JUSTIFICATION.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR RESTRICTED COMPETITION

BELOW THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD (SAT)

SOLE SOURCE

1. Name and Location of the organization making the purchase:

Federal Highway Administration 22001 Loudoun County Parkway Building E2, Suite 200 Ashburn, VA 20147

2. Description of supplies and/or services being procured:

Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division (EFLHD) M a t e r i a l s L ab requires Laboratory Equipment Calibration, Repair, Repair Parts and Certification. The total estimated amount of this action is $60,000 to be expended over a one-year period of performance.

Name and Contact Information of Required Source:

InstroTek, Inc., 1 Triangle Dr.

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

Point of Contact: Andrew Smith, 919-523-9292. asmith@instrotek.com

3. Rationale:

The FHWA laboratory must maintain uninterrupted compliance with AASHTO R18 and ASTM C1077, which require timely, traceable calibration and documentation continuity for specialized materials-testing instruments. To meet these accreditation requirements, the laboratory must use a provider capable of performing integrated calibration, adjustment, repair, and certification during the same service period. Separating calibration and repairs between multiple vendors introduces delays, breaks documentation continuity, and creates a risk of accreditation findings.

For the current accreditation cycle, InstroTek is the only source reasonably available that can provide the required level of service without jeopardizing accreditation, schedule, or operational continuity.

Integrated calibration + repair capability: InstroTek is the only vendor with verified ability to calibrate equipment, identify out-of-tolerance conditions, and complete repairs or part replacements during the same service visit, preventing extended downtime and preserving traceability as required under AASHTO R18 and ASTM C1077.

Familiarity with FHWA’s specific laboratory equipment (2021–present): InstroTek has maintained the lab’s calibration program since 2021 and already possesses detailed knowledge of mailto:asmith@instrotek.com the lab’s instrument configurations, historical calibration trends, and documentation formats used in previous accreditation reviews. Transitioning to a new vendor at this stage would require establishing new baselines, reconciling documentation formats, and validating new traceability paths - all of which introduce unacceptable risk to accreditation compliance.

Availability of proprietary and limited-source repair parts: InstroTek stocks repair parts and has demonstrated the ability to restore equipment to conformance on-site. No alternative vendor is currently validated to provide both calibration and the specialized repairs/parts needed within the same service window.

Risk associated with delay or multi-vendor workflow: Attempting competition at this stage, or separating calibration from repairs, would result in multi-week delays, additional procurements, inconsistent calibration records, and potential gaps in accreditation traceability. These risks are incompatible with the laboratory’s accreditation timeline and operational needs.

Based on the Government’s knowledge of the marketplace and the laboratory’s accreditation and calibration requirements, InstroTek is the only known responsible source capable of providing the required services for this accreditation cycle. The laboratory’s accreditation protocols require technical compatibility with existing InstroTek equipment and proprietary parts and repair, which no other vendors currently offer. As a result, InstroTek is the only source capable of meeting the Government’s minimum requirements without jeopardizing laboratory operations.

4. Authority:

The authority to enter into a contract for this effort with restricted competition is 41 U.S.C.

1901 under FAR 12.201-1, Simplified procedures.