1305L321PNFFP0533 Sole Source Justification Posting_Redacted.pdf

Version 3.0

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

FOR AN ACTION EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

USING SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS

(AUTHORITY: FAR 13.501(a), 41 U.S.C. 1901)

PR# NF-FR7500-22-02350

1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce, NOAA Acquisition and Grants

Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division (WAD) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) and Fisheries Ecology Division (FED).

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

Sole source justification for a modification to Contract Number 1305L321PNFFP0533, Data Consultant Services in Support of the SWFSC FED. The purpose of this modification is to non-competitively increase in-scope services under existing Contract Number 1305L321PNFFP0533.

The program office has determined there is bonafide need of additional labor hours and additional potential option years to fulfill the purpose of the services obtained under the existing contract.

Contract Number: 1305L321PNFFP0533 Contract Type: Labor-Hour Contract Awardee: Qeda Consulting LLC Date of Contract Award: August 29, 2021 Existing Total Contract Value: $117,450.00 (including base and all options value) Existing Total Period of Performance: September 01, 2021 – August 31, 2024 (including a base period and two potential option periods)

3. Description of supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the total estimated value).

The SWFSC FED studies the marine ecology of organisms in the California Current. To advance this research we seek a consultant with experience extracting, summarizing telemetry data and calculating metrics to determine the distribution and behavior of salmon in the Pacific Ocean, extracting data from LiveOcean Regional Ocean Modeling Systems (ROMS) models relevant to telemetry data, and the ability to create or modify database software associated with field data collection (e.g. CLAMS software), and analyzing data from acoustic telemetry and ROMS.

Estimated Total Period of Performance (after Modification): September 01, 2021 – August 31, Estimated Total Contract Value (after Modification): $624,240.00

This sole source justification is to cover only the modified portion of the contract (additional Period of Performance of September 01, 2024 – August 31, 2026, and estimated increase in total contract value of $506,790.00).

4. Statutory authority permitting the sole source (including brand name) acquisition.

X 41 U.S.C. 1901, using SAP up to $7.5M as authorized by FAR 13.500(a) and implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

41 U.S.C. 1903, using SAP up to $15M for contingency operations as authorized by

FAR 13.500(c) and implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited. The contracting officer has determined the following circumstances justify the use of a sole source as supported below:

Only one source - Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized.

Qeda Consulting LLC has been successfully performing the data consultant services required under Contract Number 1305L321PNFFP0533 since August 29, 2021. Additionally, Qeda Consulting LLC has provided specialized services in developing simulation models to NMFS SWFSC between January 01, 2017 and September 30, 2020 under Contract Number

AB133F17CN0018.

The additional work required by the modification under Contract Number 1305L321PNFFP0533 will continue to build upon the existing specialized data consultant services Qeda Consulting LLC has provided to NMFS SWFSC. Qeda Consulting LLC has unique and highly specialized experience with ROMS model output extraction from LiveOcean, which is a requirement for the performance of the contract requirements. It is essential that technical requirements of this contract be performed and completed using consistent methods to ensure accurate data results. The results obtained from this data will likely be used in the NMFS management decision process (such as Biological Opinions). Therefore, any inconsistency or delay in obtaining accurate data will also impact management decisions.

Compatibility to existing systems or equipment – Qeda Consulting LLC’s continued data consultant services under Contract Number 1305L321PNFFP0533 will ensure consistency in methods used to obtain the data results identified in the contract’s Statement of Work. The vendor is required to have experience in obtaining data utilizing ROMS model output extraction from LiveOcean. Should a new vendor perform the work under this contract, the vendor would be required to duplicate all prior work (approximately 1-2 years’ worth of completed work/tasks) performed by Qeda Consulting LLC, to ensure consistent methods are utilized in collecting data results.

6. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies.

Contract Number 1305L321PNFFP0533 was solicited as a total small business set-aside and a combined synopsis/solicitation was posted on Contract Opportunities (SAM.gov) on August 08, 2021. Two quotes were received in response to the contract solicitation. Of the two quotes received, Qeda Consulting LLC was the only offeror determined to have met the technical requirements of the contract, and was subsequently awarded Contract Number

1305L321PNFFP0533.

12. Technical/Requirements Representative Certification

I certify that this requirement constitutes the Government’s minimum needs and the supporting data provided herein is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

13. Office of General Counsel Concurrence

14. Contracting Officer’s Certification and Approval

I certify this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.