Single Source Justification FAR 13 - S.pdf

Single Source/Brand Name Justification United States Department of Agriculture

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) – Simplified Acquisitions

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting office.

USDA APHIS MRPBS AAMD

250 Marquette Ave Minneapolis, MN 55401

2. Description of supply or service required to meet the agency’s needs.

Purchase of two Cgrain Value Pro Analyzer with approved Rice ANN model, External 22” screen HDMI, Keyboard and Mouse from TA Scientific. The purchase includes yearly subscription fee for software license, support and calibration of defects for Rice only. (see pricing quote.)

3. The rationale or circumstances for limiting competition.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Federal Grain Inspection Service, Technology and Science Division (AMS FGIS TSD) operates a laboratory in a privately-owned building at 10383 North Ambassador Drive, Kansas City Missouri 64153. The division is responsible for maintaining the reference methods for all official services provided by FGIS to facilitate the marketing of grain. It is also responsible for developing and maintaining methods for accurately predicting the quality of grain and grain products moving through the U.S. marketplace. In order to provide the highest quality service needed to minimize variability in the testing methods, FGIS has standardized its reference methods to specific methods and equipment. Only these specific methods/equipment can be used by the lab.

Under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621–1627), as amended, AMS establishes quality and grade standards, and provides inspection services for milled and rough rice. The determination of broken kernels in rice is important in the inspection and grading of rice. A broken kernel is defined as any kernel that is less than three-fourths the length of a whole kernel. For the inspection of rough rice, the whole kernel milling yield is the percentage by mass of whole kernels in the total rice after milling. The total rice includes whole and broken kernels. For the inspection of milled rice, the percentage by mass of broken kernels, expressed as percentage by mass of total rice, is an important grade-determining factor. A comprehensive information on the grading and inspection of rice, including the assessment of broken and whole kernels in milled rice, can be found in the Rice Inspection Handbook at https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/ default/files/media/RiceHB.pdf. California produces the largest volume of medium grain rice for export markets. AMS official inspection locations, in California, rely on an imaging instrument for official inspection results. However, the manufacturer discontinued this imaging instrument over 10 years ago and no longer provides parts or technical support. As a result, official rice inspection, in California, could be impacted, if the instrument was to become damaged or unusable; it could lead to an increase in time and cost for inspecting rice in the State.

The Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) explored options to replace the outdated FOSS Grain Check system currently being used to determine milling yield for medium and short grain rice in https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/

California. Milling yield requires the determination of whole and broken kernels by mass in a 40 g sample of milled rice. In 2022, FGIS entered a CRADA with Cgrain to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) calibration for the determination of milling yield in rice using the Cgrain Value Grain analyzer instrument. The first phase is providing medium grain rice samples to be analyzed on the imaging system to train the ANN to determine broken and whole kernels. The goal of this development plan was to determine if the Cgrain imaging system can be fit-for-purpose for the determination of milling yield in medium grain milled rice which was accomplished in 2024. FGIS needs to purchase the two Cgrain Value Pro Analyzers to serve as the master units for the monitoring of the official testing system for milling yields of medium grain rice.

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

In 2022, FGIS entered a CRADA with Cgrain to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) calibration for the determination of milling yield in rice using the Cgrain Value Pro analyzer instrument. The first phase is providing medium grain rice samples to be analyzed on the imaging system to train the ANN to determine broken and whole kernels. The goal of this development plan was to determine if the Cgrain imaging system can be fit-for-purpose for the determination of milling yield in medium grain milled rice which was accomplished in 2023. FGIS needs to purchase the two Cgrain Value Pro Analyzers to serve as the master units for the monitoring of the official testing system for milling yields of medium grain rice. This is the only instrumentation that the FGIS approved Rice ANN model was developed on. By not purchasing the two Cgrain units for monitoring the field instruments in the FGIS official testing systems could impact the support official rice inspection, in California, and lead to interruption in service which cause an increase in time and cost for inspecting rice in the State.

Other Facts: The use of this equipment supports the following FGIS mission statements.

1. Harness technology to streamline grain inspection and weighing processes, and to provide objective measures of grain quality, quantity, and end-use value to increase the efficiency of U.S. grain marketing.

2. Provide all segments of American agriculture with cost-effective and responsive official grain inspection and weighing services.

3. Facilitate the marketing of grain and oilseeds for the benefit of U.S. agriculture.

5. Estimated price, including all options, if applicable.

Refer to quotation provided TA Scientific (TAS)

6. Recommended source(s).

Recommended source – TA Scientific (TAS)

Certifications

Supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel and which form the basis for this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.

Jeff Vanfossan Inspection Instrumentation Branch Chief

The information contained in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief and in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-1(b)(1), I hereby determine the circumstances described above deem only one source, or limited sources, reasonably available and competition is precluded for the reasons indicated in this document.

Contracting Officer