SSJ.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT (OPEN MARKET OR GSA)

UNDER $250,000

Sole source acquisitions may be used on a limited basis and only when the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)/Program Official has provided sufficient justification and the Contracting Officer has determined that the circumstances warrant such action. The content for a justification must contain detailed facts and rationale to justify the sole source acquisition. Soliciting from a single source must be done in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b) or 8.405-6. At a minimum, the following information must be included:

Identification of Program Office, Contracting Activity, and Proposed Requirement, Justification and Program Office Certification:

A. Program Office:

NIOSH/HELD OD

1095 Willowdale Road Mail Stop: 3014 Morgantown, WV 26505

DHL5@CDC.GOV 304-285-6166

B. Contracting Activity:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Financial Resources Acquisition Branch #5

C. Identification of Requirement:

1. Nature of Action to be Approved by Contracting Officer:

a. Sole source acquisition of: Quality laboratory rats to the NIOSH HELD Research Program from Hilltop Lab Animals, Inc.

b. Procurement Request (PR) Number (if available): Click here to enter text.

2. Proposed Vendor and Estimated Procurement Amount (if available):

a. Proposed Vendor: Hilltop lab Animals Inc. 131 Hilltop Drive Scottdale, PA 15683-

2616; 800-245-6921

b. Estimated Procurement Amount: $232,571.72

3. Is the requirement on GSA Schedule? ☐ Yes ☒ No

If yes, provide schedule number: Click here to enter text.

D. Justification:

mailto:DHL5@CDC.GOV

Rev. 5/14/19

1. The justification for this non-competitive action is:

☒ In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), “only one source [is] reasonably available” which states that, “For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. (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). (ii) Where a single source is identified to provide a portion of a purchase because that portion of the purchase specifies a particular brand-name item, the documentation in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section only applies to the portion of the purchase requiring brand-name item. The documentation should state it is covering only the portion of the acquisition which is brand- name.”

☐ Urgency ☐ Exclusive licensing agreements/Proprietary data ☐ Brand name required ☐ Industrial mobilization ☒ Other (e.g., compatibility, space issues, continuity, compatibility, etc.)

☐ In accordance with FAR 8.405-6 “Limiting Sources” which states that, “the only circumstances that may justify the action are – (A) An urgent and compelling need exists, and following the procedures would result in unacceptable delays; (B) Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized; or (C) In the interest of economy and efficiency, the new work is a logical follow-up to an original Federal Supply Schedule order provided that the original order was placed in accordance with the applicable Federal Supply Schedule ordering procedures. The original BPA must not have been previously issued under sole-source or limited-sources procedures.”

☐ Urgency ☐ Only One Source ☐ Logical Follow Up ☐ Brand name required

2. Other facts supporting sole source procurement:

a. What can this product/service do that other products/services cannot do?

To maintain scientific integrity and continuity of current established and future projects the use of rats maintained from the same breeding colony are required for research within our program (RGD: Rules for Nomenclature of Mouse and Rat Strains (mcw.edu)). The vendor named in this contract supplies rats with a unique genetic makeup that other vendors cannot match. Most strains and stocks of rats that are available from other vendors have been physically separated from each other for so many generations that they are genetically unique when it comes to their biological response to many research procedures. The rats provided by this vendor are produced as genetically unique strains that are required for continuity of research within our program. Several NIOSH/HELD researchers have established models with the Hla (SD)CVF outbred rat; one has consistently used the Hla (SHR)CVF Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat. Departing from these stocks maintained by Hilltop Lab Animals inc. risks reduced accuracy, reliability, and reproducibility of research results ( Exp Anim. 2009Apr;58(2):141-9. And Exp Anim. 2021 May 13;70(2):145- 160.).

b. What other products/services were considered and why did they not meet the need?

https://rgd.mcw.edu/nomen/rules-for-nomen.shtml https://rgd.mcw.edu/nomen/rules-for-nomen.shtml

Literature and online searches show other vendors, Charles River Laboratory, Taconic and Jackson Laboratory can provide similar stocks and strains.However, they have been physically separated from each other for so many generations that they are genetically different when it comes to their physiological response to many of the established research models within our program.

3. Program Office efforts to seek potential offerors:

Conducted internet search and attendance at trade meetings, (AAALAS), for vendors who provided outbred stocks of rats. Yet, for the previously described set of reasons, no other vendors could provide rats from the specific stock required to maintain the continuity of research and scientific integrity of current and planned research projects within our program.

E. Program Office Certification:

I have reviewed this sole source justification and certify the justification is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and adequate to support other than full and open competition.

CIO Project Officer Name: Richard Probst, DVM

CIO Project Officer Signature:

Approval Date: 11/07/2022

Program Analyst Name: Renee Appel, Program Analyst, HELD

Signature:

Approval Date: Click here to enter a date.

Director: Donald Beezhold, Director, HELD

Signature:

Approval Date: Click here to enter a date.

Certification Date: Click here to enter a date.

F. Contracting Office Certification:

I have fully relied on the information provided herein and hereby certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief:

Contracting Officer Name: Click here to enter text.

Contracting Officer Signature:

Certification Date: Click here to enter a date.