LAUDA May2025 SAMgov.pdf

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

FINANCE DIVISION | PROCUREMENT SECTION

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION

Requisition Number: SHOP-PR-25-001165 Version 2.6 Page 1

FAR 6.302-1, “ONLY ONE RESPONSIBLE SOURCE AND NO OTHER SUPPLIES OR SERVICES WILL

SATISFY AGENCY REQUIREMENTS”

(Under The Simplified Acquisition Threshold of $250,000.00)

Requisition Number: SHOP-PR-25-001165

Date: May 27th, 2025

Estimated Contract Dollar Value: $____________

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Procurement Section (PS), National Acquisition Programs Unit (NAPU) has prepared this justification for other than full and open competition on behalf of the Laboratory Division (LD), Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC) Section, TEDAC Improvised Explosives Detection and Synthesis (TIEDS) Center Unit.

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

In accordance with a statutory exception to the fair opportunity process, the FBI contemplates the award of a one-time, sole-source, firm fixed price (FFP) contract to LAUDA-Brinkmann, LP, (CAGE Code 5K1Y2), 9 East Stow Road, Suite C, Marlton, New Jersey, 08073 for one (1) LAUDA Integral IN 150 XT cooling thermostat and supplies.

This new contract is brand and model specific to maintain continuity of operations. TIEDS has other LAUDA-Brinkmann thermostats that are compatible with this new unit.

3. A complete description of the supplies and/or services required to meet the agency’s needs. Provide the estimated total value to complete the work (including any options, if any).

The FBI’s TIEDS Center is executing a joint improvised explosives research effort with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Division. The TIEDS Center overall research goal is to thoroughly characterize synthesized improvised explosive materials.

This includes the ability to synthesize materials remotely and measure the heat reaction to aid hazard analysis for process scaleup. This measurement is essential for the safe scaling-up of material batches and to minimize the chances of catastrophic reaction runaway. Thermal

Requisition Number: SHOP-PR-25-001165 Version 2.6 Page 2 characteristics are significant to the overall safe handling, processing, storage, and transport of bulk quantities of explosives.

The DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL) supports the maturation, evaluation, and certification of explosives detection technologies. TSL helps the detection equipment industry meet performance requirements established by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE) stakeholders. Two (2) satellite facilities at the Tyndall Reactive Materials Group (TRMG) located in Panama City, FL, and the FBI’s TIEDS Center in Huntsville, AL provide TSL with the capability and flexibility to quickly respond to emerging threats.

The mission of the Joint FBI – TSA S&T TIEDS Detection Technology Center in Huntsville, AL is to ensure current and emerging technologies can reliably detect explosives and other threats concealed on a passenger’s body. While at the same time, ensuring that next generation systems can detect the ever-increasing array of homemade explosive threats.

Cooling thermostats, commonly known as chillers, maintain a constant cooling of exothermic reactions. If left unabated, the reactions could overheat, rapidly run out of control, and explode. This equipment is important for safety considerations but also affects the efficiency of synthesis reactions. Currently, TIEDS has two (2) of the LAUDA Integral line of chillers, both are the 150 XT model. Both chillers are in use and a third temperature control unit (TCU) is needed for an expansion effort taking place in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, in which a new laboratory is being brought online to include chemical reactor systems. Because continuity of operations and the need for direct performance equivalency is of the utmost importance for safety scaling up reactions, and performing reactions between lab spaces, (i.e. the same reaction in both labs), the LAUDA brand is the only one that meets the FBI’s needs.

The LAUDA Integral IN 150 XT offers a range of temperatures for cooling and heating reactions from -45 degree °C to 220 °C and a colling output at 20 °C of 1.5 kW while maintaining a flow rate of 65 liters per minute. This system only requires a 220V single phase power input.

The FBI purchased two (2) LAUDA IN 150 XT temperature control machines, (chiller/heater), March 2022, via Purchase Order Number 15F06722P0000062.

Requisition Number: SHOP-PR-25-001165 Version 2.6 Page 3

4. Identification of the exception to fair opportunity and the supporting rationale, including a demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the exception cited.

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. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The TIEDS Center owns and operates the LAUDA Integral IN 150 XT temperature control units (TCU) in its single synthesis laboratory. This chiller provides cooling/heating to the Mettler- Toledo EasyMax 402 reactor system. TIEDS requires the same level of cooling/heating between the various chemical reactor systems, therefore another LAUDA 150 XT machine is required.

Changing from the LAUDA chiller to another manufacturer will change the efficiency of the cooling/heating, and lead to both safety concerns, as well as lost productivity as reactions developed using a LAUDA-cooled system cannot be reproduced on a non-LAUDA-cooled system without repeating the scale-up processes on the other brand due to variance in cooling efficiencies between the brands. This will lead to lost time and delays in scale-up operations.

TIEDS requires for continuity of operations that the LAUDA-Brinkmann temperature control machine be used.

The LAUDA IN 150 XT temperature control unit and supplies are compatible with other LAUDA products being utilized by TIEDS via proprietary software and design.

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 FAR 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 the submission of technical capabilities and cost information.

Requisition Number: SHOP-PR-25-001165 Version 2.6 Page 4

7. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

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.

Market research was done by examining pertinent specifications and capabilities from vendor websites, reviewing catalogs, multiple phone calls to potential vendors, and other available product literature published by manufacturers, distributors, and dealers. Market research revealed that LAUDA-Brinkmann is the only manufacturer of the LAUDA Integral IN 150 XT temperature control machine.

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

See section 5 above.

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 the 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.

Requisition Number: SHOP-PR-25-001165 Version 2.6 Page 5

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.

Date Management and Program Analyst TIEDS Center Unit Redstone Arsenal, Alabama

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 National Acquisition Programs Unit Quantico, Virginia mailto:bvlane@fbi.gov