MarkesJofoc2025samgov.pdf

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

FINANCE DIVISION | PROCUREMENT SECTION

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION

Requisition Number: SHOP-PR-25-002215 Version 2.7 Page 1

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

SATISFY AGENCY REQUIREMENTS”

(Simplified Acquisition <$250K)

Requisition Number: SHOP-PR-25-002215

Date: June 2nd, 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 contract to Markes International, Inc., [CAGE Code 6YZV1], 2355 Gold Meadow Way, Suite 125, Gold River, California, 95670-6325 for a Micro-Chamber/Thermal Extractor and accessories.

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

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.

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.

Requisition Number: SHOP-PR-25-002215 Version 2.7 Page 2

TIEDS mission is to safely synthesis, characterize, reproduce, and detect improvised explosive charges and other materials to support other FBI Units as well as Other Government Agencies

(OGA).

The FBI has a requirement for a second Markes International Micro-Chamber/Thermal Extractor instrument. The FBI procured a Micro-Chamber/Thermal Extractor unit from Markes on February 20th, 2024, via Purchase Order (PO) Number 15F06724P0000488.

The Micro-Chamber/Thermal Extractor is a separate unit which collects the sample that is being outgassed by sample material which is collected and/or trapped onto a Sample Sorbent Tube. This tube would be transferred to the Unity-xr system for analysis. Materials can be construction materials, consumer goods, food, tobacco, and combustible products which the reactive gases may be captured. The Micro-Chamber/Thermal Extractor is a standalone product that was created by Markes for the collection of outgassed analytes from liquid, solid, and powder materials on a smaller scale than what was commercially available.

This requirement includes the following necessary materials and/or items for use in research and development related to vapor detection:

a) Item No. M-CTE250TI; μ-CTE 250°C, 4 inert micro-chambers (114 mL) and 4 toggle valves

b) Item No. U-GAS03; Single regulator pneumatics accessory

c) Item No. M-HUMID-UPGD; Humidifier upgrade for µ-CTE

d) Item No. M-PRMIN-LRG-250; Permeation Accessory, Large, for M-CTE2501

e) Item No. M-SPGSC-250; Adjustable Spring spacer, for M-CTE250I, pk 4

The Micro-Chamber/Thermal Extractor will support the main instrument component, (Unity-xr), that is presently in the FBI’s TIEDS Laboratory, and these components are required for analyzing larger volumes of sorbent material used for vapor collection and will allow permeation studies of explosives through materials, as well as surface materials.

The FBI purchased a Markes Thermal Desorption Unit (Unity-xr) on March 30th, 2023, via PO Number 15F06723P0001570.

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.

Requisition Number: SHOP-PR-25-002215 Version 2.7 Page 3

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.

Markes International, Inc., is the only company qualified to provide the Micro- Chamber/Thermal Extractor because they are the manufacturer of the existing Unity-xr system owned by the FBI. The same manufacturer must be used to provide both the Unity-xr and the Micro-Chamber/Thermal Extractor. The Micro-Chamber is an add-on and will be integrated with the current system. The Micro-Chamber by Markes is the only multi-pot (4 pot) fully inert Thermal Extractor that can use 3.5-inch tubes which are standard for the Unity-xr system.

The Markes Micro-Chamber and sorbent tubes are used to characterize the vapor components of either solid or liquid explosives, which is essential for the development of stand-off vapor-based detectors, as well as efficient canine detection training practices. The vapor is absorbed into the sorbent material inside the sorbent tubes, and it is then analyzed via the Markes Thermal Desorption Unit (Unity-xr) and the Markes Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) instrument. The temperature, flow, and humidity are uniformly adjusted throughout the four chambers within the Markes Micro-Chamber allowing for simultaneous, triplicate sampling of the material and thus, increasing TIEDS sampling throughput.

In addition to vapor characterization, the degradation and storage parameters of the explosives are monitored through the adjustment of these environmental factors. Moreover, the Markes Micro-Chamber is used to examine explosive vapor permeation through a variety of materials that can be used in the concealment of improvised explosive devices. The Micro-Chamber is also used to condition sorbent materials that can be used to collect vapor samples with high volume air sampling external accessories. After sample collection and analysis, the sorbent tubes are cleaned using the Markes tube conditioning unit and are available for reuse.

This requirement for a second Micro-Chamber/Thermal Extractor cannot be modified to enhance competition because of compatibility issues with current Markes instruments already owned by the FBI. This instrument fits in a laboratory ecosystem that has invested in Markes instrumentation, with five years of research and develop testing protocols, libraries, and methodologies. Therefore, only one source can meet this requirement for a second Micro- Chamber/Thermal Extractor since the current instrument was acquired from this source.

Requisition Number: SHOP-PR-25-002215 Version 2.7 Page 4

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 submission of technical capabilities and cost information.

7. 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 conducted using commercial manufacturer websites, technical calls with presentations, and discussions with application scientists. This research identified the necessary components needed to upgrade and utilize the current instrumentation. The Micro-Chamber/Thermal Extractor and its accessories must come from the same manufacturer as the Unity-xr Thermal Desorption Unit. Any other source would result in a substantial duplication of costs to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition.

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.

Requisition Number: SHOP-PR-25-002215 Version 2.7 Page 5

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.

Date Management and Program Analyst TIEDS Center 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