P06 Sole Source JA Redacted 01.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture Only One Source/Brand Name Justification FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) – Simplified Acquisitions

Control No. (if applicable) FY24-FPAC-Justification-068

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

The requiring activity is the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Production and Conservation Business Center (FPAC-BC), HQ- Information Systems Division in support of USDA’s mission partners; Geospatial Enterprise Operations Branch (GEO). The contracting organization responsible for this action is the FPAC-BC, IT/Enterprise Branch, Acquisition Division, Section 2.

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

Geospatial Enterprise Operations Branch (GEO) has a need to replace digital film scanning system optical glass plates that are now showing excessive wear resulting from nearly 20 years of continued operations. The optical glass has specialized coatings applied to its surface to reduce optical aberrations such as Newton Rings and other imagery artifacts and defects otherwise captured during the film digitization process without the use specially coated optical glass.

3. The rationale or circumstances for limiting competition.

The following circumstance justifies Soliciting from a single source under FAR 13.106(1)(b)(1)- For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold.

Leica Geosystems, Inc. (the Original Equipment Manufacturer), a subsidiary of Hexagon AB, has retained, since inception of the commercially available DSW series, both data and repair rights over the lifespan of this product line. Leica maintains parts and a dedicated staff to ensure the operation of the existing systems and has not authorized or trained any third-party organizations to independently provide customer service and support for the DSW 700. A Sole Source Letter, dated June 1st, 2023, issued from Leica Geosystems to the Acquisition Division-Enterprise Team provided the following:

Hexagon Group AB and any of their divisions are the only authorized vendors of the DSW Photogrammetric Film scanner along with any associated upgrades and add-ons. With that said, within the U.S., the only authorized sales channel for any DSW component is Leica Geosystems Direct Sales team. This limitation of sales and support to only Hexagon divisions such as Leica Geosystems, ensures consistent performance of the highly specialized analog film scanners. This also allows that all digital images produced on a DSW meet high standards for accuracy and color fidelity.

This purchase will replace worn optical glass. The optical glass is manufactured with special surface coatings designed to specifically to eliminate Newton Rings and other optical artifacts. The wear marks exhibited on the glass surface result from film advancing through the film scanning system. The applied surface coating when worn away causes the entire glass plate to be replaced since a surface coating reapplication process does not exist.

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

Market Research was conducted by the buyer on March 28, 2024. Findings determined once more that the OEM, Leica Geosystems, Inc., a subsidiary of Hexagon AB, is the only responsible source with no other supplies or services being able to satisfy agency requirements. Market Research documentation may be located within contract file documentation, “P04- Market Research Form”.

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

The estimated cost and delivery dates for the five specially coated optical glass plates, 11 ¾” x 11 ¾” x 5/16” in size, one each per scanner for five film scanning devices are as follows:

6. Recommended source(s).

Leica Geosystems, Inc.

Certifications

The information contained in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief and in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-1(b)(1), I hereby determine the circumstances described above deem only one source, or limited sources, reasonably available and competition is precluded for the reasons indicated in this document.