Special Notice - Intent to Award Sole Source.doc

Special Notice

It is the intent of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to enter into a sole source, firm fixed price contract with Best Technology, Inc., 14040 23rd Ave. N, Minneapolis, MN 55447, for the purchase of BestSolv 7200 Engineered Fluid.

The proposed contract action will be conducted in accordance with FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The NAICS code is 325998, All Other Miscellaneous Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing. The anticipated award date is August 29, 2025. The proposed contract action is for products for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name or industrial mobilization).”

Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals no later than 12:00 p.m. eastern time on August 15, 2025. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received after the date of publication of this synopsis and prior to 12:00 p.m. eastern time on August 15, 2025, will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred in responding to this notice. Direct any questions regarding this announcement in writing to Ms. Cynthia Jones no later than 12:00 p.m. eastern time on August 14, 2025.

Points of Contact: Cynthia Jones, Contract Specialist, cynthia.jones@nara.gov;

Yolanda Bean, Contracting Officer, yolanda.bean@nara.gov Place of performance: National Archives at College Park, 3301 Metzerott Road, College Park, MD 20740.

See Attachment 1 – FAR 13 Sole Source Justification

ATTACHMENT 1

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES

FAR 13.106-1(b) – Simplified Acquisitions Procedures

National Archives and Records Administration

Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer

8601 Adelphi Road

College Park, MD 20740-6001

Best Technology, Inc.

BestSolv 7200 Engineered Fluid

Technical Requirements Certification:

I hereby certify that this sole source justification for commercial items is made in good faith, that the supporting data and information are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that I would not be making this request if it were feasible to fully compete this requirement. I further certify this request is not the result of lack of advanced planning or a desire to expend funds while those funds are still available.

I. IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING ACTIVITY, AND SPECIFIC IDENTIFICATION OF THE DOCUMENT AS A “SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES.”

See page 1.

II. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING APPROVED

NARA seeks to award a fixed price purchase order to Best Technology, Inc. for the purchase of BestSolv 7200 Engineered Fluid. This is a sole source requirement for Best Technology, Inc.

III.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGENCY’S NEEDS (INCLUDING THE ESTIMATED VALUE)

NARA has a requirement for two 55-gallon drums of BestSolv 7200 Engineered Fluid.

The total estimated value is $==

III. AN IDENTIFICATION OF THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act, Public Law 103-355 in conjunction with the Competition in Contracting Act, 41 U.S.C § 3304(a)(1) as implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), which states “ Contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name or industrial mobilization).” The procedures in FAR subpart 13.5 were used in accordance with

41 U.S.C. 1901.

V.

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

Research Services, Motion Picture Laboratory, has a requirement for two 55-gallon drums of BestSolv 7200 Engineered Fluid to be used with the Lipsner-Smith film cleaning machine. The Lipsner-Smith is designed to work only with 7200 Engineered Fluids. The machine is twenty years old. Other models work with Perchloroethylene but the lab does not use it due to concerns over staff exposure to the chemical. The BestSolv 7200 Engineered Fluid is safe for staff use and is safe for the motion picture film that we clean.

3M discontinued the NovtecTM 7200 Engineered Fluid that the lab had used for decades. Manufacturing of 3M NovecTM 7200 will cease at the end of December 2025 and new orders are no longer being accepted. Best Technology Inc. developed a drop in replacement. BestSolv 7200 is an exact molecule replacement for 3M Novec 7200. NARA scientists have evaluated the chemical composition of the BestSolv 7200 Engineered Fluid and compared it to the 3M NovtecTM 7200 Engineered Fluid and it is the same. Best Technology is the sole reseller of BestSolv 7200 Engineered Fluid.

Optimal performance for the Lipsner-Smith film cleaning machine is crucial to the overall success of the lab and the lab’s ability to meet the goals of NARA. For context, cleaning fluid is essential for preparing moving image records for reformatting. Prior to digitizing and preserving motion picture film, it is critical to remove dust, debris, and adhesives. Without sufficient cleaning fluid, debris may introduce defects in the copies of the records and damage sensitive and expensive scanners and printers. Cleaning fluid is utilized for records requested by our diverse customer base, including assassination records, exhibit materials, 250th celebration items, and research requests from the public, including veterans. We use the fluid prior to digitizing for access and preservation requests from all NARA stakeholders. To date, we have spent $1 million on equipment and cleaning fluid protects this investment.

VI.

A DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS ARE SOLICITED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS IS PRACTICABLE, INCLUDING WHETHER A NOTICE WAS OR WILL BE PUBLICIZED AS REQUIRED BY SUBPART 5.2 AND, IF NOT, WHICH EXCEPTION UNDER 5.202 APPLIES.

A notification of intent to award sole source will be posted on SAM.gov for 15 days.

VII.

A DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE

The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated cost will be fair and reasonable. There are no other suppliers that can provide the BestSolv 7200 Engineered Fluid.

VIII.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED (SEE PART 10) AND THE RESULTS OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED.

Market information was obtained from Best Technology, Inc. and inquiries were made to 3M and 3M distributors such as ChemPoint, PC Vision, Inc., US Pan-American Solutions, and FSR Consulting. It was found that Best Technology, Inc. is the sole supplier for BestSolv 7200 Engineered Fluid. A note on Best Technology’s website states “BestSolv is distributed exclusively by Best Technology, Inc.”

IX.

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

N/A

X.

A LISTING OF THE SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED, IN WRITING, AN INTEREST IN THE ACQUISITION N/A

XI.

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

The agency will remain abreast of changes in the availability of replacement fluid for this equipment; for example, availability via authorized re-sellers and distributors, as well as offerings via GSA schedule.

XII.

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION THAT THE JUSTIFICATION IS ACCURATE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF THE CONTRACTING OFFICER’S KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF.

See Page 1.