Sole Source Justification - req 1160729 signed.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture Decision to Restrict Competition under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

Identification Number:

Rev. 10/29/25

In accordance with the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul (RFO) FAR

12.102 (a), the following documents the decision to restrict competition for this acquisition.

(1) Mission Area and Contracting Activity.

Requisition Number: 1160729

Requesting Activity Agency: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS), National Veterinary Services Laboratories

(NVSL)

Contracting Activity: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Marketing and Regulatory Programs Business Services (MRPBS), Acquisition and Asset Management Division (AAMD)

(2) Brief Description of Supplies or Services

The scope of this work is to purchase an annual preventative maintenance service agreement for the diagnostic equipment at the Dorado Lab in Puerto Rico. This service includes onsite visits from technicians, inspection and replacement of specific parts of the equipment that wear out or are broken with some exceptions. As well as to provide customer service when there are issues with the instruments that result in delays or work stoppages.

The service is for the following instruments:

One (1) Bio Tek 50TS Plate Washer S/N: 21071518 One (1) Bio Tek 800TS Reader S/N: 21061529 One (1) Sorvall X4R-Pro S/N: 42839486 One (1) 7500 Fast S/N: 225013061 One (1) Kingfisher Duo S/N: 706-81235 One (1) VWR Microplate shaker S/N 8851550 One (1) Countertop freezer 1.1 cu One (1) Heratherm Incubator S/N: 42845417 One (1) Biosafety cabinet 1300 S/N: 300492915 One (1) Mega Pure S/N: 676980926388 One (1) Gentle MACS S/N: 911 One (1) Sorvall X Pro S/N: 42819791 One (1) Practum 5101-1S S/N: 43908583 One (1) Biological Safety Cabinet S/N 300653944 One (1) Thermo Fisher -80 ULT Freezer S/N 556954 One (1) TSX Lab Refrigerator S/N 1152661201250711 One (1) TSX -20 Manual Defrost Freezer S/N: 1152464501250416 Two (2) TSX Lab Refrigerators S/N: 1152491501250428 & S/N 115251030125501 Two (2) Air Clean 600 PCR S/N: AC632LFUVC-40458 & S/N: AC632LFUVC-53509 Two (2) Kingfisher Flex 96 S/N: 711-8G0350 & S/N: 711-8GF00457 Two (2) Quantstudio 5 S/N: 272513348 & S/N: 272513839

(3) Suggested Source

The suggested contractor is:

BioAnalytical Instruments P.O. Box 270021 San Juan, Puero Rico 00927

UEI: W5KQZVDTKVK6

(4) Justification for Restricting Competition and the Basis for that Decision.

A. Explain the unique qualifications/characteristics of the proposed contractor or product and why no other contractor or product/service can meet the Government's need.

The above-mentioned instruments are used across NVSL and are the standardized testing and extraction platforms for NVSL laboratories at the National Centers for Animal Health (NCAH) and the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL). NVSL employees are only trained on these above-mentioned instruments. Additionally, this equipment is currently being used in Puerto Rico, and no other equipment can meet the requirement needs in response to the African Swine Fever (ASF). Staff deploying to ASF affected areas already have experience and proficiency using these systems and the test assays have already been validated for use on this platform. These factors will ensure rapid set-up and continuation of laboratory testing required to combat the current outbreak. The only source within Puerto Rico that is capable of providing the service maintenance and/or calibration on the equipment under the warranty terms is BioAnalytical Instruments Inc.

B. Describe market research conducted and the results or the reason why no market research was conducted.

Market research was conducted by the NVSL to identify available sources and to evaluate the availability of the marketplace to meet the requirements as follows: Based on the results of market research, the government determined that other vendors were/are available, but none possessed the capability to provide the services NVSL requires on the equipment.

Additional market research was conducted by searching mandatory and non-mandatory Government sources. Market research and procurement history revealed that only one source, BioAnalytical Instruments Inc., is capable of performing the maintenance and calibration services under the warranty due to the location of the equipment. The warranty services require highly trained and certified instrument service technicians to perform the work. Only one source is known in the Puerto Rican area that can maintain and repair the equipment which is BioAnalytical Instruments Inc. The cost of either sending personnel to Puerto Rico or sending equipment back to the United States for maintenance and/or repair would be exorbitant.

Certifications & Approvals

(5) Technical / Requirements Personnel Certification I certify this requirement meets the Government’s minimum need and that the supporting data, which forms a basis for this justification, is complete and accurate.

_________________________________ ________12/10/2025____________________

Damaris Mendez Vallellanes Date Microbiologist

(6) Contracting Officer’s Certification I certify that the data supporting the recommended use of other than full and open competition accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. I hereby approve this justification.

Kathy Melby Date Contracting Officer