Sole Source Memo REES Scientific RTD Sensor Upgrade Specialty Service.docx

Date: February 2, 2026

From: Raúl Alfaro Pharmacy Dept., Quality Assurance Section National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center

Subject: SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

To: NIH, CLINICAL CENTER, CONTRACTING OFFICER

1. AGENCY IDENTIFICATION AND CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

Raúl Alfaro Pharmacy Dept., Quality Assurance Section National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center 10 Center Drive 1C-166 Bethesda, MD 20892

Susan Nsangou Contracting Officer National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center Office of Purchasing and Contracts 6707 Democracy Blvd Suite 106 Bethesda, MD 20892

2. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACQUISITION BEING APPROVED

REES Scientific, Inc. installation of 5.0 GHz wireless Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) probes for thirty-four (34) existing control temperature units (CTU) in the pharmacy department used for continuous 24/7 monitoring using the Environmental Monitoring system, Software Manager system, and Web Browser Application.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES AND SERVICES REQUIRED, INCLUDING THE DELIVERY SCHEDULE AND/OR THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE and DOLLAR VALUE OF THE ACQUISITON.

The REES Scientific, Inc. installation of 5.0 GHz wireless Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) probes for thirty-four (34) existing control temperature units (CTU) in the pharmacy department specialty service is estimated at a price of $56,331.45 and is required to be initiated by March 1, 2026. The period of performance is expected between March 1, 2026 and May 15, 2026 for installation, calibration, and certification of all RTD probe. The selected source is based on availability and yearly certified training of service engineers from instrument vendor to provide installation service, maintenance, and calibration of REES environmental monitoring system (EMS) probe inputs, REES software manager system, and Web Browser application. REES Scientific Inc. specialty service must provide repair services and replacement of all parts and/or equipment to ensure continuous instrument performance to OEM specifications and prevent environmental monitoring equipment downtime which will affect the critical daily operations of the Clinical Center Main Outpatient/Inpatient Pharmacy, Unit Dose, Sterile Compounding, and Non-Sterile Compounding Sections as well as all clinical center and CRC patient care units that maintain a control temperature unit that stores pharmaceutical drug products.

4. IDENTIFICATION OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION.

FAR 13.106-1(b) (1): For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstance of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g. urgency, inclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization).

5. DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED

The selected source is based on availability to provide installation, calibration, and maintenance service of 5.0 GHz wireless Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) probes connected to the environmental monitoring system (EMS), REES software manager system, and Web Browser application systems with the capacity to specifically service and maintain each of the REES Scientific EM systems. Because of the specific instrument training, service certification & access to the latest technical developments, repair procedures knowledge base access, updated instrument schematics database access, software manager applications update access, and planned maintenance procedures of REES Scientific systems, only one (1) source will be solicited. The Software manager, Web Browser application, and REES EMS are specifically manufactured by REES Scientific, Inc. No other vendor can provide probe installation and calibration of the REES system RTD probes as well as services including software upgrades and updates as the software licenses are only licensed and manufactured by REES Scientific Inc. All other sources have been exhausted due to the service engineer specific training, certification, database access, and knowledgebase of REES Scientific Inc. EMS equipment and software that are directly applicable to the environmental monitoring system probe inputs, REES software manager system, and Web Browser application systems which are produced, licensed, and manufacturer by REES Scientific, Inc.

6. A DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS ARE SOLICITED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS PRACTIABLE

The REES Scientific environmental monitoring and software systems service engineer’s specific training, certification, database access, and knowledgebase of REES Scientific EMS equipment and software manager licenses which directly apply to the REES environmental monitoring system probe inputs systems warrants efficient and reliable system repairs to all EMS equipment manufactured, tested, and licensed by REES Scientific Inc. These specific requirements will not permit competition to the maximum extent possible. Competition will be sought by oral solicitation procedures and no resultant synopsis in FBO will be published. (FAR 5.202 (a) (2))

7. DEMONSTRATION THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE

Based upon price analysis and comparison of maintenance and service of the Cold Temperature Units (CTU), Room Temperature, Room Humidity, and Differential Pressure probe inputs of the environmental monitoring (EM) system, REES software manager system, and Web Browser application systems available from the same manufacturer (REES Scientific Inc.), the price of the selected 5-year service contract will be considered reasonable.

Quote 1: REES Scientific RTD probe installation & calibration specialty service $56,331.45

8. DESCRIPTION OF MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AND THE RESULTS OR STATEMENT OF THE REASON MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED

Only one manufacturer was sought by oral solicitation procedures due to the manufacturer certified training and licensing limitations, and the required installation, calibration and maintenance service of 5.0GHz wireless modules and RTD probes that are connected to the environmental monitoring system, REES software manager system, and Web Browser application systems were targeted based on market capabilities.

9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION.

Competition will be limited to vendors that respond to the oral solicitation.

10. LISTING OF SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED, IN WRITING, AN INTEREST IN THE ACQUISITION.

The selected vendor will be based on availability to provide the service and maintenance product. REES Scientific Inc.

11. STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THE REQUIRED SUPPLIES OR SERVICES.

Due to the specific instrument training, service certification & access to the latest technical developments, repair procedures knowledge base access, updated instrument schematics database access, software manager applications update access, and planned maintenance procedures of Cold Temperature Units (CTU), Room Temperature, Room Humidity, and Differential Pressure probe inputs of the environmental monitoring system, REES software manager system, and Web Browser application systems, the NIH Clinical Center will continue to seek competition through oral solicitations. A blanket purchase agreement (BPA) may be considered if there is sufficient need for such a contract mechanism.

12. PROGRAM OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION

“I hereby certify that the information contained in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.”

Richard DeCederfelt, COR Pharmacy Department

13. CONTRACTING OFFICER’S CERTIFICATION

“I hereby certify that the information contained in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.”.”

Susan Nsangou Contracting Officer image1.png