DnF for OTFOC Tomography Holder Purchase_Redacted.pdf

Template last updated 4/23/2018

DETERMINATION & FINDINGS FOR OTHER THAN FULL & OPEN COMPETITION

(ACTIONS SAT AND BELOW)

1. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROCUREMENT: The Government requires the procurement of quantity one (1) transmission electron microscope (TEM) tomography holder in accordance with the Salient Characteristics and shipping to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD 21005-5066.

2. PROPOSED CONTRACTOR/MANUFACTURER:

Hummingbird Precision Machine Co.

2610 Willamette DR NE STE A Lacey, Washington, 98516 CAGE Code: 6DBJ9

3. ESTIMATED TOTAL VALUE:

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 Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Army Research Directorate (ARD) requires the procurement of one (1) transmission electron microscope (TEM) tomography holder. The ARL Ceramic and Transparent Materials Branch needs a tomography holder that has a 3mm half grid tip to allow for atom probe samples to be loaded into the holder for precession electron diffraction (PED) to be performed with our in-house system before being analyzed in the TEM.

In addition, this half grid tip setup is compatible with the current procedure used by ARL scientists in making atom probe samples versus attempting to adapt this procedure to accommodate holder setups by other manufacturers.

The tomography holder with the 3mm half grid tip manufactured by Hummingbird Precision Machine Co. is compatible with the Government owned JEOL 2100F transmission electron microscope (TEM). Market Research was conducted from 4 March 2024 to 14 March 2024 and found only Hummingbird Precision Machine Co. as a viable company to produce the necessary transmission electron microscope (TEM) tomography holder. Furthermore a sources sought was posted to SAM.gov on 01 May 2024 and no offers were received for the posting.

Failure to procure the subject requirement will result in the Ceramic and Transparent Materials Branch being unable to further their research programs due to the lack of versatility their current TEM tomography holder has compared to the 3mm half grid tip TEM tomography holder they are seeking. Additionally, purchasing a TEM tomography holder from a vendor besides Hummingbird Precision Machine Co. could cause a significant delay in the Ceramic and Transparent Materials Branch ability to conduct new research as purchasing a TEM tomography holder from someone over than Hummingbird Precision Machine Co. may not be compatible with the Government owned JEOL 2100F transmission electron microscope (TEM). Based on the aforementioned, Hummingbird Precision Machine Co. is the only company capable of meeting all the governments minimum requirements for this action.

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.