FAR 13 Single Source or Brand Name Justification Less Than SAT.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture Limited Source/Brand Name Justification

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) – Simplified Acquisitions Control No. (if applicable) ______________________

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

1a. Requesting Activity Agency: USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS), Strategy & Policy (S&P) unit.

1b. Contracting Activity: USDA, APHIS, Marketing and Regulatory Programs Business Services (MRPBS), Acquisition and Asset Management Division (AAMD)

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

The purpose of this project is to promote disease traceability for Mexican cattle entering the United States, which aligns with the current ADT rule update in November 2024 (eCFR :: 9 CFR Part 86 -- Animal Disease Traceability) improving animal disease traceability for cattle in the U.S.

The USDA APHIS proposes to enter a one-year firm fixed price contract with Allflex USA LLC for supplies and services related to installation and upkeep of four (4) RFID reader systems at the San Jeronimo, Chihuahua, MX location and eight (8) RFID reader systems at the U.S./Mexico Southern Border Port of Santa Teresa, NM. Work will be conducted on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border, requiring sensitivity to international relations, as well as goodwill with the Chihuahua Cattlemen’s Association. The project will include panel readers, wand readers, and related infrastructure to allow for recording and reporting of RFID ear tags on cattle imported into the United States.

3. The rationale or circumstances for limiting competition.

The purpose of limiting competition is to upgrade the established Allflex equipment at the San Jeronimo and Santa Teresa sites. These updates will improve data collection and communication within USDA’s VSPS (Veterinary Services Process Streamlining) system.

Allflex has previously worked with the facility owners to successfully install and maintain RFID tag reading equipment. They have worked with the property owner and cooperator, the Chihuahua Cattlemen’s Association, on installations of RFID readers and equipment and are a vendor that has an installation track record on both sides of the US border at these locations. Allflex has the necessary relationships with the facility owners as well as the skills and services in this location to deliver the required supplies and services.

The VSPS System is used by nine Southern Border Port sites, including San Jeronimo and Santa Teresa.

Data from these sites are collected through use of the Allflex equipment and distributed amongst all nine Southern Border Port sites. Over 600,000 Mexican cattle pass through the San Jeronimo inspection site each year, all interacting with the Allflex Equipment, and VSPS System. Disrupting the data collection process by introducing new equipment from another manufacturer would be detrimental to USDA APHIS VS’s mission as it would compromise the traceability and cohesion of data collected. The proposed contract will utilize infrastructure and equipment previously provided and currently maintained by Allflex.

Lastly, combining an equivalent product with the preexisting Allflex RFID equipment would nullify any warranties for products installed by all companies involved. Disrupting the current equipment’s maintenance and repair by terminating its warranty would risk damage to the inspection site tracking system. Since all the equipment is installed for disease traceability, purchasing the equipment from Allflex allows for serviceability from a company that has a long reputation of product quality within the animal ID industry.

As described above, Allflex’s specialized equipment, expertise and track record make this system and supplier the only reliable option for this contract.

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

Internet searches were conducted to identify any potential sources. No capable sources were identified due to the highly specialized requirements of this project. An Intent to Sole Source Notice will be posted to SAM.gov to notify industry of this requirement.

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

The estimated price is below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT), at

6. Recommended source(s).

Allflex USA LLC

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.

Alexa McCourt-Quinlan Veterinary Medical Officer National Animal Disease Traceability and Veterinary Accreditation Center

The information contained in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief and in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-1(b)(1), I hereby determine the circumstances described above deem only one source, or limited sources, reasonably available and competition is precluded for the reasons indicated in this document.

Samantha Johnson Contracting Officer

ALEXA MCCOURT Digitally signed by ALEXA MCCOURT Date: 2025.01.06 10:49:05 -07'00'