P06 FAR 13 Single Source Justification Less Than SAT Requisition 1038173.pdf

Page 1 Version 03152021

United States Department of Agriculture Single Source/Brand Name Justification

Less Than the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)

Requisition Number: 1038173

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

Contracting Office: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Business Center, Operation Branch, Acquisition Division, Section 1, Kansas City, MO

Agency: USDA NRCS, Science and Technology/National Design, Construction, and Soil Mechanics Center/Lincoln NE Soil Mechanics Laboratory.

2. Description of supply or service required to meet the agency’s needs.

The NDCSMC Lincoln Geotechnical Laboratory needs to upgrade, repair and purchase six flow pumps to Fully Automate our three Triaxial Shear load frames that have not yet been updated to perform shear and consolidation testing. These existing load frames will be upgraded from V4 to V5 to handle the flow pumps and become fully automated. In addition, the system upgrade will include upgraded electronics and pressure transducers, that require shipping our existing load frames to the contractor for installation. This upgrade will allow our load frames that perform this subject testing to be controlled by one computer and software package. We are also looking to purchase an additional license of our current software at a substantial discount to improve our tests results and reports. Therefore, we are requesting purchasing this equipment with the same equipment from GeoComp Co. so that it will work with our current license software packages, computers, and equipment (load cells, regulators, and pressure cells) in tandem with our other load frames.

3. Rationale or circumstances for limiting competition.

The NDCSMC laboratories currently have and use automated testing equipment from GeoComp Corp. for Triaxial Shear Testing, Consolidation Testing, and Direct Shear Testing including software. If we had to purchase new equipment from another company our lab technicians and engineers would need to learn how to run this equipment and new software. This would require extensive training and down time in the performance of work. We currently have a large workload with short turn-around time schedules particularly with the Watershed Rehabilitation and farm bill funded projects. This equipment is unique and there are very few companies that build it. GeoComp Corp. also has a strong and very good technical support team which can support this equipment and software. We also have the same equipment used for our other tests

Page 2 Version 03152021 such as Consolidation/Swell tests and Direct Shear test equipment from the same Company and they in many cases work in tandem. It would not be efficient to have two separate systems.

Also, the newly purchased equipment parts enabling all load frames, regulators, pressure transducers, software will all work in tandem with existing equipment. The center laboratories currently have $260,000 invested in GeoComp automated triaxial equipment at both laboratory and this purchase is an expansion of the setup. We did briefly look into developing specifications to have compare with similar equipment from other manufactures but duplication in cost including would be too large because or the need to replace the equipment already in use.

4. Description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research is conducted to assist in determining what items are available to meet the agency’s needs and what sources exist that are capable of meeting the agency’s needs.

5. Estimated price, including all options, if applicable.

Estimated pricing: $75,959.24

6. Recommended source(s).

Geocomp Lab Systems 125 Nagog Park Acton, MA 01720

Certifications

☒ The information provided for this justification has been reviewed and certified accurate and complete by Stephen D. Reinsch, Program/Technical Personnel.

Contracting Officer (less than SAT). I have reviewed this justification and certify it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Julie M. Simpson Contracting Officer