Brand_Name_J&A_Redacted.pdf

ERDC-19-1503

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Justification Review Document For Other Than Full and Open Competition

Requirement: Agilent 6495B Triple Quadrupole LC/MS System Authority Cited: 6.302-1(c) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements (Brand Name)

Amount:

Prepared By:

Melissa Keen Phone:

Contract Specialist Email: Melissa.A.Keen@usace.army.mil Signature:

Technical Representative:

Shinita Jordan Phone:

Contracting Officer’s Representative Email:

Office of Counsel:

Email:

Signature:

Phone:

Signature:

Contracting Officer:

Chelsea Whitten Phone:

Contracting Officer E-mail: Chelsea.M.Whitten@usace.army.mil Signature:

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Justification and Approval For Other Than Full and Open Competition

1. Contracting Activity: The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Contracting Office located at 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199.

2. Description of Action: Solicit on a firm fixed price basis for a brand name Agilent 6495 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS System using 219 FIF funds.

3. Description of Products: The ERDC Environmental Laboratory (EL), Environmental Processes Chemistry Branch, requires an Agilent 6495 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS System with uHPLC components in the estimated amount of for geochemical analysis of emerging compounds, such as per-fluorinated compounds and insensitive munitions.

4. Authority Cited: 10 United States Code (U.S.C.) 2304(c)(1) as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1(c) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements (Brand Name)

5. Reason for Authority Cited: The proposed procurement meets the criteria for exclusion from full and open competition under the authority cited above based on the following:

a) Background: The ERDC EL requires the procurement of the Agilent 6495 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS System. This group is actively engaged in collaborations with other research groups (internal and external to ERDC) necessitating direct transfer of methods from external collaborators, supplies, consumables, and data to produce identical data for ongoing research efforts. These efforts require the sensitivity of detection as described above, coupled with analyte discrimination from interfering compounds that only the triple quadrupole design can achieve.

b) Justification: The triple quadrupole design, with the sensitivity and discrimination abilities described above, is required for the research underway, specifically, detection and quantitation of per- and polyfluroalkyl substances (PFAS) and insensitive munitions (IMX) in complex environmental matrices. These matrices yield complex interferences that are present at many times higher concentrations than the target compounds to be investigated, necessitating the interference removal capabilities (collision cell described above), sensitivity (femtogram [fg] mass detection), and selectivity (0.1 Da resolution), described above. An Agilent 6495 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS System along-side uHPLC accessory components is required to meet these demands, facilitate direct transfer of methods from external collaborators, and produce identical data for ongoing collaborative research efforts.

c) Impact: The return of investment in enhancing RDT&E capabilities of the ERDC results in further advancement of knowledge and expertise in the remediation of known and unknown PFAS and IMX. The state of the art is advancing such that if this particular brand is not procured, ERDC will not be able to coordinate its research with our existing collaborators and customers, thereby being removed from the position of leaders in this field. Laboratory attainment of state-of-the art technology places us ahead of the curve in research and

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development and will ultimately increase both our military and civil works programs and enhance our ability to realize the EL mission of “Providing Solutions for Tomorrow's Environmental Challenges.”

d) Possible alternatives include: (1) use of footprint instrument equipment. (2) Acquisition of alternative equipment. Currently, the ERDC does not have the instrument capabilities to identify and quantity these specific contaminants at the required research and regulatory relevant levels.

Acquisition of alternative instrument designs will limit the ability to detect these compounds and their degradation products at relevant environmental levels (as described above). Therefore, acquisition of any alternative instrument will not meet the ERDC mission and will result in the removal of ERDC as a scientific leader in the field as described in the above impact section.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: A combined synopsis/solicitation will be posted at the Government point of entry, FedBizOpps, for competition amongst small businesses able to provide the required brand-name Agilent system and components.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Due to the swift advancements applicable to research and development, ERDC must remain watchful for new and innovative technology, products, services, and capabilities that become available which could be used to satisfy or improve similar future requirements.

The Government will continue to review the current literature, monitor university laboratory websites and review vendor abilities to meet this requirement in the future.

8. Market Research: Google, GSA Advantage, vendor brochures, and prior vendor cost estimates were consulted for companies that could provide a Triple Quadrupole LC/MS instrument and HPLC components that could analyze a broad range of elements, be non-destructive, possess highest sensitivity in peak area response, excellent peak area precision, and the lowest limits of detection and quantitation.

The website, www.labcompare.com, was searched using “Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer” and 26 results were found and compared. Only two manufacturers, Agilent Technologies and Shimadzu, met some of the requirements stated above and these instruments were compared further. Of the two, Agilent Technologies was the only viable manufacturer due to compatibility and continuity of the required system with currently owned property within the laboratory. Additional market research indicated at least two small businesses authorized to resell the necessary brand-name Agilent system and components.

9. Other Facts:

a) Procurement History: This is a new ERDC requirement. Therefore, there is no procurement history for this action.

b) Acquisition data availability: A description of requirements has been developed and will be used for this contract.

c) Unusual and compelling urgency: N/A

d) Subcontracting Competition: In accordance with FAR 19.702(b) (1), a subcontracting plan is not required from small business concerns. Subcontracting opportunities are not considered

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substantial, however, where the opportunity for subcontracting arises, the use of other small businesses will be encouraged and pursued to the extent possible.

10. Interested Sources: A combined synopsis/solicitation will be posted to FedBizOpps.

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11. Technical and Requirements Certification:

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:

12. Fair and Reasonable Price Determination:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. Cost analysis will be performed to determine that costs are fair and reasonable.

Certified cost or pricing data will not be required since this action is beneath the $2,000,000 threshold.

13. Procuring Contracting Officer Certification:

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

Shinita Jordan Signature:

Contracting Officer’s Representative

Chelsea Whitten Signature:

Contracting Officer

Chelsea Whitten Signature:

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Approval:

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of an Agilent 6495B Triple Quadrupole LC/MS System for the Environmental Lab on an Other than Full and Open Competition basis pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented in 6.302-1(c) subject to availability of funds, and provided that the products herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Chelsea Whitten Signature: