Sole Source JandA.pdf

Version 1.0 Page 1

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

JUSTIFICATION FOR LIMITED

COMPETITION/SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR

ACQUISITIONS UNDER THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-1(b)(1), I hereby determine that the HUNTER Roadforce Elite Tire Balancer, ROTARY MW-200 Air-Operated Tire Lift and COATS Autoflate Digital Automatic Tire Inflator listed on REQ# DJF-21-3800-PR-0004230 is available from only one source, and competition is precluded as there are exclusive distributor rights agreements that preclude competitors from participating.

1. This acquisition is restricted to the following sole source:

Company: AUTOQUIP CORPORATION D.B.A AUTO SERVICE EQUIPMENT COMPANY

Company Address:

Mario Julia Ind. Park. 530 Calle A. Suite # 5 (Matadero). San Juan, PR. 00920

Company Point of Contact and Phone Number:

POC: Ernesto Berrios e-mail: eberrios@autoserviceequip.com Phone# (787) 792-5022 / (787) 792-8317

DUNS# 090577388

2. The equipment listed is estimated to cost $27,485 and is required to be delivered by 9/30/2021.

The equipment needed is the following:.

- Air operated tire lift with minimum capacity of 200lbs at 100PSI, offset column for easy tire transfer, single lever control and adjustable speed.

- Heavy-duty automatic tire inflator for self-service bucar tire fill up station. Automatic safety pause at 40PSI and accuracy range of +/- 0.5 PSI.

- Hunter Roadforce Elite tire balancing machine with the ability to perform road force balancing for increased precision and tire defect diagnostics. Hunter Engineering’s

HUNTER Roadforce Elite Tire Balancer has the patented Road Force Measurement technology that allows the technician to diagnose wheel vibration issues and problems such as tire deformities using a diagnostic load roller that simulates the conditions the tire will face in the road. This technology is proprietary to HUNTER

Engineering (US Patent# US 6,422,074 B1) Market research has been done by reviewing competing brands’ product catalogue and none offers a similar system with the ability to simulate road conditions when balancing a tire.

mailto:eberrios@autoserviceequip.com

Version 1.0 Page 2

The FBI San Juan division services a large fleet of vehicles that due to the poor road conditions in Puerto Rico are constantly experiencing different types of tire-related issues and problems such as vehicle pulling to a side due to tire imperfection that causes a side draft condition; or vibration when riding due to a mis-shaped tire/manufacturing defect. These types of problems may not be diagnosed using a conventional tire balance machine that does not simulate road conditions and require more labor intensive methods for pin-pointing such as dismounting and swapping tires between wheels and/or rotating wheels and performing several road tests to compare symptoms.

The Hunter Roadforce Elite balancer machine would allow the FBI San Juan division’s auto technicians to simulate road conditions in house without ever leaving the auto service facilities, which increases productivity, reduces labor time and the liability of having to perform road tests constantly.

3. [Insert one of the paragraphs listed below, depending on the justification]

Specific characteristics of the automotive equipment being requested that limit the availability to a sole source are exclusive distributor rights agreements that preclude competitors from participating. Only this suggested source can furnish the requirements, to the exclusion of other sources, because AUTOQUIP CORPORATION

D.B.A AUTO SERVICE EQUIPMENT COMPANY has been granted exclusive distributor rights agreements to most major automotive service equipment brands in the territory of Puerto Rico.

Due to the small size of the Puerto Rico U.S territory (100mi x 35mi) and the logistics challenges that it presents being an OCONUS island off to the Caribbean, ASE has been given exclusive distributor rights to sell and service most major the auto service equipment brands in the island, including HUNTER Engineering, COATS, ROTARY, ROBINAIR and others. There are no other businesses registered on SAM.gov who distribute comparable equipment in Puerto Rico. US vendors will not sell/ship to

Puerto Rico since doing so would constitute a violation of AUTOQUIP CORPORATION’s exclusive distributor rights. Market research was done by searching authorized distributors on hunterengineering.com and showed that AUTOQUIP CORP is the only authorized HUNTER distributor in Puerto Rico.

4. Check and fill in all that are applicable:

The material or service must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with existing systems presently installed. The current equipment is <insert description of current equipment>, and the new item/service must coordinate, connect, or interface with the existing system by <insert description of how the new item/service must coordinate or interface>.

Version 1.0 Page 3

A patent, copyright, proprietary data, or licensing agreement limits competition. The proprietary data are described as follows:

AUTOQUIP CORPORATION D.B.A AUTO SERVICE EQUIPMENT COMPANY has been granted exclusive distributor rights agreements to most major automotive service equipment brands in the territory of Puerto Rico due to its limited territory size and logistic challenges.

These are "direct replacement" parts/components for existing equipment.

Other information to support a sole source buy:

Market research has been done in order to identify a supplier. As a result of market research it was found that there is only one authorized distributor in Puerto Rico

(Automotive Service Equipment - ASE) for all major tire service equipment brands

(HUNTER, COATS, ROTARY, BENDPAK, RANGER). Due to Puerto Rico being small in territory size (100mi x 35mi), ASE has been given exclusive distributor rights to sell and service most major the auto service equipment brands in the island. Market research did not reveal any businesses registered on SAM.gov who distribute other brands.

Ensuring access for future equipment serviceability – maintenance & repairs – is a big concern when purchasing equipment in Puerto Rico being an OCONUS territory since brand representation is not as wide as in CONUS or main land US. Purchasing no-name brands usually brings major issues down the line when equipment breaks down and parts are no longer available or they have no service representation. Making sure we purchase the equipment from a well established brand ensures we get access to parts and service when needed in the future.

For said reasons, it is my recommendation that this purchase be done from the authorized distributor in Puerto Rico Territory – AUTOQUIP CORP. Based on market research they are the only one in our area capable of providing the required equipment and providing service in the future when needed. Market research was done through internet searches, GSA

Advantage.gov, searching on Sam.gov’s registered merchant registry and personally visiting potential suppliers. As part of market research we also requested quotes from vendors on GSAadvantage.gov, but they would not ship to PR. The product catalogue of all major tire service brands (HUNTER, COATS, ROTARY, BENDPAK, RANGER) was verified for tire balancing machines with the capability of simulating road conditions and none were found besides the Hunter Roadforce Elite tire balancer.

Based on the above information under Other information to support a sole source buy and the fact that AUTOQUIP CORPORATION D.B.A AUTO SERVICE EQUIPMENT COMPANY has been granted exclusive distributor rights agreements to most major automotive service equipment brands in the territory of Puerto Rico due to its limited territory size and

Version 1.0 Page 4 logistic challenges to include Hunter. There is no other make, model, or vendor that can provide the products the the FBI San Juan.

CERTIFICATION

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.

Edwin Pena

07/30/2021

Signature Date

Contracting Officer:

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

Signature Date

7/30/2021