Glass and Quartz Filters (Option Period I)
Waiver type - Procurement: Nonavailability
Agency: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (6800) • Product Service Code (PSC) : 9340 | Last Modified: 05/15/2024
Procurement Summary
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina is responsible for procuring, testing, and distributing filters of high purity to the state/local air pollution control agencies to conduct air monitoring. This procurement is for Glass & Quartz filters. The glass fiber filters are used for the collection of lead (Pb) samples to be analyzed for use in the national lead (Pb) monitoring network. The Quartz filters are used for various metals to be analyzed for use in the National Air Toxics Trends Sites (NATTS) network. The filters must meet EPA’s specifications for physical and chemical properties. It is important that all filters of the same type (Glass or Quartz), from the same order, contain a uniform level of impurities. Therefore, the contractor shall manufacture all filters for a delivery from the same sheet material using a single production line and one production run. The individual filters also have to be numbered. The EPA distributes the filters to the state/local air pollution control agencies.
Waiver Rationale Summary
In 2023, Global Life Sciences Solutions USA LLC (also known as Cytiva) was the only contractor to respond with a quote to Solicitation 68HERH23Q0072 and was eventually awarded a Simplified Acquisition Order# 68HERH24P0027 with a base year and an option year. The program, Air Quality Assessment Division (AQAD), is currently looking to exercise the option which begins on June 1, 2024 to place the next order. Before exercising the option, the COR did a recheck of the Mandatory & Optional Sources and found no new potential filter prospects. This waiver is being requested because no other viable vendors located within the United States were found after all of the searches that are stated in the market research were conducted, as well as a Sources Sought and partnering with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST-MEP). The only known vendor that manufactures these filters and is able to meet the required specifications for these filters is the incumbent contractor who is a U.S. company based in Massachusetts, Global Life Sciences Solutions; however, the plant that they own and manufacture these filters in is located in China.
Yes
Yes
Consistent with Policy
GLASS FABRICATED MATERIALS
334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
05/07/2024
68HERH24P0027
68HERH
Post-solicitation
Between 6 months and 1 year
Individual Waiver
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY