FAR-13-Single-Source-or-Brand-Name-Justification-Less-Than-SAT-(nr) (jp).docx

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: REE, ARS 1b. Contracting Activity: Southeast Area Office - 12405B

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

Leica DM 1000 LED Microscope and Flexacam C3 Camera Specifications:

Long-life LED illumination that provides near daylight, bright illumination with constant color temperature and emits less heat and is energy efficient. The LED bulb has a long product life of approximately 100,000 hours; assuming six hours of use per day, the bulb’s service life is 50 years. Low power consumption of the LED enables even battery operation. Height-adjustable focus knobs, easy-to- change stage controls, and the full range of ergonomic equipment. Focus knobs, Condenser lens CL Pol, Condenser CLP/PH 0.85 S1, ErgoStage with Ceramic Plate, Slide holder one hand slide change, XY- stage control standard, Eyepiece HC PLAN s 10x/22 Br. M, Tube BDTP 25 100/50/0 with fixed port, Obj. N PLAN 10x/0.25, Obj. N PLAN 20x/0.40, Obj. N PLAN 40x/0.75, Polarizer in mount, 32mm, Analyzer L ICT/P, Filter holder f. 2 filter 32mm, Lambda plate in holder, Analyzer mount TL L1/25, 60mm , Flexacam C3 Camera, H: 4,000; V: 3,000 (12 MP), Pixel dimensions 1.55 μm × 1.55 μm, Rolling Shutter, 100 μs – 120 ms Exposure range, 4K / 60 fps in HDMI mode frames/sec, Optical Filter: 650 nm IR cut off filter, LAS X / stand-alone operating system, C-Mount HC 0.55x, HP E27k G5 27" UHD, Standalone kit for Flexacam C3

3. The rationale or circumstances for limiting competition.

Not being able to obtain this specific microscope / camera would add months of extra time to take histological pictures that would be of poor quality and thus would be substantially harder to publish in high impact peer reviewed international journals. Currently, those under the marine finfish project use a microscope that is good for quantitatively scoring certain histological features. However, the picture quality is poor and takes an excessively long time to capture images. A new microscope is required to take high quality, publishable and representative histological pictures in a timely manner. This is important to not only efficiently go through hundreds of histological slides but to take high fidelity pictures for publication purposes. It is anticipated that with additional planned research in nutrition, disease, and early development of marine finfish, histology will increasingly be relied on for important analysis.

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

Market Research was conducted by the Purchasing Agent and indicated several small business vendors that could possibly supply the microscope. Research was also conducted on GSA Advantage that yielded no results. FPDS-NG showed recent purchases.

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

6. Recommended source(s).

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.

NICHOLAS ROMANO

Digitally signed by NICHOLAS ROMANO Date: 2025.01.17 13:42:15 -05'00'

Nicholas Romano Supervisory Research Fish Biologist

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.

JESSICA PACHECO PACHECO

Digitally signed by JESSICA Date: 2025.01.17 13:08:23 -06'00'

Jessica Pacheco 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 13.106-1(b) or 13.501 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.