SSJ for Award post_1.docx

Sole Source Justification (FAR 13.5) This is a s ingle source acquisition, pursuant to the requirements of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13 .501(a): Soliciting from a single-source for purchases not exceeding $13.5 Million in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901.

1. Agency: EPA National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, Ann Arbor, Michigan Contracting Activity: EPA NVFEL Ann Arbor, Michigan Requisition No.: PR-OAR-18-01154 Contractor: Ino-Tek

2. Nature and/or description of the action: The Testing and Advanced Technology Division (TATD) seeks to award a follow-on Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to maintain existing hazardous safety detection equipment and install new gas detection hardware and software compatible with the existing system across NVFEL Laboratory. The existing hazardous gas safety equipment is produced by multiple brands such as MSA, RKI and TraceTek, but most is made up of Draeger. The installation of gas and aerosol detection sensors is a crucial safety element for a lab that contains hundreds of gas bottles, many types of fuels, and emission testing cells for various types of engines/fuels. This is a follow-on for contract EP-C-12-009 that expired December 2018 with Ino-Tek. The current requirement would be for one (1) base year and four (4) option periods.

3. Description of the Supplies or Services: The Contractor shall perform successful maintenance on current MSA, RKI, TraceTek, and Draeger equipment including the installation and complete system start-up including programming, calibration and testing for any new and current equipment while providing a system demonstration for the EPA Contracting Officer Representative (COR) per each task order. The contractor shall maintain control panels and centralized computers that were custom built by Ino-Tek to operate all the gas and aerosol detection systems. The entire scope of what is needed to maintain the current installed system and all other components in NVFEL Laboratory is detailed in the statement of work.

Estimated total value: Total value estimated to be $1,200,000.00

4. Authority:

Exception* = abbreviated) [x] Single Source

FAR Cite FAR 13.501 (a)

5. Describe how the contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited:

Ino-Tek is the sole developer of 28 custom-built control panels which integrates over 200 multi-brand sensors that detect various hazardous leaks, refrigerants, temperature, humidity and room pressure then connects to a server to present information on centralized computers. The custom-built control panels are spread throughout the laboratory to allow for immediate access in case of an alarm. The panels, when alarmed, pinpoint where the sensor detected the hazard, what the concentration level of the hazard is and if sensors need maintenance, the panels show what sensor may be damaged. Currently, TATD has invested over 1.5 million dollars on the custom-built hardware and software to provide laboratory gas detection and emergency alarm system safety. Expert knowledge on the custom-built software and hardware design is important because the gas detection system requires occasional calibration for the proper connection of sensors to the control panels and from the control panel to the server and central computers. Having a new vendor replace the existing alarm system would negatively impact the ongoing operations throughout the NVFEL lab: the cost to develop, design, and install a new system would be extremely costly and most importantly, could create an unsafe work environment for staff. Ino-Tek calibrates the sensors quarterly and verifies the proprietary hardware and software yearly. This is an extensive safety system that incorporates the entire NVFEL lab and is always required to remain active.

6. Describe the efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable:

Ino-Tek has installed and maintained proprietary hardware and software for their custom-built control panels, centralized computer and specialized sensors for the past 12 years at NVFEL. An intent to sole source synopsis was posted to FedBizOpps on May 15, 2019 requesting any small business vendor capable of providing both equipment and services to provide their capabilities by May 31, 2019. There were no capability statements or questions received based on the posting of this synopsis.

7. The contracting officer determines that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable because a complete analysis of all costs using audits, commerciality, previous history and/or other appropriate means will be fully utilized prior to award.

8. Description of the market research conducted (sec FAR Part 10). If no market research was conducted, state the reasons:

Market research was conducted with much information gathered by the technical point of contact’s 10 plus years of experience with working in the hazardous life safety industry, going to trade shows, and working with various contractors within the industry. Ino-Tek is the sole manufacturer, service provider, and system integrator of all the custom-built panels and centralized computer with the inclusion of specialized sensors from various brands installed in the NVFEL facility. Market research revealed very basic alarm companies mainly for security. No other companies were found that specialize in hazardous life safety that is capable of integrating new hardware and softwares into our current gas alarm system. The market research consists of a Google search for vendors in the Life Safety / Hazardous Material Emergency Alarm Systems featuring Gas and Vapor Detection and Liquid Leak Detection. The only other vendor that handles life, fire and security safety is Vanguard Fire. Vanguard Fire does not handle Gas safety which is an important and needed part of this requirement.

9. Other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

Ino-Tek has installed and maintained proprietary hardware and software for their custom-built control panels and centralized computer with the integration of specialized multi-brand sensors for the past 12 years at NVFEL. Gas safety is important for this laboratory because of the extraordinary amounts of gases being used for emission testing in the facility. Without the proper maintenance of the control panels and centralized computer due to the proprietary coding, there would not be a way to detect any gas & refrigerant leaks, temperature humidity or room pressure in the laboratory. With the equipment currently integrated through a system that makes use of proprietary software and custom-built panels in the laboratory, there is no way a new vendor would be capable of maintaining the overall system without replacing the control panels and centralized computer. No other vendor is trained or authorized to service this custom-built system.

10. List sources that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition. If no sources expressed an interest in writing, indicate such.

An intent to sole source synopsis was posted to FedBizOpps.gov requesting any small business vendor who can provide both equipment and services for this requirement to provide their capability statements. No vendor responded or provided capability statements in response to the sole source synopsis.

11. Include 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.

Based on the history of this procurement, this requirement was originally a competitive small business set a-side. In order to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition, market research will be conducted to find any vendors that provide life, hazardous, gas & vapor and emergency safety. If market research does not show any vendors in the industry a Request For Information (RFI) would be posted along with a draft statement of work to find any small business vendors capable to do the work.

Technical Officer's Certification:

I certify that the facts and representations stated in this justification, which form the basis for this justification, are complete and accurate.

Date: 10/17/19 _

Contracting Officer's Certification (if applicable):

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date: 10/28/19 _

Review:

Date: _10/31/19

Approval:

Date: _ 11/12/2019_ _ _ _ _ _ _