redacted Sole Source - MTS actuator JOFOC_Redacted.pdf

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition United States Department of Agriculture

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.3

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

USDA, Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory One Gifford Pinchot Drive Madison, WI 53726-2398

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved.

The USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) intends to enter into a contract on a basis other than full and open competition, negotiated as a sole source, firm fixed-price effort with MTS Systems Corp. of Eden Prairie, MN. The intention of this contract is to procure a hydraulic actuator and associated appurtenances to augment the existing proprietary hydraulic testing system used in the Engineering Mechanics and Remote Sensing Laboratory (EMRSL).

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

A general description of the proposed equipment and services is as follows: the vendor shall provide, install, test, calibrate, commission, and train users for a 300 kip (tension)/445 kip (compression) capacity, 20-inch stroke, model 201.80A hydraulic actuator with 252 series 4-port 15 gpm servovalve manifold, load cell, integral LVDT, rest pad, lifting kit, and appropriately sized swivel and base, and including all necessary cables, hoses, and ancillary equipment.

Based on a recent purchase (2018) of a long-stroke actuator from this company and other market research, we estimate the value of the proposed equipment and installation services to be $

4. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3), as implemented by FAR 6.302-3, titled "Industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert services."

5. A statement demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority.

Use of the proposed source is needed to maintain and enhance ongoing essential engineering, research, and development capability at the FPL.

The EMRSL at FPL provides mechanical and structural testing of wood, wood products, and wood component systems for the vital research conducted by many FPL scientists and engineers. This mission-critical research informs national building codes and design methods for designers, educators, industry partners, industry corporations, and the American public. Without a robust hydraulic system to conduct these tests, some testing would be impossible, and the results of other testing could be called into question, invalidating some conclusions of the FPL scientists.

The proposed purchase will replace two aging, non-compliant hydraulic actuators and enhance the existing hydraulic system at FPL, allowing EMRSL to conduct research projects at higher capacities of force application and extending the research options for FPL scientists and engineers. The particular hydraulic actuator to be purchased will ensure accuracy of data collected on these experiments by seamlessly integrating with the existing research hydraulic control system. The two existing large-capacity actuators owned and operated by EMRSL were recovered from other unused equipment and are of a different manufacturer than the research hydraulic control system. They do not integrate completely with that control system and as a result, the data acquired from these actuators is routinely called into question. The proposed actuator purchase, manufactured by the same company as the existing research hydraulic control system, will eliminate this doubt in the research results.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable.

No other source manufactures the requisite equipment to properly interface with the existing MTS hydraulic system at FPL – only MTS equipment will integrate seamlessly with the existing MTS system currently installed at FPL. As such, there are no other sources available for this effort.

7. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The Contracting Officer will use historical information as well as current commercial pricing to determine that the firm-fixed price costs for the proposed equipment and installation services are fair and reasonable.

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

A formal market survey was not completed. There is only one source that can provide the appropriate equipment to the Forest Service for this requirement.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

To obtain this equipment from another manufacturer, FPL would have to abandon the current investment of over $750,000 in the existing research hydraulic system to purchase new hydraulic controllers and other equipment from that second manufacturer. Essentially, FPL would be reinvesting several hundred thousand dollars in new equipment that it already possesses.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed a written interest in the acquisition.

The proceeding contracts for this action were sole sourced with justifications posted to FedBizOpps.

In the history of this requirement, no contractor has expressed interest in this action.

11. A statement of actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated.

No other qualified source is available for the reasons stated above.

Certifications & Approvals

Supporting data that form the basis for and included in this justification are certified accurate and complete.

The information contained in this Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition is certified accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Colleen M. Reittinger Contracting Officer

COLLEEN

REITTINGER

Digitally signed by COLLEEN

REITTINGER

Date: 2020.07.13 11:48:33 -05'00'