Redacted Brand Name Justification_Leica.pdf

Control No.: Eisenhower-2024-32

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR 13.5 SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Brand Name JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

Program/Equipment: The United States Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory (USACIL) and Forensic Expeditionary Department seek to purchase the Leica Microscope Camera Systems.

Authority: Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, Title 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by FAR 13.5.

Amount: $295,222.39

Prepared by: Kevin Comegys DSN: 404-469-7118 Contract Mgt. Specialist Date:

Email: kevin.e.comegys.civ@army.mil

Contracting Officer: Sherrilyn Rice DSN: 780-1831 Contracting Officer Date:

Email: Sherrilyn.u.rice.civ@army.mil

Technical: DSN: 404-469-7420 Date:

Requirements: DSN: 404-469-4045 Date:

Kyle Felix - USACIL Supervisor Physical Science Email:

Email: .civ@army.mil

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support sole source.

Program Manager:

DSN: 404-469-4045

Date: See digital signature

Small Business Professional:

DSN: 501-8199

Date: See digital signature

Legal Counsel:

DSN: 780-4454

Date: See digital signature

Director, MICC-Eisenhower:

DSN: 780-1807

FAR 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

Brand Name Justification and Approval

1. Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC)-Fort Eisenhower, 271 Heritage Park Lane, Fort Eisenhower, GA 30905.

2. Description of Action: USACIL and FXD requests requires the brand name purchase, delivery, and installation of (2) Leica FS C Comparison Microscopes and (2) Leica K3C Microscope Camera Systems. The Government projects award for September 2024 and fiscal year 2024, funds type Operations and Maintenance funds will be used.

FAR 13.501 (a) (2) (i) – Restricting consideration to an item peculiar to one manufacturer (e.g., a particular brand-name, product, or a feature of a product that is peculiar to one manufacturer).

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory requires the brand name purchase, delivery, and installation of (2) Leica FS C Comparison Microscopes and (2) Leica K3C Microscope Camera Systems. The Forensic Expeditionary Department requires the brand name purchase of one (1) Leica FSC comparison microscope assemblies: Motorized comparison microscope system for examination and comparison of ammunition components and tool marks. Each system includes a one (1) year warranty that applies to all hardware components. Must be complete systems to include the height adjustable motorized column with motorized comparison bridge, dust cover, 10x eyepieces, workbench, monitor attachment for workbench, PC mount, objectives (0.4x, 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x), LED light source, cold light illumination bar, LED spot illuminator, diffuser, LED light bar, tilting stage, stage holders and attachments, stage micrometer, (1) Leica K3C camera, hardware dongle, LAS X Extended Annotation module, LAS X Measurement, LAS W2 Workstation, HD monitor, keyboard, and shipping and handling.

The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform the needed delivery and installation of the microscopes and microscope cameras.

Manufacturer Part Number Quantity Leica Microsystems 11581105 2 Leica Microsystems 11507820 4 Leica Microsystems 11581046 4 Leica Microsystems 11581047 4 Leica Microsystems 11581048 4 Leica Microsystems 11581049 4 Leica Microsystems 11532301 2 Leica Microsystems 11581088 2 Leica Microsystems 11581140 2 Leica Microsystems 11581086 2 Leica Microsystems 30150222 2 Leica Microsystems 30161101 4 Leica Microsystems 30161102 4

Leica Microsystems 11581089 4 Leica Microsystems 33000076 4 Leica Microsystems 33000074 2 Leica Microsystems 11532730 4 Leica Microsystems 11581003 4 Leica Microsystems 11581138 4 Leica Microsystems 11581031 2 Leica Microsystems 11581056 4 Leica Microsystems 11520220 2 Leica Microsystems 11520276 2 Leica Microsystems 11547114 2 Leica Microsystems 11541544 2 Leica Microsystems 11640879 2 Leica Microsystems 11640620 2 Leica Microsystems 11640564 2 Leica Microsystems 11640559 2 Leica Microsystems 11640659 2 Leica Microsystems 11533549 2 Leica Microsystems 11600220 2 Leica Microsystems 11640879 3 Leica Microsystems 11640564 3 Leica Microsystems 11640559 3 Leica Microsystems 11581105 1 Leica Microsystems 11581083 1 Leica Microsystems 11581142 1 Leica Microsystems 11507820 2 Leica Microsystems 11581137 1 Leica Microsystems 11581135 1 Leica Microsystems 11581136 1 Leica Microsystems 11581088 2 Leica Microsystems 11581140 1 Leica Microsystems 11581086 1 Leica Microsystems 30150222 1 Leica Microsystems 30161101 2 Leica Microsystems 30161102 2 Leica Microsystems 11581089 2 Leica Microsystems 33000076 2 Leica Microsystems 33000074 3 Leica Microsystems 11532730 2 Leica Microsystems 11581003 2 Leica Microsystems 11581138 2 Leica Microsystems 11581031 2 Leica Microsystems 11553408 4 Leica Microsystems 11581056 2 Leica Microsystems 11520220 2 Leica Microsystems 11520221 2

Leica Microsystems 11520222 2 Leica Microsystems 11520276 1 Leica Microsystems 11520686 1 Leica Microsystems 11520328 1 Leica Microsystems 11520223 1 Leica Microsystems 11520224 1 Leica Microsystems 11520225 1 Leica Microsystems 11520226 1 Leica Microsystems 1152027 1 Leica Microsystems 11520228 1 Leica Microsystems 11581085 1 Leica Microsystems 11581084 1 Leica Microsystems 11581111 1 Leica Microsystems 11532565 2 Leica Microsystems 11519963 2 Leica Microsystems 11547114 1 Leica Microsystems 11541544 1 Leica Microsystems 11581046 2 Leica Microsystems 11581047 2 Leica Microsystems 11581048 2 Leica Microsystems 11581049 2 Leica Microsystems 11581097 2 Leica Microsystems 11640879 1 Leica Microsystems 11640620 1 Leica Microsystems 11640564 1 Leica Microsystems 11640559 1 Leica Microsystems 11640710 1 Leica Microsystems 11533549 1 Leica Microsystems 11600220 1 Leica Microsystems 11640024 1 Leica Microsystems Freight and Handling 2

Delivery: 20 Sep 2024 Total Value:

$295,222.39

4. Authority Cited: FAR 13.501 (a) (2) (i) – Restricting consideration to an item peculiar to one manufacturer (e.g., a particular brand-name, product, or a feature of a product that is peculiar to one manufacturer).

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

a. The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory located at the Gillem Enclave in Georgia, provides forensic laboratory services to the Department of Defense investigative agencies and other Federal law enforcement agencies. The main area of analysis that the

Firearms (FA) Section performs is microscopic comparison between known test standard bullets, cartridge cases, or toolmarks to evidence from crime scenes or autopsies. The comparison microscope is the main instrument used for microscopic comparison because it allows the examiner to see two samples at the same time and under the same magnification and lighting. The Leica FS C Comparison Microscope and Leica K3C are required instrumentation to support the above-mentioned forensic analysis regularly performed in the Firearms Section of the Trace Evidence and Firearms Branch. The Forensic Exploitation Department (FXD) provides global forensic exploitation capabilities in support of the full range of military operations in CONUS and OCONUS locations. FXD has a mission essential requirement for the purchase of the Leica FSC Comparison Microscope. Lifecycle replacement of existing Leica FSC Comparison Microscopes is needed in order to maintain constant operational reliability of critical forensic comparison systems by the FXD Firearms and Toolmarks branch (FATM). The Leica FSC Comparison Microscope provides a robust capability needed for use and deployment to austere overseas locations. These microscopes travel well and are able to be calibrated, performance checked and maintained by the examiners on site in those austere overseas conditions, whereas other make and model comparison microscopes are not able withstand the potentially extreme conditions.

b. This brand name instrument and software package allows for the FA (USACIL) and FATM (FXD) disciplines to replace aging comparison microscopes with current systems utilizing higher resolution cameras, as well as the upgraded version of the operating software. The Leica cameras directly interface with the microscope and software, which other types of cameras will not do. This will improve the capability and efficiency of both laboratories.

c. The requested make and model of comparison microscope is the same make and model of all comparison microscopes currently in use in USACIL and FXD. Maintaining consistency during lifecycle replacements ensures standard operating procedures, validations and policies remain valid and applicable to the comparison microscopes in use.

Using another make or model of comparison microscope would result in a stoppage of casework due to retraining, rewriting of policy and method validation. This option is not acceptable for mission accomplishment.

d. The existing instrumentation has since been replaced by a new generation of technology. New technology brings additional capabilities, better discrimination, increased speed, and streamlined ease-of-use.

e. In addition to the results of the market research detailed below in Section 7 and the salient characteristics addressed in Section 8, the disciplines require the purchase of the specific proposed Leica Comparison Microscope and Camera System for the following reasons:

i. There is an established recognition and knowledge of the robustness and reliability of Leica Comparison Microscope and Camera System within the FA disciplines as well as the larger forensic science community.

ii. The Examiners of the USACIL and FXD are extremely familiar with the operation of Leica Comparison Microscope and are already proficient with all aspects of its operation, from quality control and troubleshooting to software. New technology will always bring with it a learning curve, but the existing familiarity and comfort of the examiners with Leica’s equipment will lower that learning curve when the new instrumentation is brought online and will therefore reduce or eliminate any gap in efficiency as examiners learn the new system.

f. Impact if justification not approved: Without lifecycle replacement and upgrade of each discipline’s current comparison microscopes, the reliability and operability of current comparison microscopes and critical spares will continue to decline. Upgrading to and maintaining current technology will ensure that the disciplines can effectively accomplish its mission of supporting criminal investigations and the Combatant Commanders with no failure to critical comparison microscopes.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market Research was performed by the customers to determine other companies who can complete the requirements within the Statement of Work and to determine whether instrumentation from a competitor of Leica Microsystems could equal its technical capabilities and/or offer some additional feature(s) that would be valuable to the USACIL and FXD FA Section’s analyses. Upon initial research (i.e., via internet search), Leica Microsystems was identified as the sole source for this purchase. A Notice of Intent to Sole source was posted April 29, 2024, and zero responses were received. However, the vendor has provided a letter stating that there are other authorized resellers of their products. This action will be competed on SAM.GOV and all vendors who can provide the requirement will be able to provide a quote.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: This action will be competed on SAM.GOV and all vendors who can provide the requirement will be able to provide a quote.

8. Market Research: Market Research was performed by the customers to determine other companies who can complete the requirements within the Statement of Work and to determine whether instrumentation from a competitor of Leica Microsystems could equal its technical capabilities and/or offer some additional feature(s) that would be valuable to the USACIL and FXD FA Section’s analyses. Upon initial research (i.e., via internet search), Leica Microsystems, a large business, was identified as the sole source for this purchase. A Notice of Intent to Sole source was posted April 29, 2024, and zero responses were received. However, the vendor has provided a letter stating that there are other authorized resellers of their products. This action will be competed on SAM.GOV and all vendors who can provide the requirement will be able to provide a quote.

9. Interested Sources: The vendor has provided a letter stating that there are other authorized resellers of their products.

10. Other Facts: The Leica FSC Comparison Microscope is the most reliable system available under the austere conditions where our laboratories operate from. The Leica FSC can be maintained, calibrated, performance checked by the examiners in austere locations without relying on vendor/manufacturer support that other comparison microscopes require. Typically, comparison microscope service providers cannot travel to the locations these comparison microscopes are operated in.

11. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date: See digital signature

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.