Justification and Approval 25-003580.pdf

Justification and Approval – Simplified Acquisition under $250,000

FACTS SUPPORTING A REQUEST TO ENTER INTO AN ACQUISITION USING OTHER THAN FULL

AND OPEN COMPETITION – SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION (UNDER $250,000)

REQ No: Requestor: Dr. Richard Krauzlis Office Code: NEI Phone No.: (301) 496-2455

Introduction: Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-3(b)(3)(i), the following data is furnished to the Contracting Officer to support the requisitioning office’s request that the items/services identified on the above-mentioned Requisition be obtained using other than full and open competition. The requisitioning office understands that a contract may not be awarded on a sole source/brand name only basis unless the Contracting Officer approves Other than Full and Open Competition.

1. Identification of the Agency: HHS/NIH/NEI/LSR/VSC

2. Nature and or/description of action being approved: Sole source

3. Description of the supplies and services required to meet the Agency’s needs:

The Visual Circuits Section investigates the visual circuits that accomplish higher-order vision, focusing on the significant interactions between the cerebral cortex and subcortical brain regions. These experiments require simultaneous recordings of neurons at multiple layers in these brain structures, across a span of 2-3 mm (the depth of the cortex and the subcortical brain regions). Plexon is the only company that manufactures multi-contract probes that meet the needs of these experiments.

4. Proposed contractor’s unique qualifications:

a. Replacement parts: Data available is not adequate to assure that these parts, if procured from another manufacturer, will perform the same function in the experimental system as the parts to be replaced. Probes made by other manufacturers are not strong enough or reliable enough to reach the brain structures investigated in these studies.

The degree of optimization of the probes made by Plexon for our research purposes, in the research animals we use, is unique to Plexon.

Obtaining probes from another company would require extensive customization from scratch and there is no certainty that the resulting product would work; attempting to obtain the probes from another company would therefore be both more time consuming and more costly, and likely less effective.

b. Equipment upgrade/repair: The recording apparatus we us is made by Plexon and the probes we would like to purchase are made by Plexon to work seamlessly with the recording apparatus we have. Plexon only guarantees the effectiveness of their recording apparatus when it is used in conjunction with probes that Plexon manufactures.

c. Proprietary data: Only the Plexon can provide the follow-on service or maintenance because of proprietary data.

5. Additional Supporting Facts:

a. Manufacturer only sells directly and there are no resellers.

I hereby certify that the supporting data above forms the basis for this justification, is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Certification by Requirements\Technical Personnel:

I concur and approve this justification for other than full and open competition.

Contracting Officer Date