Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Digital Transitions.doc

Special Notice

It is the intent of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to enter into a sole source, firm fixed price order with Digital Transitions, Inc., 35 W 35th Street, Suite 400, New York, NY 10001-2249, for the purchase of Phase One Lens and Extension Tubes and Digital Transitions Film Positioning Stage Kit and Film Carrier.

The proposed contract action will be conducted in accordance with FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The NAICS code is 423410, Photographic Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers. The anticipated award date is September 30, 2020. The proposed contract action is for photographic equipment for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i).

Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals no later than 12:00 p.m. eastern time on August 28, 2020. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received after the date of publication of this synopsis and prior to 12:00 p.m. eastern time on August 28, 2020 will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred in responding to this notice. Direct any questions regarding this announcement in writing to Ms. Cynthia Jones no later than 12:00 p.m. eastern time on August 18, 2020.

Points of Contact:

Cynthia Jones, Contract Specialist, cynthia.jones@nara.gov Santo E. Plater, Contracting Officer, santo.plater@nara.gov Attachment 1 – Sole Source Justification for Commercial Items

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) – Simplified Acquisitions Procedures

National Archives and Records Administration

Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer

8601 Adelphi Road

College Park, MD 20740-6001

Digital Transitions, Inc. Film Scanning Equipment

Technical Requirements Certification:

I hereby certify that this sole source justification for commercial items is made in good faith, that the supporting data and information are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that I would not be making this request if it were feasible to fully compete this requirement. I further certify this request is not the result of lack of advanced planning or a desire to expend funds while those funds are still available.

I. IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING ACTIVITY, AND SPECIFIC IDENTIFICATION OF THE DOCUMENT AS A “SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS.”

See page 1.

II. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING APPROVED

NARA seeks to award a sole source purchase to Digital Transitions, Inc. for the Phase One 120mm SK Lens, Phase One 21mm and 42mm IXG Extension Tubes, Digital Transitions Film Stage, and Digital Transitions Film Accessory Kit with Five Film Carriers. This specialized equipment is designed to work with the Lab’s current Phase One IXG camera system. This is a new requirement for a firm fixed price purchase order.

III.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGENCY’S NEEDS (INCLUDING THE ESTIMATED VALUE)

The RZ Imaging Lab, within the Office of Research Services, has been tasked with finding a solution to enable efficient, systematic digitization of film-based materials in various formats, sizes, and conditions. High-quality transmissive scanning has been a long-term challenge for the lab, and the lab has been unable to meet the agency’s need for high-volume film scanning as a result. A Phase One 120mm SK Lens, Phase One 21mm and 42mm IXG Extension Tubes, Digital Transitions Film Stage, and Film Accessory Kit with Five Film Carriers is requested for this work. These components are specifically designed to work with the Phase One IXG camera system already in use at A2. In addition to being the newest system in the lab, the IXG also produces the highest resolution of any of the lab’s cameras, 150 MP, which will be critical for producing the highest-resolution film scans possible. Obtaining these accessories will allow the lab to greatly expand its film digitization capacity, and produce scans that far exceed the current quality level produced by slower, much less efficient methods presently in use.

One of the main objectives of this work is the strategic goal of providing public access to our holdings in digital form. The lens and accessories are compatible with other units already in the RZ Imaging Lab, as well as other parts of the agency. Performing film scanning on the lab’s newest rapid-capture system with integrated post-capture processing, will aid the lab in maximizing efficiency and higher production rates for a variety of film-based projects.

The lens and accessories are designed to be paired with Capture One Cultural Heritage software, which provides an all-in-one capture-to-post-processing workflow, as well as automation features. The software is already present on the camera system these items are intended for, and the efficiency of the capture and processing ability make this a key element of the purchase.

Phase One is the manufacturer of the IXG camera system. The IXG camera system is part of the Phase One Cultural Heritage product line. Digital Transitions, Inc. is the only North American partner for Phase One Cultural Heritage products.

The equipment requested for this purchase include:

· Phase One SK 120 mm IXG Lens with one-year warranty

· Phase One IXG 21mm extension tube with one-year warranty

· Phase One IXG 42 mm extension tube with one-year warranty

· DT Basic Film Positioning Stage that includes:

· DT Basic 35mm Strip Film Carrier

· DT Basic 120mm Strip Film Carrier

· DT Basic 4x5 Sheet Film Carrier

· DT FPS 35mm Slide Film Carrier Holds 6 slides with Clips

· 8x10 Framed Multi-Format Anti Newton Glass Film Carrier

The total estimated value of this requirement is $ .

III. AN IDENTIFICATION OF THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act, Public Law 103-355 in conjunction with the Competition in Contracting Act, 41 U.S.C § 3304(a)(1) as implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), which states “ Contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name or industrial mobilization).”

V.

A DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED Phase One is the manufacturer of the IXG camera system. The IXG camera system is part of the Phase One Cultural Heritage product line. Digital Transitions, Inc. is the only North American partner for Phase One Cultural Heritage products. Digital Transitions, Inc., is the sole provider for the Digital Transitions Film Accessory Kit.

See II above.

VI.

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.

Phase One is the manufacturer of the IXG camera system. The IXG camera system is part of the Phase One Cultural Heritage product line. Digital Transitions, Inc. is the only North American partner for Phase One Cultural Heritage products. Digital Transitions, Inc., is the sole provider for the Digital Transitions Film Accessory Kit.

A Notice of Intent to Sole Source will be posted on FBO for 15 days.

VII.

A DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE

The price quotation received from Digital Transitions, Inc. is the currently advertised price from the only supplier of the required equipment. There are no other competitors that can provide the equipment.

VIII.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED (SEE PART 10) AND THE RESULTS OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED.

Phase One is the manufacturer of the IXG camera system. The IXG camera system is part of the Phase One Cultural Heritage product line. Digital Transitions, Inc. is the only North American partner for Phase One Cultural Heritage products. Digital Transitions, Inc., is the sole provider for the Digital Transitions Film Accessory Kit.

IX.

ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION.

N/A

X.

A LISTING OF THE SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED, IN WRITING, AN INTEREST IN THE ACQUISITION N/A

XI.

A STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED

NARA will continue to monitor the market to determine if other products become available that can fulfill our requirements.

XII.

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION THAT THE JUSTIFICATION IS ACCURATE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF THE CONTRACTING OFFICER’S KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF

See Page 1.