A02.06 JA Sole Source FAR Part 13.5_Custom Zebrafish Tank.pdf

CUI

Control Number: ERDC-24-2980

(Source Selection information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

Sole Source Justification and Approval Review Document Under FAR 13.501

Program/Equipment: Custom Zebrafish Tank System

Authority: 6.302-1(a)(2) -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

Period of Performance/Delivery Date: 15 February 2024

Amount: $25,895.90

Prepared by: /Signature/------------------------------------- Amanda Andrews

Contract Specialist E-mail: Amanda.Andrews@usace.army.mil

Contracting Officer: /Signature/------------------------------------- Sonia Boyd

Procuring Contracting Officer E-mail: Sonja.J.Boyd@usace.army.mil

Technical: /Signature/------------------------------------- Kayley Laber

Acquisition Program Analyst E-mail: Kayley.C.Watson@usace.army.mil

Requirements: /Signature/------------------------------------- Lynn Escalon

Acquisition Manager E-mail: Barbara.L.Escalon@usace.army.mil

Controlled by: Army Controlled by: USACE - ERDC CUI Category: General Procurement and Acquisition Distribution/Limited Dissemination Control: FED Only POC: Sonia Boyd, Sonia.j.boyd@usace.army.mil

Requirement: : Custom Zebrafish Tank System Control Number: ERDC-24-2980

Sole Source Justification and Approval Under FAR 13.501

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

2. Description of Action: Execute a new sole-source, supply contract with Aquaneering, Inc.

for the procurement of a custom zebrafish tank system for the housing of zebrafish and the capture of mussels attached to the zebrafish. These tanks are required to assist in ongoing research to assess the effects of mussels on zebrafish. These tanks will allow for the advancement of research understanding the interactions between zebrafish and mussels.

The custom zebrafish tank systems are required to complete ongoing research efforts within the Aquatic Ecology and Invasive Species Branch. The Estimated cost for this action is $25,895.90.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: This contract is for the procurement of a custom zebrafish tank system that will allow researchers to breed and house zebrafish and collect mussels coming off of the zebrafish on a daily basis. This custom build is not a standard build and requires special parts to allow for the collection of mussels. This supply must be supplied by a vendor who builds custom tanks for research purposes.

4. Authority Cited: 6.302-1(a)(2) -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

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: This contract will directly support ongoing research within the Environmental Laboratory, Environmental Engineering Division, Aquatic Ecology and Invasive Species Branch. These tanks are required to house and breed zebrafish and collect mussels to study the interaction between the zebrafish and mussels.

b) Justification: This contract has a complex requirement as the required supply for this effort requires a very specialized build that will collect the mussels coming off of the zebrafish into a specialized collecting area. The selected system does not require any additional effort to install and can be installed by government personnel, in addition to ease of installation, the system from Aquaneering, Inc. is an inclusive system that includes the rack, tanks, filtration, sterilizer, and pumps in a self-sustaining system. Due to this specification a standard zebrafish tank system will be unable to fulfill the requirement of the research project.

c) Impact: The custom zebrafish tank system will advance research on the basis of mussels collection. Without these tanks the collection of mussels attached to the zebrafish will have to be accomplished via alternative methods that will be labor intensive. This tank system is designed to do all the work for us. This will advance research and allow for faster delivery of data deliverables. This system is a fully inclusive system that will reduce required man hours to maintain the tanks and has no need for an annual service visit to maintain the unit.

d) Alternatives: There is no available alternative for this supply. Extensive online searches revealed there is no other company that is able to supply a tank system meeting the specifications.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Competition for this action is not feasible, due to the complexity of the contract. This supply is designed and made by only one source, Aquaneering, Inc., identified a small business on SAM.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: An extensive search was completed to locate additional competition for this supply. The market research indicates there is only one source able to supply the custom zebrafish tanks meeting the requirements of the project.

8. Market Research:

https://www.gsaadvantage.gov – A search for “Custom Zebrafish Tank System” was conducted and yielded no matches for vendor able to provide the required supply.

https://www.google.com - A google search for custom zebrafish tank systems was conducted and yields an unending list of results, many of these vendors do manufacture custom zebrafish tank systems. Upon searching for SAM registrations for these companies it was determined many of them are not registered on SAM.gov. Aquaneering, Inc. is a small business capable of furnishing the requested supply.

The required custom zebrafish tank system is required for ongoing research concerning zebrafish and mussels interactions. This tank system will allow for research to be conducted without labor intensive methods. These systems can only be provided by Aquaneering, Inc.

To acquire the required custom zebrafish tank system a purchase strategy of Sole source with a small business set-aside shall be utilized. Due to the complexity of this requirement, the only vendor capable of furnishing the requested supply is Aquaneering, Inc.

9. Interested Sources:

a) Procurement History: This is the first time these supplies will be procured on behalf of the Environmental Laboratory.

b) Acquisition data availability: A description of need has been developed for the procurement of this supply contract.

c) Unusual and compelling urgency: N/A

d) Subcontracting Competition: N/A

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement history: There is no procurement history for this supply, however extensive research indicates only one source can provide this supply as it is a complex requirement.

6.302-1(a)(2) -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

11. Technical 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:

Signature:_________________________ Date:_______________

Typed Name: Kayley Laber Title: Acquisition Program Analyst

12. 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.

Typed Name: Lynn Escalon Title: Acquisition Manager

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost 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 below the $750,000 threshold.

Typed Name: Sonia Boyd Title: Contracting Officer

14. Contracting Officer Certification:

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

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of custom zebrafish tank system, in the amount of $25,895.90 on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by FAR 13.501. Supplies may be considered to be available from only one source if the source has submitted an unsolicited proposal, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the supplies and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for the acquisition.

Date16_af_date: 12/14/23