A03.15_KO_Determination_redacted_Redacted.pdf

ERDC Control #: 19-1622 28 July 2019

Contracting Officer Determination Sole Source

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Contracting Office (ECO) intends to make contract award pursuant to the authority of FAR 13.106, Soliciting Competition, Evaluation of Quotations or Offers, Award and Documentation, for the purposes of providing written consent and approval to purchase a brand name Sequoia Scientific, Inc. LISST 200x’s (Laser In-Situ Scattering and Transmissometery).

The US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Environmental Laboratory (EL) has a requirement for the Purchase of one LISST (Laser In-Situ Scattering and Transmissometry) 200X with options for four additional units.

In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b), Soliciting from a Single Source (1) 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).

Specific characteristics of the instrument that limit the availability to a brand name are that the equipment must be compatible with previously purchased equipment. The Submersible laser-diffraction instrument must be able to be used in both fresh and marine environments, including rivers, ports, harbors, coasts, and oceans. It must also measure small-angle optical volume scattering function (VSF). No other manufacturer offers the LISST made by Sequoia Scientific, Inc.

Failure to approve this single source justification will result in the loss of the ability to incorporate state of the art field measuring techniques into ongoing and upcoming dredge and placement studies. There is an immediate need to have field ready instruments that can be used for multiple projects monitoring dredge and placement impacts on mobile and benthic organisms and plants.

Based on the above and in accordance with FAR 13.106- 1(b)(1)(i), it is hereby determined that Sequoia Scientific, Inc.is the only brand name that can meet the requirements for the LISST 200x therefore it is in the best interest of the Government to acquire the brand name Sequoia Scientific, Inc. equipment for this requirement.

Chelsea M. Whitten Date Contracting Officer

WHITTEN.CHELSEA.M.1 Digitally signed by

WHITTEN.CHELSEA.M.

Date: 2019.07.29 1