JA FAR 13.106- TAM AIR Isothermal Calorimeter_R.pdf

This is a Justification Review Document for a single-source procurement by the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Concrete Materials Branch. The document seeks to acquire one (1) TAM Air Isothermal Calorimeter from TA Instruments - Waters, LLC for $58,160, utilizing FAR Part 13 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items. The specialized equipment is required to evaluate cement heat of hydration in accordance with ASTM C1702, with specific requirements including ±0.001 °C thermostat temperature stability, 8-channel 20 mL calorimeter, mixing vials for 100+ samples, internal mixing ampules, and compatibility with existing ERDC thermostats.

Market research conducted through internet sources and industry expertise determined that TA Instruments - Waters, LLC is the only vendor capable of providing the required unique calorimeter characteristics. A Notice of Intent to Sole Source was posted on SAM.gov from 22-29 August 2025, with no competitive responses received. The procurement method is a Sole Source FAR acquisition, with no small business set-aside. The document includes prior procurement history showing previous purchases from the same vendor, with contract amounts of $58,160 and $53,030 respectively, using similar procurement methods.