instrument which is imperative for the reasons outlined above (see Sources Sought Responses Summary in PCF). The Tecan Fluent automation support is unavailable through GSA, UNICOR, and Ability One. As a result, it was determined that a sole source procurement to Nucleus Automation LLC is recommended and, in the Government’s best interest.

6. FAIR AND REASONABLE PRICE DETERMINATION:

It has been determined that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable and that approval of this recommendation is in the best interest of the government. This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Template last updated 4/23/2018