Leeds Precision

FDO/ MICC Control No. 18-U039

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL
FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
(Actions NTE $650K for other than Simplified Acquisition Procedures)

1. Agency/Contracting Activity: Ft. Gordon MICC

2. Description of Action:

Nature: New Requirement Follow-on Requirement
Mod to Existing Purchase Order/Contract Number

Pricing: Firm-Fixed Price Time & Materials Cost Funds:
OMA Other Funds: OPA

Name of Proposed Contractor: Leeds Precision Instruments Inc
Street Address: 17300 Medina Road
City, State, Zip: Minneapolis MN 66557
Phone: 763-546-8575

3. Description of Services or Supplies:

The Defense Forensic Science Center requires the purchase of an Evofinder Ballistic Identification
System, Single Scanner/PC Configuration.

The total estimated value of the proposed action is $ 275,000.00

4. Authority: Actions other than simplified acquisition procedures (select one):

FAR 6.302-1: Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency
requirements, 10 USC 2304(c)(1)

FAR 6.302-2: Unusual and compelling urgency, 10 USC 2304(c)(2) FAR 6.302-5: Authorized or Required
by Statute, 10 USC 2304(c)(5) FAR 13.501(a): Simplified Acquisition Procedures
Other: FAR 8.405-6(a)(2) Item peculiar to one manufacturer (e.g. brand name item, product, or
feature of a product peculiar to one manufacturer.

5. Reasons for Authority Cited:

a. The Defense Forensic Science Center has a mission critical requirement for the procurement of
the Evofinder® Ballistic Identification System (BIS) for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation
Laboratory Trace Evidence Branch. The Defense Forensic Science
-1-

FDO/ MICC Control No. 18-U039
Center (DFSC) located at the Gillem Enclave in Georgia provides forensic laboratory services to the
Department of Defense investigative agencies and other Federal law enforcement agencies. This is a
materials science hardware and software solution supporting U.S. Army Criminal Investigation
Laboratory (USACIL) Firearm examiners with the scanning and correlation comparison of bullets and
cartridges for forensic evidence examinations and research.

b. The Evofinder Automated Ballistics Identification system (BIS) is a scanning device that
captures 2D & 3D digital images of bullets and cartridge cases to store in a database for the
purpose of comparison and matching. This instrument fills two capability gaps at USACIL. The first
is as a virtual microscope; the scans produced by the Evofinder are able to extrapolate certain
individual characteristics (such as faint granular breech face marks) on bullets and cartridge
cases better than visual comparison on a comparison microscope. Having the Evofinder will allow an
examiner another tool to visualize individual characteristics for comparison that would have gone
unnoticed using just a comparison microscope. The second gap is the correlation software.
Currently, USACIL has no tool to establish a correlation score for the comparison of two ballistic
samples. With the recent popularity of quantitative measurements, a tool that is capable of
producing correlation scores is essential for USACIL Firearms to be able to develop a quantitative
measurement.

c. Leeds Precision Instruments is the only North American distributor who offers the required
Evofinder® Automated Ballistics Identification system (BIS) produced by ScannBi Technology Europe
GmbH. Leeds has provided a Sole Source Letter.

d. Alternatives. Currently there are four commercially available three-dimensional ballistic
scanners: Evofinder, Cadre/Gel Sight, Sensofar, and Alicona. Only the Evofinder had the required
capabilities to provide high resolution scans of both cartridge cases and bullets, and has
supporting correlation or comparison software.

e. Impacts of selecting an alternative model and brand ballistic identification system.
1) If another brand is selected, then USACIL would not meet the mission requirement for an
automated system for scanning, correlating and comparing the crime scene forensic evidence from
both bullets and cartridge cases.
2) USACIL will not have another tool to visualize individual characteristics for comparison that
would have gone unnoticed using just a comparison microscope.
3) USACIL will not have the computer software assistance to establish a correlation score for the
comparison of two ballistic samples.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:
To promote competition the MICC-Fort Gordon will continue to synopsize and conduct market research
to ensure there are other vendors that can provide the requirement.

7. Actions to Increase Competition:
DFSC research scientists are continually researching sources of information and services to enable
forensic examiners to conduct effective and reliable examinations. Market research consists of
internet research, literature reviews, discussions with vendors, and other professional resources
attending forensic science and technical conferences and

-2-

FDO/ MICC Control No. 18-U039
industry events. If DFSC identifies a similar requirement, every effort will be made to compete it
to the maximum extent possible.

To increase competition the MICC-Fort Gordon will continue to synopsize and conduct market research
to ensure there are other vendors that can provide the requirement. The Government will issue a
sole source synopsis and address any responses accordingly.

8. Market Research:
Extensive research was conducted (Internet searches, telephonic communications, forensic conference
exhibits, electronic communications, and literature searches) to determine the availability of
Ballistic Identification Systems. Market Research was conducted on the General Services
Administration (GSA) Advantage web site and the internet to determine if this service is available
through Federal Supply Schedules or open market. Leeds was identified as the sole source for this
purchase based on technical evaluation of vendor proposals. Leeds has confirmed by letter that they
are the only authorized distributor and service provider of this specific product in North America.
The Government will issue a sole source synopsis and address any responses accordingly.

Salient Characteristics of a Ballistic Identification System (BIS):
• Scan, process and store high quality 2D and 3D digital images of a full or fragmented surface
of a bullet, including strongly deformed ones, and any bottom or side surface of cartridge-casing.
• Create a database of spent bullets and cartridge-case images and hold in a single information
network.
• Carry out automatic identification of the object under examination among the objects in the
database and to provide experts with a "hit list" of similar objects.
• View a scanned object's surface on monitor and carry out manual or auto-focusing, change the
direction of light, etc., for comparison of images.
• Recall previously saved images in the given scale, move the images independently and align
images for the sake of manual comparison identification.
• Print images and reports to be represented in court.

9. Other Facts. Previous purchase contracts for this item are not available.

10. Technical / Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance
which is included in this abbreviated J & A is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and
belief. ABERNATHY.ROBERT.BROOKS.J Digitally signed by
ABERNATHY.ROBERT.BROOKS.JR.1065858327

R.1065858327
Submitted By: Robert Abernathy Position Title
(Division Chief or higher): DFSC Chief of Staff

Date: 2018.09.06 10:03:00 -04'00'

Email address: robert.b.abernathy4.civ@mail.mil
Signature: (please e-sign)

Date: 6 SEP 18

-3-

FDO/ MICC Control No. 18-U039
11. Fair and Reasonable Price Determination: As contracting officer, I hereby determine that the
anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair

and reasonable. SIGNATURE:

Digitally signed by
WADLEY.TRINA.K.1066493349 WADLEY.TRINA.K.1066493349
Date: 2018.09.06 13:41:27 -04'00'

DATE: 09-06-2018

NAME: Trina Wadley
TITLE: Contracting Officer

12. Contracting Officer's Approval: I hereby certify that this justification is accurate and
complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Based on the foregoing, I approve this sole source
justification subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and supplies herein
described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

SIGNATURE:

Digitally signed by WADLEY.TRINA.K.1066493349 Date: 2018.09.06 13:42:04 -04'00'

DATE: 09-06-2018

NAME: Trina Wadley
TITLE: Contracting Officer

-4-

.