Single Source 25-066_Signed CO.pdf

Version 2.0

Source Selection Information see FAR 2.101 and 3.104

SINGLE SOURCE DETERMINATION USING

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES (SAP)

FOR AN ACTION NOT EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

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

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1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce, OMB Field Delegates and Northwest FisheriesScience Center (NWFSC), Environmental Fisheries and Sciences Division, Seattle, WA 98112

2. Description of supplies or services required to meet agency needs (including the estimated value). A Sole Source Action for the trace analytical service provided by G&E Research Group at the at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. This service contract will cover the extraction and analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in marine mammal tissues provided by

Northwest Fisheries Science Center's Environmental Chemistry Program. Total Estimated value is $125,000.00. Period of performance is date of award to 5/31/2026.

3. Identification of the single source or the brand name to be solicited.

Dr. Yina Liu Texas A&M University Geochemical and Environmental Research Group 833 Graham Road College Station, TX 77845 Phone: 979-862-8494 yinaliu@tamu.edu

Unique Entity ID: JF6XLNB4CDJ5 Cage: 1T3H7

Admin Point of Contact:

Sara Williams Research Administrator Sponsored Research Services 400 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy S. Suite 300 College Station, TX 77845-4375 Phone: 979-862-6777 Srs-Proposals@tamu.edu

4. Supporting rationale. Only one source or brand name is reasonably available as detailed below:

Other - Only one source is capable - (Identify any other reason not identified above as to why only the single source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized.

Provide details on mission impact if the requirement is not solicited from the single source.)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are recognized as contaminants of emerging concern due in part to their thyroid disruptive properties. Over 12,000 unique structures of

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PFAS have been reported.

PFAS contamination in lower trophic level marine organisms is now well documented. This has created growing concerns over the health impacts towards marine mammals, as many PFAS can be bioaccumulated and biomagnified through food webs. Data on PFAS exposure and body burdens in marine mammals is still very scarce, due to the challenges in obtaining samples and difficulties in the analytical measurement in these complex tissue matrices. Without proper sample handling and prior experience working with complex marine mammal tissue matrices, data quality can be questionable. Marine mammal tissue is often precious material with only small or minimal quantities available. Thus, repeat analysis is not often possible and it is important to obtain reliable results with the initial analysis.

Having reliable, high-quality data is essential for assessing the health impacts of PFAS of protected resources -2027. A specific example is provided with the Cook Inlet beluga whales, a species in the spotlight. Contaminants have been suspected as the primary cause for the failure of the population to rebound since protection was established two decades ago. However, known legacy contaminants such as DDTx, PCBs and PBDEs are not high enough in the whales to be plausibly responsible.

Thus, questions remain about whether other contaminants such as PFAS might be the cause. Unfortunately, the lack of data on PFAS levels in the whales hinders recovery and management efforts as it creates uncertainty as to which environmental stressors are most harmful PFAS, other contaminants or other types of stressors.

Environmental Chemistry Program at NWFSC previously collaborated with Texas A&M on PFAS analysis in marine mammal tissues including blubbers, muscle, and various organs (liver, kidney, intestine) from Southern Resident (SRKW) and transient killer whales. This prior collaboration with Texas A&M established sample handling and PFAS analysis protocols that led to high-quality datasets. Texas A&M is also experienced and knowledgeable on the PFAS analysis in tissues from other aquatic species including sea turtle and salmon, food matrices such as dairy products, and various environmental matrices such as fresh water, seawater, industrial wastewater, soils, and sediments. Thus, Texas A&M has well-established and proven extraction/ cleanup/analytical protocols for high-quality PFAS analysis on complex marine mammal tissues and diverse environmental media.

importantly, the data continuity that makes data comparisons between different marine mammal tissues from different species fair and meaningful, which are critical to health assessments and recovery of protected species. Without the analytical service from Texas A&M, it will be difficult or impossible to get the needed marine mammal PFAS data for any of the above-mentioned assessments and jeopardize current management efforts to protect marine mammals including species in the spotlight.

5. Market Research.

As stated above, Texas A&M is uniquely qualified for this analytical service on PFAS. They have well-established PFAS analytical capabilities on complex biota tissues from marine mammals and

Source Selection Information see FAR 2.101 and 3.104

Texas A&M

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Source Selection Information see FAR 2.101 and 3.104 aquatic species, and various environmental matrices spanning from water, soils, and sediments. They have previously worked on the PFAS analysis of the SRKW and transient killer whale tissues from NWFSC and contributed critical dataset. They are a proven scholar on PFAS and broad halogenated organic chemicals research. As such, their specialized analytical capabilities and great knowledge on PFAS fate and transport in the ecosystem and marine environment could maximize the outcome of this PFAS analysis service. SGS AXYS, a commercial analytical service company located at Sidney, BC, Canada, can do PFAS analysis on several environmental media types such marine mammal tissues. It is a commercial laboratory and not a research-orientated vendor. It is critical that the analysis results allow for data continuity thus we must have analytical/research experience on PFAS in tissues from protected species including marine mammals, Texas A&M is the only institute known that is uniquely qualified for this PFAS analytical service.

6. Technical/Requirements Representative Certification supporting data provided herein is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Irvin Schultz, Ph.D Date Environmental Chemistry Program Manager

Date

Dr. Kevin Werner Science Center Director

7. Determination (Required)

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.

Suzanne Johnston Date Contracting Officer