JOFOC-0010222.pdf

Requisition Number: DJF-15-0700-PR-0022486 Version 1.0 Page 1 of 5

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

FINANCE DIVISION | PROCUREMENT SECTION

JUSTIFICATION

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH

AUTHORITY 41 U.S.C. 3304 (A) (1)

Requisition Number: DJF-16-0700-PR-0010222

Date: May 20, 2016

Estimated Contract Dollar Value: $102,818.00

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Science and Technology

Contracts Unit, has prepared this justification for other than full and open competition for a mass spectrometer on behalf of the TEDAC Explosives Unit (EU), Laboratory Division.

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved, i.e., sole source, limited competition, establishment of a new source, etc.

This is a one-time firm-fixed price contract that will be sole-sourced to TA Instruments-Waters

LLC.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs.

Explosives characterization research and testing efforts, managed by TEDAC Explosives Unit

(EU) personnel and administered by the FBI’s Counterterrorism Forensic Science Research Unit

(CFSRU) have generated an impressive array of critical technical data since 2004. This research has involved the performance of small-scale safety testing, thermal stability characterization, and explosive performance characterization, such as diameter effect/critical diameter testing of various improvised explosives. This ongoing endeavor consists of comprehensive and detailed studies of the hazards of different explosives, the feasibility of their manufacture by terrorist organizations, and their explosive performance and damage potential when utilized in improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

As part of this research effort, EU personnel will be performing safety and characterization testing as part of the explosives characterization research effort. The identification of the chemical components and the decomposition products of an explosive composition is a crucial technical parameter that assists in characterizing the material. Currently, the TEDAC has no ability to directly and accurately measure and analyze the chemical compositions of

Requisition Number: DJF-15-0700-PR-0022486 Version 1.0 Page 2 of 5 decomposition products while using the Thermal Gravimetric Analyzer (TGA). To properly measure these essential parameters a specialized mass spectrometer is required. This capability currently does not exist at the FBI Laboratory.

An instrument meeting all the technical requirements outlined below would provide the EU with the capability to directly and accurately measure and analyze chemical composition and decomposition products from TGA analysis.

The technical requirements for a Mass Spectrometer are:

1. System must have a mass range of 1-300 amu

2. System must have a mass resolution of >0.5amu

3. System must have a sensitivity of <100ppb

4. System must have an closed electron ionization source

5. The system must have a sample pressure of 1 atm

6. The system must have a stainless steel capillary with an inner diameter of 0.22mm

7. System must have Faraday and Second Electron Multiplier detectors

a. The operator must be able to switch between the two detectors

8. System must have bar graph and peak jump data collection modes

9. The system must have scanning speed of >50amu/sec for bar graph data collection and >64 channels/sec for peak jump data collection

10. The system must have a transfer line temperature of 300ºC

11. The system must have a flexible 1.8m transfer line

12. System must have dual filaments that are changeable by the operator

13. System must be provided with a quartz evolved gas analysis furnace tube with furnace windings outside the tube

14. System must be a bench top unit no larger than 24 x 10 x 16 inches

15. System must easily couple with the TA Instruments Q500 TGA instrument

16. The system must allow for basic maintenance by the operator

17. System data collection must be controlled by the TGA instrumentation.

a. System must have the ability to start and/or stop the MS at any time during the TGA run

18. System must come with its own software and option for Wiley and NIST mass spectrometer libraries

19. The software must be able to easily output graphs and tables to the TA Universal Analysis software for display

a. The data must be automatically plottable with the TGA data

20. The software must be able to display data results in various graphical formats, such as bar and scatter graphs, including appropriate error bars

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

For purposes of this acquisition, the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is delineated at 41 U.S.C. 3304 (a) (1) and implemented at FAR Part 6.302-1. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

Requisition Number: DJF-15-0700-PR-0022486 Version 1.0 Page 3 of 5

5. Demonstrate the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority.

Only the Discovery Mass Spectrometer meets all the technical requirements required by the EU.

TA Instruments is the only manufacturer of the Discovery Mass Spectrometer.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

The FBI will publicize this requirement on the Federal Business Opportunities website. This announcement will give an opportunity for other vendors to demonstrate their ability to meet the

FBI’s specific needs through a submission of technical capabilities and cost information.

7. The anticipated dollar value of the proposed acquisition, including options if applicable, and a determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the

Government will be fair and reasonable.

Before awarding a contract, the Contracting Officer will perform a price analysis in accordance with FAR 15.804-2(a)-(e).

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results.

To facilitate the development of the capability to accurately and precisely measure the required chemical composition and decomposition products from the TGA, market research was performed to determine if any company manufactured an instrument meeting all the technical requirements of this TEDAC measurement requirement. An internet market survey was conducted for candidate solutions. Research found that there are more than 28 manufacturers of various mass spectrometers. These systems vary from large, ultra-high resolution and sensitivity analytical instruments to small fieldable lower resolution and sensitivity systems. Four mass spectrometers manufactured for the integration with a standalone TGA are commercially available:

Discovery MS by TA Instruments met all technical requirements

HPR-20 QIC EGA by Hiden Analytical does not meet requirements 4, 5, 13, 17, 17a, 19, and 19a.

MAX300 EGA by Extrel does not meet requirements 2, 9, 13, 14, 17, 17a, or 19a.

Omnister/Thermostar sold by Instrument Specialists does not meet requirements 3-5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 17, 17a, 19, and 19a.

Only the Discovery MS manufactured by TA Instruments offered a solution meeting all the technical requirements.

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

See section 5 above.

Requisition Number: DJF-15-0700-PR-0022486 Version 1.0 Page 4 of 5

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

A synopsis will be posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website. This synopsis will give an opportunity for other vendors to demonstrate their ability to meet the FBI’s specific needs through a submission of technical capabilities and cost information.

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

The FBI will continue to conduct market surveys and research available through industry shows and technology releases in the form of papers and journals on subsequent acquisitions.

Requisition Number: DJF-15-0700-PR-0022486 Version 1.0 Page 5 of 5

Reviews and Approvals (Not exceeding $650,000)

Requestor:

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this justification and which form a basis for this justification, are complete and accurate.

Michael Leone Date

Technical Representative

Contracting Officer:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Jerry D. Varnell Date

Contracting Officer