In accordance with the authority granted under FAR Part 13, this request for a noncompetitive acquisition is hereby submitted for consideration for acquisition approval.

1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING
ACTIVITY:

Requesting Agency:
USDA, AMS, LPS (Livestock, poultry, and seed)

Contracting Activity:
USDA, APHIS, MRPBS, AAMD
Minneapolis Procurement Branch
Butler Square, Fifth Floor
100 North 6th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55403

2. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING
APPROVED:

Membership participation by the United States Seed Laboratory participating in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)Seed Scheme Program

3. A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, OR SERVICES
REQUIRED TO MEET AGENCY NEEDS (INCLUDING THE ESTIMATED
VALUE OF THE ACQUISITION INCLUSIVE OF OPTIONS):

United States Seed Laboratory Membership in the OECD Seed Scheme Program for approximately $81,000 (depending on exchange rate)

4. IDENTIFICATION OF THE STATUATORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING
NONCOMPETITIVE ACQUISITIONS:

6.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.
(a) Authority.41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1).

5. A DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR'S UNIQUE
QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES
USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED:

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Seed Schemes are rules used by 58 participating countries to certify and label seed for varietal purity for international movement. In the United States, varietal certification for the OECD Seed Schemes is carried out by state seed certifying agencies under Cooperative Agreements with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. The schemes are administered internationally by the OECD Secretariat in Paris, France.

USDA, AMS, LPS supports and is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Seed Schemes Program. Each country is represented and has 1 vote to ensure their voice is heard regarding the effective international transfer of seed, AMS, LPS represents the United States vote. There is only one organization, OECD; therefore this is the only place this type of membership can be obtained.

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 FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) SUBPART 5.2, AND IF NOT, WHICH EXCEPTION UNDER FAR 5.202 APPLIES:

FBO notification posted

7. A DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE
ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND
REASONABLE, AND THE BASIS FORTHAT DETERMINATION:

Fair and reasonable based on agency need and pricing set for membership.

8. A DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED (FAR
PART 10) AND THE RESULTS, OR AN EXPLANATION OF THE REASON
MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT PERFORMED:

No additional market research performed. There are no other sources

9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL
AND OPEN COMPETITION - FAR 6.303-2(a)(9):

None

10. A LISTING OF SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED, IN WRITING, AN
INTEREST IN THE ACQUISITON:

None

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,
EQUIPMENT, OR SERVICES REQUIRED:

None

12. I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS
JOFOC IS ACCURATE AND COMPLETETOTHE BEST OF MY
KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF.

Approved//technical

Approved//Procurement
Nathan Johnson