Justification for Under SAT ds.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture Decision to Restrict Competition under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

Identification Number:

Rev. 10/29/25

In accordance with the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul (RFO) FAR 12.102 (a), the following documents the decision to restrict competition for this acquisition.

(1) Mission Area and Contracting Activity.

Requisition Number: 1168971

Requesting Activity Agency: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS), National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL)

Contracting Activity: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Marketing and Regulatory Programs Business Services (MRPBS), Acquisition and Asset Management Division (AAMD)

(2) Brief Description of Supplies or Services

The scope of this work is to purchase an annual preventative maintenance service agreement for the diagnostic equipment at the LAVECEN in the Dominican Republic. This service includes onsite visits from technicians, inspection and replacement of specific parts of the equipment that wear out or are broken with some exceptions.

As well as to provide customer service when there are issues with the instruments that result in delays or work stoppages.

The service is for the following instruments:

One (1) Bio Tek 40TS Plate Washer S/N: 21091011 One (1) Bio Tek 800TS Reader S/N: 2109282E One (1) Sorvall X4R-Pro S/N: 42935979 One (1) Kingfisher Duo S/N: 706-81387 Four (4) Kingfisher Flex S/Ns: 711-8GF00488; 711-8G2515; 711-86102; 711-284 Four (4) QuantStudio 5 S/Ns: 272513842; 272513571; 272512802; 272515454

(3) Suggested Source

The suggested contractor is:

BioAnalytical Instruments P.O. Box 270021 San Juan, Puero Rico 00927

UEI: W5KQZVDTKVK6

(4) Justification for Restricting Competition and the Basis for that Decision.

A. Explain the unique qualifications/characteristics of the proposed contractor or product and why no other contractor or product/service can meet the Government's need.

The above-mentioned instruments are used across NVSL and are the standardized testing and extraction platforms for NVSL laboratories at the National Centers for Animal Health (NCAH) and the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL). NVSL employees are only trained on these above-mentioned instruments. Additionally, this equipment is currently being used in the Dominican Republic, and no other equipment can meet the requirement needs in response to the African Swine Fever (ASF). Staff deploying to ASF affected areas already have experience and proficiency using these systems and the test assays have already been validated for use on this platform. These factors will ensure rapid set-up and

United States Department of Agriculture Decision to Restrict Competition under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

Identification Number:

Rev. 10/29/25 continuation of laboratory testing required to combat the current outbreak. The only source within the Dominican Republic that is capable of providing the service maintenance and/or calibration on the equipment under the warranty terms is BioAnalytical Instruments Inc.

B. Describe market research conducted and the results or the reason why no market research was conducted.

Market research was conducted by the NVSL to identify available sources and to evaluate the availability of the marketplace to meet the requirements as follows: Based on the results of market research, the government determined that other vendors were/are available, but none possessed the capability to provide the services NVSL requires on the equipment.

Additional market research was conducted by searching mandatory and non-mandatory Government sources. Market research and procurement history revealed that only one source, BioAnalytical Instruments Inc., is capable of performing the maintenance and calibration services under the warranty due to the location of the equipment. The warranty services require highly trained and certified instrument service technicians to perform the work. Only one source is known in the Puerto Rican area that can maintain and repair the equipment which is BioAnalytical Instruments Inc. The cost of either sending personnel to the Dominican Republic or sending equipment back to the United States for maintenance and/or repair would be exorbitant.

Certifications & Approvals

(5) Technical / Requirements Personnel Certification I certify this requirement meets the Government’s minimum need and that the supporting data, which forms a basis for this justification, is complete and accurate.

Rachel Palinski Date Interdisciplinary Biological Scientist

(6) Contracting Officer’s Certification I certify that the data supporting the recommended use of other than full and open competition accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. I hereby approve this justification.

Kathy Melby Date Contracting Officer