JA_Respirators_ILC_Dover_Sept_2015_final_FBO_posting.pdf

LIMITED SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

1. Identification of Agency and Contracting Activity:

The requiring office is the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Weapons of Mass Destruction

Countermeasures Division (DS/C/PSP/WMD), 1801 North Lynn St. Arlington VA

22209. The point of contact for this action is Mr. Casey Donahue, 571-345-7759. The contracting office is A/LM/AQM/DSCD/SB.

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

The action being approved is restricting consideration of sources in a delivery order acquisition conducted under the authority of the Multiple-Award Schedule Program (41

U.S.C. 152(3) and 40 U.S.C. 501. Specifically, consideration will be restricted to a single source: ILC Dover, GSA Federal Supply Schedule number GS-07F-342AA, which is valid through August 11, 2018.

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the Agency's needs:

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Weapons of Mass Destruction Countermeasures

Division (DS/C/PSP/WMD) has a requirement to continue the replacement of expiring escape respirators that have been distributed to employees worldwide to assist in the evacuation of facilities under a Chemical or Biological or Radiological incident and in incidents involving the generation of carbon monoxide. The WMD countermeasures office is seeking to purchase a quantity of 22,525 one size fits all, NIOSH Certified

Escape hoods that are designed to protect against Chemical, Biological, Radiological and

Nuclear (CBRN) agents, Toxic Industrial Chemical (TIC) and Carbon monoxide for a minimum of 30 minutes. The escape respirator requirements listed below are essential to ensure that the device functions effectively across the very diverse people and cultures that make up the Department of State.

Mandatory Specifications:

A. Escape Respirator must be certified by the National Institute of

Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as a CBRN Escape Respirator.

o The Escape Respirator shall protect the wearer against the agents listed in the NIOSH Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and

Nuclear (CBRN), Toxic Industrial Chemical (TIC) and carbon monoxide test protocol.

B. The Escape Respirator shall be a one size fits all device.

o Sized devices are not acceptable.

o The escape respirator shall be oversized to accommodate a wide variety of cultural norms and hairstyles.

C. The Escape respirator shall be tested and certified by NIOSH for a minimum of 30-minutes of breathing protection.

D. The respirator shall not have any user adjustable components.

o Buckles, straps or other means that affect the proper fit of the device are not acceptable.

E. The Escape Respirator shall assist breathing through the use of positive pressure.

o The inhalation resistance of the escape respirator shall be less than or equal to 10mm H2O on average o The exhalation resistance of the escape respirator shall be less than or equal to 25mm H2O on average

F. The Escape Respirator shall provide comparable protection to individuals with and without facial hair.

G. The Escape Respirator shall be capable of being donned in 30 seconds or less from the ready to use, in package, state.

H. The Escape respirator shall allow for complete facial recognition of the wearer by security personnel without compromising wearer safety.

I. Escape respirator shall permit clear verbal communication to include use of phones and mobile handset radios while worn without compromising wearer safety.

J. The CO2 content must be less than 1.5% in the hood and breathing during wear.

TOTAL ESTIMATED DOLLAR VALUE FOR THE ORDER: $4,800,000.00

4. Authority:

FAR 8.405-6 (a)(1)(i)(B) only one source is capable of providing the supplies required at the level of quality required because the supplies are unique.

5. Demonstration of the proposed contractor's unique qualifications to provide the required supply or service:

The ILC Dover SCape CO-CBRN 30 Escape Respirator is the only product that meets the

Governments unique requirements and ILC Dover is the only distributor of the ILC

Dover SCape CO-CBRN 30 Escape Respirator.

It is one of two NIOSH certified respirators that hold a 30-minute protection rating IAW the NIOSH specifications, but the only available product certified to also provide carbon monoxide protection. The oversized hood of the SCape CO-CBRN 30 accommodates a greater spectrum of head sizes, hairstyles, facial features, and in some instances cultural norms when compared to the other available products. The majority of commercially available Escape Respirators require users to draw air through a carbon filter bed, which creates an unnatural resistance/restriction during both inhalation and exhalation. This additional resistance will cause difficulties for people with pulmonary deficiencies, asthma and other lung compromising health problems. The SCape CO-CBRN 30 causes no increase in breathing resistance due to the overpressure of the hood provided by the automatic blower system.

The SCape CO-CBRN 30 is currently the only available NIOSH escape respirator that uses an automatic electric blower system to overpressure the respirator hood. The other product that has received a CAP 2 rating (30 minutes) from NIOSH requires the wearer to inhale and exhale through a nosecup. This configuration creates an increase in breathing resistance and is not optimal for personnel with facial hair. For the purpose of the DS WMD Escape Respirator program the Scape CO-CBRN 30 is ideal because it provides a positive stream of air into the hood effectively eliminating breathing resistance. The SCape CO-CBRN 30 design yields the lowest level of carbon dioxide build-up when used by people with facial hair or facial deformities.

The design of the SCape CO-CBRN 30 allows the respirator to be used effectively in a stressful emergency situation with very limited operator familiarization. This particular feature is of great value to the Government because the proper operation of the respirator is less dependent on operator training, knowledge and skill when compared to the other available devices. This fact was illuminated during our market survey where it was identified that an untrained user could mistakenly wear the respirator backwards, yet evacuate the facility effectively. Based on the results of our market survey, the SCape

CO-CBRN 30 is the easiest to use of the available escape respirators because the user does not have to adjust fit by means of straps or other user operable/adjustable components. The simplicity of using the respirator is key to the continued success of the

DS Escape Respirator program. Currently deployed escape respirators depend on the user to fit a nose clip and adjust head straps for the escape respirator to be effective. The

SCape CO-CBRN 30 simply requires the user to remove it from its package and pull the hood over the head to be protected.

The SCape CO-CBRN 30 does not require the use of a nosecup (oral/nasal cup) or mouth bit to ensure exhaled carbon dioxide is evacuated out of the hood. The fact that the mask does not require a nosecup allows the escape respirator to fit a larger array of people, because the nosecup design requires a snug fit on the face to properly function. The nosecup based design; used on the other NIOSH approved respirator that has a 30 minute rating,will not fit all personnel equally because of differences in facial features (including facial hair) and head sizes. Exhaled air that escapes the nosecup and enters the hood of the respirator can build to levels than could cause extreme discomfort and a feeling of anxiety or suffocation. The positive air pressure in the SCape CBRN 30 forces the exhaled carbon dioxide to exit the respirator through the exhalation valve.

Additional benefits of the SCape CO-CBRN 30 is that there is less concern for rubber products being in contact with the users face for personnel who have a perceived sensitivity to rubber products and because it provides the largest viewing are of all

NIOSH certified respirators (greater than 35 sq inches). The larger viewing area is essential to safe evacuation during an emergency. The viewing area combined with the clear hood material of the SCape CO-CBRN30 allow for a full 360 degree view of the person wearing the respirator and most importantly allows for the complete facial recognition by security personnel because there is no obstructions to the wearers face.

The use of a nosecup and opaque hood material on the other NIOSH certified 30 minute escape respirator limits the ability of security personnel and coworkers to quickly identify the wearer in an emergency. The SCape CO-CBRN 30 is currently the only device that offers an unobstructed view of the wearer for identification or verification in an emergency situation.

The procurement of the ILC Dover CO-CBRN 30 Escape Respirator is essential to the specific requirements set forth in paragraph 3. Due to the simplicity of the device the requirement for training is significantly reduced. There are no straps or other fitting mechanisms that will impact the fit of the respirator in an emergency.

6. A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results or statement of reasons a market research was not conducted:

A formal RFI was posted to FBO on May 17, 2015, open to all schedule holders (as well as to all interested parties) which garnered three industry replies. However, only one of responding vendors has a product that meets the minimum specifications. Online market research was also conducted, but no other product was found that can meet the minimum requirements.

7. Any other facts supporting the justification:

As recommended by the Benghazi Accountability Review Board, Task 18 recommendation 42, Diplomatic Security procured and deployed fire escape respirators to select overseas facilities. However, these fire escape respirators are not effective for the protection against CBRN agents.

This procurement of emergency escape respirators is a logical extension of the ARB effort and provides emergency escape respirator that will give the same CBRN protection as the previously deployed escape hoods with the additional protection against Carbon

Monoxide and by products of combustion. The procurement and deployment of this product will provide a single product capable of being used in either a CBRN or Fire emergency without the employee needing to select the appropriate device. This will allow DS to reduce the risk of an incorrectly rated device being worn in an emergency.

8. A statement of the actions, if any, the Department may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for these supplies or services:

No actions have been taken to remove or overcome any barriers to competition since no other manufacturer can provide a respirator that can filter carbon monoxide and last for

30 minutes. In the future, should DS identify respirators that provide specific improvements that might increase longevity and protection in the field; a consideration may be made to study the products for potential usage. Within 14 days after placing this order exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, the ordering activity shall publish a notice and post this justification as required by FAR 8.405-6(a)(2).

TECHNICAL AND REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION

I certify that any supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel (e.g., verifying the Government’s minimum needs or requirements or other rationale for limited sources) and which form a basis for the justification are complete and accurate.

//Signed// 09/08/2015

Casey Donahue Date

R&D Liaison

DS/C/PSP/WMD

REVIEWED BY

//Signed// 09/18/2015

Deborah J. Koplen

Branch Chief

A/LM/AQM/DSCD/SB

Date

//Signed// 09/19/2015

Sharon James

Division Director

A/LM/AQM/DSCD

//Signed// 09/21/2015

Dennis Gallagher

Assistant Legal Adviser

L/BA

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. I also hereby determine as required by FAR 8.405-6(c)(2)(v) that this order represents the best value consistent with FAR 8.404(d).

Patrick Dermidoff

Contracting Officer

A/LM/AQM/DSCD/SB

APPROVAL

Raymond Bouford

Contracting Activity Competition

Advocate

Office of Acquisition Management