A-5_JA-IDEXX.pdf

Justification and Approval for IDEXX Laboratories Water Testing Supplies

1. Contracting Activity: USACE, Baltimore, Washington Aqueduct

2. Description of Action: This acquisition is for the purchase of EPA-approved water testing & analytical materials for delivery at regular intervals over a one (1) year base period plus four (4) option years. The estimated cost of this acquisition for the base year is $84,801.95. For the base and four option periods the estimated cost will be $436,049.41.

3. Description of Supplies: The required supplies are used for the testing of the presence and concentration of various bacteriological organisms in water samples collected from the source, in-process, and potable waters.

4. Authority Cited: The authority and supporting rationale (13.106-1(b)(1)(i)) only one source reasonably available. IDEXX Distribution, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. and is the sole manufacturer of Colilert Substrate, Colilert Vessels, Quanti-Tray and SimPlate Media products to the Water Market. Therefore, it is in the interest of the Government to obtain these supplies from IDEXX Distribution, Inc.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: The Washington Aqueduct (WA) is a critical infrastructure that operates two water treatment plants (WTPs), the Dalecarlia WTP and the McMillan WTP.

Located at the Dalecarlia WTP is the WA Laboratory. The primary mission of the WA Laboratory is to provide quality analytical support services to the Washington Aqueduct and its wholesale customers in order to ensure the safety and quality of the drinking water for over one million citizens living, working, and visiting the metropolitan Washington, DC area. As a service, the WA Laboratory performs legally-required drinking water compliance testing in accordance with local and federal statutes. Extensive testing includes various chemical, biological, radiological, and other required parameters. To ensure the bacteriological quality of the drinking water, the Washington Aqueduct continuously monitors and tests for the presence of various microbes. Testing includes the enumeration of total coliform, E. coli, and heterotrophic bacteria in water through the use of IDEXX products. This testing is critical to public health as well as compliance with EPA regulations established under the Total Coliform Rule and the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule. Washington Aqueduct operators and laboratory personnel have been using IDEXX Laboratories testing products for over 20 years because of product reliability, availability, quality, accuracy, rapid turnaround of results, ease of use, cost effectiveness, and due to their long track record of meeting regulatory requirements for the drinking water industry.

There are three EPA-approved techniques for the detection of total coliforms and E. coli in drinking water as well as the enumeration of total coliforms in raw river (surface) water.

These techniques are fermentation broth method, membrane filtration method, and enzyme substrate method. There are multiple EPA-approved methods within each technique.

J&A Log# NAB-17-027

The Washington Aqueduct Laboratory used the following criteria in evaluating the multiple EPA-approved methods:

1. In order to meet regulatory requirements, method must be applicable to the detection of total coliforms and E. coli in drinking water, as well as, the enumeration of total coliforms and E. coli in raw river (surface) water.

2. In order to ensure rapid response to public health concerns, sample results must be ready no later than 24 hours from the time the samples are incubated.

3. In order to ensure the capability of immediate analysis whenever necessary, method must be easily performed by trained non-laboratory personnel.

4. Method must be cost effective in terms of product cost and analysis time.

The fermentation broth methods are not able to provide results within 24 hours as stated in criterion #2 above. Therefore, they were excluded from consideration.

The membrane filtration methods are complex techniques that require specialized training and should not be performed by non-laboratory personnel as stated in criterion #3 above.

Therefore, they were excluded from consideration.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

a. Effective competition. Based on review of all current EPA-approved methods, other than IDEXX, no other single, enzyme-substrate product is available for both the detection of total coliforms and E. coli in drinking water, as well as, the enumeration of total coliforms and E.coli in raw river (surface) water.

b. Subcontracting competition. N/A

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Washington Aqueduct can neither practically nor cost-effectively increase competition for this action. EPA regulations require that we use the EPA-approved water testing & analytical materials. The supplies meeting our criteria can only be supplied by the manufacturer, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.

8. Market Research: Currently, there are only two enzyme substrate methods which are EPA-approved both for the detection of total coliforms and E. coli in drinking water and the enumeration of E. coli in raw, river (surface) water as stated in criterion #1: Colilert and Colilert-

18. In addition, both methods also meet criteria #2 and #3. Therefore, these two methods were evaluated to see which one was more cost effective as stated in criterion #4. Colilert manufactured and supplied solely by IDEXX is the only method which meets all four criteria.

Again, Colilert is the brand name for two of the listed supplies. Quantitray is the brand name for the third supply listed and this item must be used in conjunction with the Colilert supply.

SimpPlate is the brand name for the fourth supply listed. All of these supplies, can only be purchased from IDEXX Laboratories, the sole manufacturer and supplier. A Notice of Intent to Sole Source the requirement W912DR-17-T-0110 was posted to FBO 16- 31 May 2017; no responses were received for the Notice of Intent.

9. Interested Sources: To date, no other sources have written to express an interest.

10. Other Facts: Contract information for previous IDEXX supplies contracts are shown in the table below:

Contract Number Contractor Contract Amount W91236-10-P-0038 IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. $23,335.00 W91236-11-P-0007 IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. $63,150.00 W91236-12-P-0008 IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. $77,555.00 W91236-12-P-0175 IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. $77,465.00 W91DR-14-P-0058 IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. $203,616.00

11. Technical Certification: Include the following statement:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Michael L. Chicoine Project Officer: Signature: ______________________

12. Requirements Certification: Include the following statement:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Robert P. Hoffa Laboratory Section Chief: Signature: ______________________

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: Include the following determination:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

This determination is based on the cost for the same services provided for three previous contracts.

Karen Truxal SMS Chief: Signature: ______________________

CHICOINE.MICHA

EL.L.1269288562

Digitally signed by

CHICOINE.MICHAEL.L.1269288562

DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=USA, cn=CHICOINE.MICHAEL.L.1269288562 Date: 2017.06.05 07:09:03 -04'00'

HOFFA.ROBERT.P.1229

359378

Digitally signed by HOFFA.ROBERT.P.1229359378 DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=USA, cn=HOFFA.ROBERT.P.1229359378 Date: 2017.06.05 07:14:28 -04'00'

TRUXAL.KAREN.B

ETH.1033120164

Digitally signed by

TRUXAL.KAREN.BETH.1033120164

DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=USA, cn=TRUXAL.KAREN.BETH.1033120164 Date: 2017.06.05 12:47:07 -04'00'

14. Contracting Officer Certification: This certification shall be made by the contracting officer who will sign the contract resulting from this justification and approval. Include the following statement:

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

Typed Name Title: Signature: ______________________

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of EPA-approved water testing & analytical materials on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Date: ___________________ Signature: ___________________

JOHNSON.LA

SHURA.M.14604

61606

Digitally signed by JOHNSON.LA

SHURA.M.1460461606

DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=USA, cn=JOHNSON.LA

SHURA.M.1460461606

Date: 2017.06.02 16:24:49 -04'00'

JOHNSON.LA

SHURA.M.1460461606

Digitally signed by JOHNSON.LA

SHURA.M.1460461606

DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=USA, cn=JOHNSON.LA

SHURA.M.1460461606

Date: 2017.06.02 16:26:31 -04'00'