65--DV-502B-Denton Vacuum

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Justification and Approval For Other Than Full and Open Competition 1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 6, Network Contracting Office, VA Medical Center, Hampton, Virginia. The 2237 number is 558-13-2-122-0128. 2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: This is a sole source justification for the procurement of Denton DV-502B Vacuum Evaporator for VAMC Durham, NC. 3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency's Needs: VAMC Durham requires: " 1 Denton DV-502B Vacuum Evaporator $57,800.00 4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: (X) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements per FAR 6.302-1; ( ) (2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency per FAR 6.302-2; ( ) (3) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services per FAR 6.302-3; ( ) (4) International Agreement per FAR 6.302-4 ( ) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute FAR 6.302-5; ( ) (6) National Security per FAR 6.302-6; ( ) (7) Public Interest per FAR 6.302-7; 5. Demonstration that the Contractor's Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): VAMC Durham Lab has a requirement to replace their Denton Vacuum Evaporator purchased in 1992. Due to the technician's technique for evaporative carbon coating of freeze-dried biological specimens for transmission of electron microscopy and their precise salient characteristics listed in the Sources Sought Notice. 6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: "Sources Sought" notice (VA246-13-Q-1506) was published from 06-05-13 through 06-11-13 with salient characteristics required that concluded with two respondents but only one met the end user's salient characteristics. 7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: The anticipated price of $57,800.00 to the Government (a 10% discount off from the normal listed price) has been determined fair and reasonable by the Contracting Officer. 8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: Market research was conducted with various units of similar technology with the following findings: Leica EM ACE600 High Vacuum Coater - Versatile, automated but vacuum chamber area too small for freeze drying apparatus. Pella Cressington 308R Desktop Modular Vacuum coating system - Not a free-standing system; cryopumping system; require mechanical pump for freeze drying. SPI VacuPrepII - Not a free standing system; turbo molecular pumping system; require mechanical pump for freeze drying. Oerlikon Leybold UNIVEX 250 - Not a free-standing system; turbo molecular pumping system; require mechanical pump for freeze drying, restricted accessibility to process chamber due to front loading design. (Offered by Convenant Distributors, Inc. (SDOVSB) through Sources Sought VA246-13-Q-1506. Denton Vacuum DV-502B- Meets end users salient characteristics and a respondent through Sources Sought VA246-13-Q-1506. 9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: The end user has unique requirements to achieve required results. These requirements were explained in the salient characteristics and cannot be altered. 10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: Firm 1: Covenant Distributors, Inc. (SDVOSB) Firm 2: Denton Vacuum, LLC (Large Company) 11. A Statement of the Actions, if any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome any Barriers to Competition before Making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required: Market research will be conducted for subsequent acquisitions to ensure fair and open competition.