Sole Source NAS 10.15.24.docx

· What is the business need or problem that requires this contract?

· The SPSCC NAS Division’s mission of preparing students for further study and for entry to their chosen career fields requires staying current in all fields, including laboratory equipment. It is crucial to consider microscopes that are well-suited to the demands of the program and for use in an instructional setting.

· Because these microscopes are used by multiple programs and potentially hundreds of students over the course of a given year, SPSCC staff have made a point to consider products with the ruggedness to withstand being handled by such a volume of untrained users. The Leica DM500 meets this need with its oversized carrying handle to help students move it more safely and its compact design.

· The Leica DM500 also has preset eyepiece tubes, which prevent the diopter from being incorrectly calibrated, another important feature for students who are untrained in operating a microscope. The microscope head pivots on a captive thumbscrew. This method of pivoting is much more secure and durable than other models, reducing the need for microscope servicing and maintenance. This scope also uses LED lights to illuminate samples, which will eliminate the need for annual light bulb replacements, as these LEDs will operate for over 20 years. In addition to the large carrying handle, the scope also has integrated cable storage, which is helpful both for staging labs and for longer-term storage. Finally, the stage and condenser are simplified; the condenser is a single interface point rather than multiple knobs, and the stage is in one dimension that does not change when adjusted, which is both easier to use and safer to store in cabinets without damaging a stage mechanism.

· The eye piece and knobs are also treated with a substance that inhibits the spread of bacteria, which makes this model especially useful in a classroom setting.

· The Leica DM500 is compatible with streaming and video capture modules, and will offer the SPSCC Sciences division the opportunity to expand its use of microscope observations in more interactive ways than previously possible, and would open exciting avenues with online learning that would not be available with another model of microscope.

· Describe the unique features, qualifications, abilities or expertise of the contractor proposed for this sole source contract.

· JH Technologies is uniquely qualified in that this contractor has the sole ability to distribute Leica-brand microscopes for educational use in this region, per an agreement with Leica.

· What kind of market research did the agency conduct to conclude that alternative sources were inappropriate or unavailable? Provide a narrative description of the agency’s due diligence in determining the basis for the sole source contract, including methods used by the agency to conduct a review of available sources. Use DES’ Market Research Template if assistance is needed.

· We conducted multiple web searches for microscopes that would provide the desired functions, using various keywords. After a few days of research, we found no options that were superior to the Leica DM500, and given that we have existing maintenance agreements and compatible supplies for this model, decided to purchase more. Also JH Tech was the only provider willing to help with installing the microscopes along with training on how to use them.

· As part of the market research requirements, include a list of statewide contracts reviewed and/or businesses contacted, date of contact, method of contact (telephone, mail, e-mail, other), and documentation demonstrating an explanation of why those businesses could not or would not, under any circumstances, perform the contract; or an explanation of why the agency has determined that no businesses other than the prospective contractor can perform the contract.

We reached out to Thomas Scientific via email and they didn’t offer the option of installation and training to use these Microscopes

We also reached out directly to Leica and they informed us that they deal directly with JH Tech for installation and training.

· Per the Supplier Diversity Policy, DES-090-06: was this purchase included in the agency’s forecasted needs report?

· No forecasted needs reports have been made available to us.

· Describe what targeted industry outreach was completed to locate small and/or veteran-owned businesses to meet the agency’s need?

· Our research indicated that only one vendor had the rights to distribute the desired item: JH Technologies

· What considerations were given to unbundling the goods and/or services in this contract, which would provide opportunities for Washington small, diverse, and/or veteran-owned businesses. Provide a summary of your agency’s unbundling analysis for this contract.

· There are no bundles in this order, so no unbundling considerations were given.

· Provide a detailed and compelling description that includes quantification of the costs and risks mitigated by contracting with this contractor (i.e. learning curve, follow-up nature).

· The cost of a Lecia DM500 is approximately $1650 USD. There are no associated risks inherent to operating or purchasing a microscope.

· Is the agency proposing this sole source contract because of special circumstances such as confidential investigations, copyright restrictions, etc.? If so, please describe.

· N/A

· Is the agency proposing this sole source contract because of unavoidable, critical time delays or issues that prevented the agency from completing this acquisition using a competitive process? If so, please describe. For example, if time constraints are applicable, identify when the agency was on notice of the need for the goods and/or service, the entity that imposed the constraints, explain the authority of that entity to impose them, and provide the timelines within which work must be accomplished.

· No, this sole source is being submitted due to a low and aging supply of Leica DM500 microscopes

· What are the consequences of not having this sole source filing approved? Describe in detail the impact to the agency and to services it provides if this sole source filing is not approved.

· Not being able to procure these microscopes would negatively impact the learning environment of SPSCC science students and would slow down instruction by requiring multiple sets of instructions to accommodate multiple models of microscope.