1.04 Sole Source Justification- KO Signed_ngs-_R.pdf

This is a Justification for Sole Source (Simplified Procedures – MPT to ≤ SAT) form for a federal contract action.

The United States Naval Observatory is procuring a one-year service contract from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Haystack Observatory, located at 99 Millstone Road, Westford, MA 01886 (CAGE Code 80230), for the period of performance from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The services include transportation of observational data from potentially compromised sources to support Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP) determination at USNO, consultation for special processing of complex geodetic experiments, and electronic-VLBI connection assistance at the USNO and Kokee Park Geophysical Observatory. MIT Haystack will also make modifications to the 20m Antenna Backend at Kokee Park (located at Kokee Park, HI) to ensure antenna VGOS compliance to 14 GHz.

The justification establishes MIT Haystack as the sole source based on its unique expertise and infrastructure to quarantine and validate data from potentially compromised sources before transfer to USNO via the NASA network and DiFX correlator. The document asserts that MIT Haystack developed and maintains the standard format for all present and future Interferometric VLBI Space Observatory Group (IVSS) data, possesses one-of-a-kind custom correlator components, and is the only institution capable of providing secure data transfer services within the required timeframe and with minimal unnecessary risk. The contracting activity is NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center, Norfolk Contracting Department.