SPECIAL NOTICE
J -- DART Mass Spectrometer
- Notice Date
- 4/2/2020 8:42:27 AM
- Notice Type
- Justification
- NAICS
- 334516
— Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- WASHINGTON OFFICE WASHINGTON DC 20250 USA
- ZIP Code
- 20250
- Solicitation Number
- 12318720Q0186
- Archive Date
- 04/16/2020
- Point of Contact
- Cassandra Carey, Phone: 2026178490, Cassandra Carey, Phone: 2026178490
- E-Mail Address
-
cassandra.carey@usda.gov, cassandra.carey@usda.gov
(cassandra.carey@usda.gov, cassandra.carey@usda.gov)
- Award Number
- TBD
- Award Date
- 05/03/2020
- Description
- JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION Provision of Technical Assistance for Forestry Services International Programs The following Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) is prepared in accordance with FAR 6.302-1(c): 1. Identification of Agency: The USDA Forest Service, Washington Office AQM-Operations Branch. 2. Nature and/or Description of Action Being Approved: The US Forest Service (USFS) International Programs Office (IP) requests to procure a mass spectrometer that will be used for timber species identification by the government of Peru. This technology is the primary means of identifying suspect wood imported into the US, based on analysis by USFS and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) wood chemists at the USFWS National Wildlife Forensics Laboratory. With funding from a State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) program, USFS-IP will donate this equipment to the government of Peru and subsequently provide technical training on its implementation as a wood species identification tool, including the use of a global database of reference spectra managed by USFS and USFWS. 3. Description of Supplies or Services Required to Meet Agency�s Need Including Estimated the Value: A mass spectrometer used for wood species identification is estimated to be valued between $200,000 and $300,000, including shipping, installation, and basic training (of the equipment itself, not as it relates to the applied use in wood species identification) by the contractor. The mass spectrometer system also requires an ion source and ballast tank for storing dry nitrogen gas. 4. Identification of Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition: FAR 6.302-1 (c), 41 U.S.C. 3304 (a)(1) 5. Demonstration That the Proposed Contractor�s Unique Qualifications or the Nature of the Acquisition Requires use of the Authority Cited: Species identification of closely related taxa is critical for enforcement using authority from the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Lacey Act, given that there are over 60,000 species of trees. For chemically similar species, the relative intensity of molecular ions, as opposed to the presence or absence of those molecular ions, is used to differentiate species. While the basic principles of varying TOF mass spectrometers are the same, the instrument settings heavily impact the mass profile. Some of these settings manipulate critical aspects like fragmentation of the analyte matrix. In order to subscribe to the ForeST database for wood species identification, a mass spectrometer has to have very specific technical requirements that align with the USFWS Forensic Laboratory�s equipment. To use ForeST accurately, the instrument has to be tuned to the database. In principle, instruments from different manufacturers can achieve the same mass profile, but given the complexity of the small molecule profiles from trees where thousands of different molecular ions are present and may contribute to the classification, correcting the instrument variables and adjusting to the spectral library can be incredibly difficult across manufacturers. To date, laboratories globally have been unsuccessful tuning other mass spectrometers for competent use with ForeST. For this reason, the JEOL line DART-TOFMS is required for species identification and support from USFS and USFWS at the National Forensic Laboratory. JOEL USA, Inc. is the only vendor that will provide proper results for the objective of identifying timber species using this type of advanced technology. 6. A Description of Efforts Made to Ensure that Offers are Solicited From as Many Potential Sources as is Practicable, Including Whether a Notice was or Will be Publicized as Required by Subpart 5.2 and, if not, Which Exception Under 5.202 Applies: USFS-IP conducted primary research on potential manufacturers of mass spectrometers with internet searches for equipment that fit within the budget and technological requirements necessary to achieve results of the program. Secondary research was also conducted in the form of speaking to other US government agencies (USFWS in particular) on the use of mass spectrometry for timber species identification, discussing the necessary specifications of this advanced technology that would align with the use of the Forensic Spectra of Trees Database (ForeST) developed by the USFWS National Forensic Laboratory. In discussion with the Deputy Director of the laboratory, it was noted that in order to access the Forensic Spectra of Trees Database (ForeST) that is used for global timber species identification, the same brand of mass spectrometer must be used; this is because exact scientific settings and calibrations must be consistent across mass spectrometers in order to subscribe to the database. As a result, USFS was advised that only one manufacturer would provide the proper results for the objective of identifying timber species using this type of advanced technology. 7. Determination by the Contracting Officer That the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: A government estimate has been provided and will be utilized to negotiate a fair and reasonable price to the government. 8. Description of Market Research Conducted: Market research was conducted to determine a fair and reasonable price for this procurement. Vendor websites were researched and Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service technical experts were consulted to determine which products would be compatible with the ForeST database. 9. Any Other Facts Supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition: None. 10. A listing of the Sources, if any, That Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: N/A 11. A Statement of the Actions, if any, the Agency may Take to Remove or Overcome any Barriers to Competition Before any Subsequent Acquisition for the Supplies or Services Required: 12. I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. ____________________________________ ________________ Val Mezainis DATE Director, International Programs APPROVED: ____________________________________ ________________ Cassandra Carey DATE Contracting Officer
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://beta.sam.gov/opp/a2fdc30e9c44478f988107cb198afd2d/view)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USA
- Country: USA
- Country: USA
- Record
- SN05608201-F 20200404/200402230206 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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