A03_JA_Other_Than_Full__Open_SAP.pdf

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES (SAP)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) Solicitations may be limited to one source only if the contracting officer determines that only one source is reasonably available.

This determination must be supported with full justification for sole source from the customer.

When the customer describes an item with a purchase description that limits the availability to one source, the justification must explain why the item is the only one that will meet the government’s requirement.

Statements such as "only known source" or "only source which can meet the required delivery date" are inadequate to support a sole source purchase.

The customer shall provide the following information:

PURCHASE REQUEST OR REQUISITION NUMBER

SPS PR# TBD

PROJECT/TASK NUMBER

ESTIMATED AMOUNT (Not Exceeding $150K)

$25,000.00

1. Brief description of supplies or services required and the intended use: The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) is an extremely successful research center supported through industry membership fees and funding from the state of North Carolina.

Nonwovens technology represents a key materials technology for NSRDEC with applications across a wide variety of commodity areas, both as a substitute for traditional textiles and in novel applications . Nonwovens offer unique capabilities to “engineer” specific performance attributes. The NWI conducts a core research program of Industry Advisory Board (IAB)-selected projects including materials and process technologies with emphasis on material enhancements imparting new functionalities and increased performance. As a member of the IAB, and through direct interactions with PI’s and graduate students at NC State University and other university partners, NSRDEC has influenced the research portfolio and the direction and content of ongoing research projects. NSRDEC also has a seat on the Executive Committee and the Scientific Advisory

Board , giving our center additional leverage in the conduct of the NWI research program. The institute is international in scope including fortune 500 companies and small textile startups. A number of research projects have lead to important spin-off and follow-on collaborative projects in NSRDECs S&T program. It is important to fund NSRDEC’s yearly membership dues with the NWI so that we can continue to leverage and influence the direction of research in this essential area of technology.

2.

2. Unique characteristics that limit availability to only one source, with the reason no other supplies or services can be used:

Membership is critical to our mission at NSRDEC as it allows us to contribute and be aware of ongoing research through the NWI that we can leverage for both current and future research projects. The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) is an extremely successful research center supported through industry membership fees and funding from the state of North Carolina. Nonwovens technology represents a key materials technology for NSRDEC to monitor and invest in, with applications across a wide variety of commodity areas, both as a substitute for traditional textiles and in novel applications (e.g., nonwoven super-capacitor research). Nonwovens offer unique capabilities to “engineer” specific performance attributes. The NWI conducts a core research program of Industry

Advisory Board (IAB)-selected projects including materials and process technologies with emphasis on material enhancements imparting new functionalities and increased performance. As a member of the IAB, and through direct interactions with PI’s and graduate students at NC State University and other university partners, NSRDEC has influenced the research portfolio and the direction and content of ongoing research projects. NSRDEC also has a seat on the Executive Committee, giving our center additional leverage in the conduct of the NWI research program. The institute is international in scope including fortune 500 companies and small textile startups. A number of research projects have led to important spin-off and follow-on collaborative projects in NSRDECs S&T program. It is important to fund NSRDEC’s yearly membership dues with the NWI so that we can continue to leverage and influence the direction of research in this essential area of technology. This is the only research consortium of its kind in the area of textiles nonwovens research.

3. A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason a market research was not conducted: Formal market research was not conducted. This is the only research consortium of its kind that encourages collaborative interaction with Government, academic and commericial companies (national and international) to promote cutting edge research in the area of nonwoven textiles

4. Provide a statement of actions, if any, the government may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before future acquisitions are required. If this is a follow-on action to a previously competed action, so state:

Continuous monitoring of the market place will continue to be performed to seek out future competition.

5A. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CUSTOMER

Kris Senecal, Research Biologist

5B. TELEPHONE NUMBER

508-233-5510

5C. DATE

March 28, 2018