Redacted - FAR 13 - Sole Source - Electron Microscope.docx

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Eastern Region Acquisition Division Norfolk Federal Building 200 Granby Street, Room 815 Norfolk, VA 23510

SINGLE SOURCE DETERMINATION USING

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES (SAP)

FOR AN ACTION NOT EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

(AUTHORITY: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1))

NCNS0000-23-01311

1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce, NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Eastern Acquisition Division (EAD), National Ocean Service (NOS)

2. Description of supplies or services required to meet agency needs (including the estimated value). The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Beaufort Laboratory requires a benchtop scanning electron microscope (SEM) to support fine scale analysis of HAB cell features. Market research indicates only one instrument manufactured by ThermoFisher Scientific (Netherlands) and distributed by Nanoscience Instruments (Arizona) will meet the technical specifications of the government. A firm fixed priced, sole source purchase order is requested to purchase these items. The estimated value for the instrument requested is $157,596.00.

3. Identification of the single source or the brand name to be solicited. This is a Sole Source Requirement for the Phenom G6 Pro Scanning Electron Microscope, an instrument manufactured in the Netherlands by ThermoFisher Scientific. Nanoscience Instruments Inc., 10008 S 51st Street, SET 110, Phoenix, AZ 85044 is the sole U.S. vendor for this SEM.

4. Supporting rationale. Only one source is reasonably available as detailed below and on the attached justification document.

· Only one Vendor – The Phenom G6 Pro electron microscope is the sole instrument that will meet the technical specifications required by the government. These characteristics include:

Can operate on standard benchtop without a dedicated SEM facility and within a footprint: of <12 inches (W) x <23 inches (D) x <20 inches (H).

Has power requirements of only one (1) standard 120V outlet.

Includes Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Has a maximum magnification of 350,000x Includes a high brightness, long lifetime cerium hexaboride (CeB6) electron source lasting >1,500 hours of source life.

Is upgradeable with fully integrated energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) system for elemental analysis and Elemental Mapping and Line Scan Has a secondary electron detector (SED).

Is upgradeable with Fibermetric, Particlemetric, Porometirc and 3D Roughness Reconstruction software.

Includes a gold sputter coater with a dual stage rotary vacuum pump with pumping speed of at least 4 m3 per hour, is able to process up to six (6) samples at a time, where samples are mounted upside down to help remove loose particles during metal coating, and where samples can be loaded without special tongs or tweezers.

5. Market Research.

Market research revealed only one vendor for this software product, Nanoscience Instruments, from Phoenix, Arizona. See attached Market Research Information and Vendor Product Evaluation documents for list of vendors examined and technical evaluation of instruments.

**Signatures shall remain on the final page.

6. Technical/Requirements Representative Certification

I certify that this requirement constitutes the Government’s minimum needs and the supporting data provided herein is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature on File

Oceanographer

7. Determination

I hereby determine that the circumstances of this action deem only one source is reasonably available. This determination is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature on File

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