Final Sole Source Justification Meat Grading Stamp Equipment.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Limited Source/Brand Name Justification

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) – Simplified Acquisitions Grading Stamps and Applicators

Section 1: Limited Sources Justification

1.1 Identification of the Agency and Contracting Activity

Requesting Agency:

USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Livestock & Poultry Program

ATTN: Keith Reisma West Lake Corporate Park, Searcy Bldg.

10809 Executive Center Drive, Ste. 318 Little Rock, AR 72211

Contracting Activity:

USDA, APHIS

Acquisition and Asset Management Division (AAMD) Procurement Branch

250 Marquette Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55401

1.2 The Nature and/or Description of the Action to Meet the Agency’s Need The USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Livestock and Poultry Program (LPP) seeks to purchase equipment that will be utilized to apply Official USDA Grade marks on meat carcasses.

The equipment should comply with current Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) standards for equipment that contacts meat for human consumption and have an ergonomic design to minimize repetitive motion injuries.

The USDA AAS/Grading Applicator and Stamps is an aluminum main holder (2 1/4” x 2 7/8” x 2 1/16”), with two (2) sides that are slotted to accept a titanium stamp Accepted as Specified Stamp (2 1/4" x 2 5/16” x 1/2”) and a titanium Quality Pop Stamp (1 1/4" x 1 3/8” x 1/2"). The aluminum main holder (head) is attached to a titanium handle (with an approved grip) that is 11” long. The titanium handle has a threaded collar that is pressed on and screwed into the aluminum head and then pinned securely into place. The stamps on the USDA applicator will be held securely in place with a plate and screws with a total finished weight of under 16 ounces.

The USDA Quality and Yield grade Ring will be made of an aluminum ring, that is slotted to accept a titanium pop stamp and 5 (five) yield grades. The pop stamp will be the exact same size as the pop stamp on the camera hammer in 3# and the dimensions of the yield grade stamps will be approximately the same size as the pop stamp. The stamps will be glued (using a two-part high tensile strength epoxy resin) and pressed into the slots on the aluminum ring in a manner to resist both hot (over 300 degrees F) and freezing temperatures without breaking free. The stamps will be oriented so that if you lay the ring down on the side, the stamps will be

Developed by ASI Government™ for Federal Government use and customization.

oriented on their side. The titanium pop stamps will be identical to the titanium pop stamps (USDA Shield style) previously made and issued by the USDA (with the exception of the unique identifier). The round aluminum ring will have a landmark (tab) located on the inside of the ring and under the yield grade stamp with the number 5 inside the shield and opposite of the pop stamp. The yield grade stamps will consist of a USDA shield outline that contains letters in all capitols: USDA across the top, YG vertically on the left side and a unique, letter and number identifier that matches the unique identifier on the USDA Grading applicator with a pop stamp and Accepted as Specified (AAS). The final product will weigh less than or equal to the current USDA Quality and Yield grading ring.

The USDA Quality and Yield grading hammer has an aluminum head in the shape of a ring with spokes to a common center hub that a 9” long, 5/8” diameter handle is glued and pressed into.

The pop stamp will be the exact same size as the pop stamp on the camera hammer in 3# and the dimensions of the yield grade stamps will be approximately the same size as the pop stamp.

The aluminum head is slotted to accept a titanium pop stamp and 5 (five) yield grades. The handle and stamps will be glued (using a two-part high tensile strength epoxy resin) and pressed into the aluminum head in a manner to resist both hot (over 300 degrees F) and freezing temperatures without breaking free. The titanium pop stamps will be the same size as all other titanium pop stamps previously issued or made in the future. The yield grade stamps will consist of a shield outline that contains letters in all capitols: USDA across the top, YG vertically on the left side and a unique, letter and number identifier that matches the unique identifier on the USDA Grading applicator with a pop stamp and Accepted as Specified (AAS). A grip will be installed on the handle, either smooth plastic or a rubber material as selected by the USDA. The final product will weigh less than 17 ounces.

1.3 Rational or Circumstances for Limiting Competition

The USDA intends to issue a sole source award to the following vendor:

Herman Engraving, Inc.

4614 Cuming Street Omaha, NE 68132 Company Point of Contact and Phone Number: Michael D. Hahn, President, 402-551-6622

The USDA “Accepted As Specified” (AAS)/Grading Applicator and Stamp currently in use was designed and manufactured by Herman Engraving. The circumstances limiting competition are due to the fact this stamp equipment is only available from this manufacturer. There are no substitute grading stamps and applicators available.

The additional quantities of grading applicator and stamping equipment purchased now under this sole source justification in 2022 are required to be identical to the specification stamps created and procured in 2018 and 2020 by Herman Engraving and in use by Quality Assessment Division (QAD). The grading stamps and applicators being procured are the same as what was procured in 2020 under order 12639520F0464 from Herman Engraving.

Careful testing of other options has determined that no deviations in stamp or materials are acceptable.

The grading stamps and applicators and material must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with existing ones utilized. A uniform stamp and applicator is integral to the integrity of the USDA stamp that is applied to the product. A uniform stamp is used by all the graders in all of the plants in every state. Since USDA staff/graders travel on relief to all parts of the country, a uniform stamp is needed to assist the industry in recognizing different grades when the industry employs a workforce with a multitude of different languages and English is a second or third language. In many plants, the plant provides an employee to use the applicator to apply the stamp under the guidance of the USDA grader, thus the applicator needs to be uniform as well. The unique identifier is the only change on each stamp, which allows the USDA to identify which employee (grader) graded what product.

The material or service must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with listed specifications. The current equipment (to be replaced) is comprised of brass Accepted As Specified stamps and soft metal grading stamps, which the new Titanium stamps and applicator will replace and will coordinate, connect, or interface with the existing system by being a replica of the current stamps. The stamps and applicators being purchased under this sole source and ensuing purchase order will phase out the current brass stamps and equipment, as it is over 40+ years old in design and no longer manufactured. The new stamp material will be more durable than the previous soft metal stamps and will provide QAD with the next generation of official USDA grade stamping. The grading ring and hammer will have the same size stamps as the new Titanium AAS/grading stamp applicator and made of same type of materials. The unique identifier will be the same codes on the grading ring or hammer to match the AAS/grading hammer already issued so each QAD representative will have one unique code.

1.4 Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results or a Statement of the Reason Market Research was not Conducted

Research was conducted and found that the Government’s needs could not be met by a commercial off the shelf product (COTS) even with modifications.

The specific characteristics of the raw material being used limits the available small business manufacturing companies who can manufacture the applicator with stamps in house without sub-contracting out to other companies. The control of the official grading equipment samples, quality of delivered product and delivery of the finished USDA stamps and applicator timeline are factors that limit the availability to a sole source to only a few areas where management is available to oversee production and in one location. To insure a 30-year service life of the stamps and to keep the stamps and applicator weight to a minimum for ergonomic and safety reasons, titanium is the material of choice. It is extremely difficult to work with and requires a specialized manufacturing process, operator skill set and equipment that many small business manufacturers are not able to provide.

1.5 Estimated Price Including all Options if Applicable

The total price of the purchase order to be issued is $139,870.00 which is for the cost for 30 double headed hand stamps, 50 yield grade hammer stamps and 50 yield grade ring stamps.

1.6 Recommended Sources

There are no other recommended sources and no sources expressed an interest in this acquisition. The specifications will be made available with this justification if any other sources believe they are able to provide the requested product.

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.

Nicole Dixon Project Officer

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.

Corinne Nygren Contracting Officer