JOFOC0003334.pdf

Requisition Number: DJF-23-0700-PR-0003334 Version 1.0 Page 1 of 6

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

FINANCE DIVISION | PROCUREMENT

SECTION

JUSTIFICATION

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 6.302-1, ONLY ONE RESPONSIBLE SOURCE AND NO OTHER SUPPLIES OR

SERVICES WILL SATISFY AGENCY REQUIREMENTS.

AUTHORITY: 41 U.S.C. 3304 (A) (1)

Requisition Number: DJF-23-0700-PR-0003334

Date: 05/24/2023

Estimated Contract Dollar Value: N/A

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Finance and Facilities

Division (FFD), Procurement Section (PS), National Acquisition Programs Unit (NAPU) has prepared this justification for other than full and open competition for one (1) multi-scale reaction calorimetry and one (1) remote operation synthesis station on behalf of the FBI’s Laboratory

Division (LD), Terrorist Explosives Device Analytical Center (TEDAC) Section, TEDAC

Improvised Explosives Synthesis and Detection (TIEDS) Unit.

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

This is a sole-source, one-time, firm-fixed-price contract that will be awarded to METTLER-

TOLEDO AutoChem, Inc., (CAGE Code 1P8Y0), 6708 Alexander Bell Drive, Suite 200, Columbia, Maryland, 21046; to acquire one (1) EasyMax 402 System and one (1) OptiMax

System.

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

The LD’s mission is to apply scientific capabilities and technical services to the collection, processing, and exploitation of evidence for the FBI and other duly constituted law enforcement and intelligence agencies in support of investigative and intelligence priorities.

The TIEDS Unit is executing a joint improvised explosives research effort with the U.S.

Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate (S&T). TIEDS overall goal of the research is to thoroughly characterize and evaluate improvised explosive materials.

Requisition Number: DJF-23-0700-PR-0003334 Version 1.0 Page 2 of 6

This research requires the ability to synthesize materials, both explosive and inert, in-house in a reliable and efficient manner. Such process development requires the utilization of various thermochemical parameters to conduct sufficient hazard analysis and maximize safety of personnel and property while also maximizing the yield per reaction. Having a reactor system capable of measuring, calculating, and implementing these parameters is essential for safe and successful production of hazardous materials. Operationally simple reactor automation provides the ability to conduct scale-up operations remotely while significantly reducing the hazard to personnel involved in the operations.

The TIEDS Unit currently possesses the ability to remotely scale up and manufacture explosives utilizing thermochemical information such as the heat of reaction data collected from an already acquired Mettler-Toledo EasyMax 402 Thermostat reactor system. [The FBI purchased one (1)

EasyMax 402 System via Contract No. DJF161200P0002163 on 1/11/2016.] This 2-cell reactor unit is capable of remotely determining the thermochemical properties of a reaction, such as the heat of reaction and heat capacity of the reaction matrix for a given set of conditions. These thermochemical properties can then be utilized in scale up processes to safely implement the manufacture of the explosive or other hazardous materials at scales ranging from 100’s to 1,000’s of grams. This system is now over seven (7) years old and is due for replacement. While other reactor systems do exist, TIEDS requires a replacement unit that can directly replace the current unit for which all our methods have been developed. Mettler-Toledo is the only manufacturer that can guarantee compatibility with the existing methods developed for our synthetic operations.

In addition, TIEDS has a requirement for the OptiMax system capable of scale-up to the one (1) liter scale. [The FBI purchased one (1) RC1mx (large-scale reactor) system via Contract No.

15F06721P0003058 on 9/14/2021.] The OptiMax is the middle ground between the small

EasyMax and the RC1mx systems. This OptiMax is directly compatible with the software, reaction input parameters, and thermochemical data generated by the EasyMax 402 reactor system.

This allows the OptiMax to be seamlessly integrated into the scale up processes and provide additional capacity as well as safe remote handling operations for synthesis personnel. The reaction parameters of an optimized synthetic process, after being determined with the EasyMax, can be directly imported into the OptiMax or the RC1mx by adjusting only for material quantity and the larger reactor sizes. The OptiMax and/or RC1mx then takes the data from the EasyMax

402 and conducts the process making any additional adjustments automatically as it executes the synthetic process. This type of intimate compatibility ensures the safety of the operators while maintaining the integrity of the synthetic process across the entire volume ranges covered by both reactors. This seamless integration between the EasyMax 402, OptiMax and the already acquired

RC1mx is essential to the safe scale-up of explosive materials at the TIEDS Center.

Both the OptiMax and the EasyMax units are proprietary technologies to allow tight control of reaction parameters. The temperature control system and the heat flow calorimetry method of measurement has been proprietary technologies based upon the RC1 introduced by Mettler-Toledo over 40 years ago. Both instruments use iControl Software, (a proprietary software package), that allows for full integration to other Mettler-Toledo PAT equipment, (such as the ReactIR, ReactRaman, ParticleTrack and EasyViewer). Mettler-Toledo is the only vendor that supplies reactor systems and PAT tools that work seamlessly together. Both the EasyMax and OptiMax are part of the RC1mx family using the exact same software so that there will be no learning curve

Requisition Number: DJF-23-0700-PR-0003334 Version 1.0 Page 3 of 6 to operate this new equipment. The OptiMax is a 1 Liter vessel and the EasyMax uses 400- and

100-ml vessels and therefore the OptiMax is used to help scale-up TIEDS chemistry. Moreover, the FBI owns much larger vessels as part of their RC1mx configuration to further scale-up toward production level volumes.

a. Below are requirements that the EasyMax 402 reactor system must meet:

1. Have a volumetric dosing system

2. Have a large volume range covering from 15 mL up to 400 mL using the same thermostat

3. Provide Continuous data logging, processing, and storage with compatibility and export ability to Microsoft Windows applications

4. Provide a GMP/GLP Logbook (DQ/CQ/IQ/OQ/PQ) including RC1e certification and peripheral equipment track record

5. Provide a combination of highly controlled and documented reaction conditions and characterization tools as basis of the design concept.

6. Provide a sophisticated safety concept with separated levels of control (warning, loop deactivation, emergency cooling). This user defined safety monitoring allows unattended operation of hazardous chemistry

7. Incorporate latest iControl software technology capable of seamlessly interfacing all three reactor systems: the EasyMax 402, OptiMax, and RC1mx

8. Provide control of all reaction parameters via an easy-to-use touchscreen

9. Provide for pre-programming of up to 6 steps on graphical display touchpad

10. Provide bi-directional communication between touchscreen and PC software when used together

11. Provide configuration and management of all devices and sub devices

12. Be equipped with one-click report generation

13. Provide for future optional upgrades for reaction calorimeter without requiring hardware upgrades

14. Reactor must be in new condition

b. Below are requirements that the OptiMax reactor system must meet:

1. Provide a sophisticated safety concept with separated levels of control (warning, loop deactivation, emergency cooling). This user defined safety monitoring allows unattended operation of hazardous chemistry

2. Have volumetric and/or gravimetric dosing system; both being highly preferred

3. Have a large volume range covering from 200 mL up to 1 L using the same thermostat

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4. Be capable of utilizing pH-Control: with dedicated high resistance input for electrodes and an optimized control algorithm for one or double-sided pH control loops

5. Provide automated messaging and emergency triggering upon fault detection in RAM, ROM, CPU or A/D converters

6. Provide for inert gas purge flow control with built in rotameter

7. Have the option for kinetics analysis software that automatically imports data from the reaction controller – either in Excel format or in PC native file format enabling the easy conversion of thermal conversion into kinetics information

8. Provide bi-directional communication between touchscreen and PC software when used together

9. Provide configuration and management of all devices and sub devices

10. Be equipped with one-click report generation

11. Provide for future optional upgrades for reaction calorimeter without requiring hardware upgrades

12. Provide a combination of highly controlled and documented reaction conditions and characterization tools as basis of the design concept.

13. Incorporate latest iControl software technology capable of seamlessly interfacing all three reactor systems: the EasyMax 402, OptiMax, and RC1mx

14. Provide a GMP/GLP Logbook (DQ/CQ/IQ/OQ/PQ) including RC1e certification and peripheral equipment track record

15. Be compatible with Stavex (DOE), Dynochem (Simulation), Visimix (Mixing

Simulation) et al software packages.

16. Incorporate latest iControl software technology capable of seamlessly interfacing all three reactor systems: the EasyMax 402, OptiMax, and RC1mx

17. Reactor must be in new condition

Additional considerations the unit must provide:

1. The TIEDS center currently owns and utilizes a Mettler Toledo EasyMax 402 that requires a direct replacement. TIEDS has seven (7) years of method development on this system and the methods cannot be transferred to any other existing reactor systems that are not manufactured by Mettler-Toledo. In addition, the replacement EasyMax unit must be able to have a reaction calorimetry system transferred from the old unit and seamlessly integrated. The technology is only compatible with Mettler-Toledo systems.

2. The OptiMax and RC1mx use the same iControl software that seamlessly integrates with

Mettler Toledo’s add-on products like the ReactIR (in-situ Mid-IR), ReactRaman (in-situ

Raman) and FBRM (in-situ particle size measurement) technologies. These additional technologies will allow TIEDS to monitor reaction and/or crystallization processes as a

Requisition Number: DJF-23-0700-PR-0003334 Version 1.0 Page 5 of 6 function of reaction parameters provided through the iControl software without the requirement to upgrade the hardware. This means that monitoring of reactants, products, intermediates, side products etc. using the ReactIR or ReactRaman and/or particle size trends measured by the FBRM in real time on the same screen as the reaction parameter trends (temperature, dosing, pH, stir rate, etc. measured by the OptiMax/RC1mx. While these products are not included in the scope of this acquisition, they will become necessary in the very near future to accomplish the mission of the Unit.

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

For purposes of this acquisition, the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is delineated at 41 U.S.C. 3304 (a) (1) and implemented at FAR Part 6.302-1, “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.

From the information the FBI has gathered, METTLER-TOLEDO AutoChem, Inc. is the sole manufacturer and distributer of the EasyMax 402 and OptiMax reactor systems.

See section 3 above.

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.

The FBI will publicize the notice of intent to award a sole-source contract on the SAM.gov website.

This announcement will give an opportunity for other vendors to demonstrate their ability to meet the FBI’s specific needs through a submission of technical capabilities and cost information.

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.

Before awarding a contract, the Contracting Officer will perform a determination of price reasonableness in accordance with FAR 13.106-3.

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

Market research was done with phone solicitations, internet searches, and meetings with knowledgeable individuals in the related industry.

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

See section 5 above.

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/html/Subpart%205_2.html#wp1107980 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/html/Subpart%205_2.html#wp1107990

Requisition Number: DJF-23-0700-PR-0003334 Version 1.0 Page 6 of 6

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

A synopsis will be posted on the SAM.gov website. This synopsis will give an opportunity for other vendors to demonstrate their ability to meet the FBI’s specific needs through a submission of technical capabilities and cost information.

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

The FBI will continue to conduct market surveys and research available through industry shows and technology releases in the form of papers and journals on subsequent acquisitions.

Reviews and Approvals (Not exceeding $750,000.00)

Requestor:

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, and which form a basis for this justification, are complete and accurate.

Contracting Officer's Representatives (COR) Date

Research Chemist

Research and Support Unit, LD

Contracting Officer:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Bryan Lane Date bvlane@fbi.gov mailto:bvlane@fbi.gov