JA_Great Lakes Wellness Sole Souce_Redacted.pdf

Requisition Number: Version 1.0 Page 1 of 8

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH (STATE

AUTHORITY E.G., 10 U.S.C. 2304 (C)(1) OR 41 USC 253)

Requisition Number:

Date: 9/18/2025 Estimated Contract Dollar Value:

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Acquisition Programs Unit (NAPU), has prepared this justification for other than full and open competition for Great Lakes Gelatin ballistics gel powder on behalf of Training Division (TD), Ballistic Research Facility (BRF).

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved, i.e., sole source, limited competition, establishment of a new source, etc.

The proposed action is to acquire Great Lakes Gelatin ballistics gel powder used by the FBI’s Ballistic Research Facility. The resultant contract is intended to be awarded as a sole-source, one-time, firm-fixed price purchase order for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs.

The FBI has a need to procure Great Lakes Wellness ballistics gel powder to support their divisions’ ballistic research and testing efforts. The ballistics gel powder will be used to conduct meticulous ballistic testing with ammo, armor, and weapons capturing in the gel to ensure and improve the safety of all Special Agents and the American people.

4. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C 253(c)(1) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1 entitled, “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.”.

5. Demonstrate the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority.

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The FBI’s Ballistic Research Facility (BRF) requires gelatin to be Type A ballistic gelatin with a 250 Bloom and 40 Mesh. Due to the specific nature of BRF’s work, it is crucial that all testing and research is used on a ballistic gel that is currently in use so that there will not be any discrepancy in the results which may cast doubts on every test report that follows. A key component of the Great Lakes ballistics gelatin is that they have high quality clarity. By utilizing another brand, the BRF could lose clarity and not be able to see the critical aspects of bullet performance in the blocks. BRF validates every block by shooting a non-expanding steel sphere into it and they must stop, given a valid shot velocity, at 2.95-3.74”. Moving to different blocks could skew results and effect the overall standard at BRF. Great Lakes ballistics gelatin is also extremely consistent. Each block made by their gelatin powder have a very low variability between each other thus consistently leading to comparable results.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

A notice of intent (NOI) is being publicized to allow the opportunity for vendors to demonstrate their ability to meet the FBI’s specific needs through a submission of their technical capabilities. This NOI is being publicized in SAM.gov for twelve (12) days.

7. The anticipated dollar value of the proposed acquisition, including options if applicable, and a determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The anticipated dollar value of this award is . Prior to issuing an award, the Contracting Officer will determine that the proposed price is fair and reasonable in accordance with FAR 13.106-3.

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results.

Significant market research efforts conducted by the FBI included a general market study of commercially available, non-custom, equipment advertised as providing ballistics gelatin powder at a reasonable cost threshold. Sources for this information included, but was not limited to: broad searches of the internet; review of technical literature, GSA, and known suppliers.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

Please see section five (5) above.

10. A listing of any sources that expressed a written interest in the acquisition.

A NOI is currently posted on SAM.gov to provide opportunity for vendors to submit any written interests as well as their technical capability statements.

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11. A statement of any actions the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition, if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated.

The actions of the FBI to identify potential sources possessing the ability to satisfy this and similar requirements are ongoing. Over time, additional sources may become available and identifiable through market surveys, trade shows, magazine articles, collaboration with other Federal agencies, or other means. The ability to predict this possibility is difficult. Therefore, the barriers to competition they impose are impossible to avoid.