BRAND_NAME_justification_final_HRIT_Redacted.pdf

Version 1.0

Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

FOR AN ACTION NOT EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

USING SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS

(AUTHORITY: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1))

PURCHASE REQUEST NUMBER: NEEB500-18-00360

1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce, NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), and National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS), Office of Satellite Products and Operations (OSPO), Satellite Products and Services Division

(SPSD).

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

The Department of Commerce (DOC), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) has an operational re-broadcast of reduced resolution Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) imagery and other environmental products. This system is named High Rate Information Transmission (HRIT). HRIT is an international standard for data transmission that was developed by the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) in response to a recommendation on digital meteorological satellite broadcasts. NOAA designed its HRIT system based on the CGMS standard. The HRIT/HRIT Global Specification can be located https://www.cgms-info.org/documents/cgms-lrit-hrit-global-specification-(v2-8-of- 30-oct-2013).pdf and a description at http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/sat/formatsandstandards_en.php.

The HRIT receiving systems are located at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility (NSOF) in Suitland, MD. These systems are used for monitoring the GOES HRIT East and West broadcasts, troubleshooting incidents and outages and to alert Help Desk personnel to HRIT issues in real time so that troubleshooting can begin and users can be notified. On GOES-R Series of Satellites, HRIT will be combined with the National Weather Service’s Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN). With the change, the data rate will increase and the current LRIT receivers will not be able to downlink the GOES-R series satellite broadcast, thus there will be no monitoring capability by the Help Desk personnel.

This acquisition is a sole source justification as a follow-on from a previous order of a complete LRIT receiving system from Global Imaging. Currently, the receivers are a Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) component of systems originally acquired from Global Imaging, Inc. NOAA has a maintenance contract with Global Imaging to service the systems. These components would be covered under the existing maintenance contract with Global Imaging if acquired from them.

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

NEEB500-18-00360

Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104

These ground receiving stations are designed to be as close to a typical user ground station in the field. This allows NOAA to answer user questions and to monitor the broadcast under approximate conditions found in areas where user stations are located. The satellite broadcast receivers and software listed below are the ones that are widely; almost exclusively used in the field and are the same as the ones currently used in NSOF operations, but are upgraded to receive the higher HRIT/EMWIN data rate.

Qty Mfr. Part No. Description 3 Dartcomm USB HRIT/HRIT

Receivers External receiver box capable of receiving the

HRIT/EMWIN

3 Dartcomm XRIT Software Satellite reception software 3 Dartcomm XRIT iDAP

Processing and Display Software

Satellite imagery processing software

3 Maintenance One Year Maintenance

One (1) Year Base Period and Two (2) Option Periods

From the previous order with Global Imaging, they designed a stoplight operator dashboard that helps display product receipt from the broadcast that’s easy to read and monitor the downlink for the Help Desk. This turn-key system would require the same Status and Alarm Display window as what’s currently being used in operations.

4. Supporting rationale. Only one source or brand name is reasonably available as detailed below:

Brand Name – During a September 2017 HRIT/EMWIN manufacturer/vendor outreach conducted by NESDIS and the GOES-R Ground Project, only Dartcom and its US affiliate Global Imaging provided a complete HRIT/EMWIN acquisition receiving station that’s capable of receiving ALL HRIT/EMWIN products with the software visualization tools needed. This is also well represented on their websites, while the 3 others do not fit the necessary requirements that NESDIS currently utilizes to monitor. Due to the fact that majority of the end users use Dartcom’s solution, it’s an absolute necessity to have the exact same system to mimic end user data receipt. 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. During an HRIT/EMWIN manufacturer and software vendor month long outreach in coordination with the GOES-R Ground Project, it was determined that only 5 manufacturers/vendors currently offer HRIT/EMWIN products. Only 2 of the 5 offer a complete HRIT/EMWIN receiving system (other’s are only product specific or offers various HRIT components and not a complete receiving system); Dartcom and Global Imaging. Global Imaging is a manufacturer that uses Dartcom’s software and is the US representative for their systems. Selection from any other company other than Dartcom’s US affiliate Global Imaging; will not provide the capabilities that’s currently in support of operations for

Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104 close to a decade or would require a substantial portion of time for a vendor to create such product similar in nature.

The current receiving station’s workstations are outdated with limited space capability to archive data files. Due to the fact that HRIT is three times the data rate as the legacy LRIT broadcast takes up much more storage and memory on the workstations. Currently, the workstations can only hold 72 hours’ worth of data before rewritten with new data. These workstations are 24/7/365 and have been in use operationally for close to a decade. A refresh is desperately needed to maintain operations. Due to the fact that NESDIS operations has been using this software and dashboard provided from Global Imaging for close to a decade, any changes would reduce the monitoring capability due to the fact a new interface would require additional training. This would be an additional impact if a change is needed.

5. 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.

Utilizing past research of LRIT vendors/manufacturers, NESDIS with coordination with the GOES- R Ground project updated its list for HRIT compatible manufacturers/vendors. This list is visible on the NOAASIS website so users understand whom to reach out to find components for their systems. This list is located at http://noaasis.noaa.gov/NOAASIS/ml/manulst.html. From this list only two have capabilities (Dartcom and its US affiliate Global Imaging) that specifically mention HRIT on its website. Through email traffic and phone calls, it was determined only these two exist that would fit the requirements needed for NESDIS continuity of operations.

6. Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Both the technical representative and contracting officer determined that the anticipated price will be fair and reasonable based on past acquisitions and ongoing contract work provided from/by Global Imaging.

7. Description of the market research conducted (see Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

See Part 6 for the market research that was conducted.

8. Any other facts supporting the use of a sole source (including brand name), such as:

From previous acquisition, a requirement was given to Global Imaging to construct a workstation product receipt dashboard capable of giving a stoplight status on product receipt and latency that’s the main source of easy access of information for operations. Without this capability, this requires operators to dig down in archive files to verify acquisition of all products. Current operational personnel is limited and would not be able to provide this level of monitoring, thus this requirement would need to be maintained for any acquisition moving forward.

9. List of the sources that expressed a written interest in the acquisition.

Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104

Based on market research seeking HRIT compatible manufacturers/vendors (September 2017), none of the previous LRIT manufacturers/vendors stated any interest in creating HRIT compatible receiving equipment that fits the specifications needed by NESDIS for its receiving system.

Majority of past companies that were listed as LRIT compatible are no longer in business or have worries over HRIT/EMWIN interference issues.

10. 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 or services required.

This action is a competitive action, through market research it was determined that more than 3 vendors can provide the products and services.

11. 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.

Seth Clevenstine Date HRIT/EMWIN Program Manager

12. Contracting Officer’s Certification and Approval

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

Raquel McCrae Date Contracting Officer

MCCRAE.RAQUEL.FRANCIS.1235

696211

Digitally signed by

MCCRAE.RAQUEL.FRANCIS.1235696211

Date: 2018.05.01 08:05:44 -04'00'

CLEVENSTINE.SETH.ALAN.1

242697746

Digitally signed by

CLEVENSTINE.SETH.ALAN.1242697746

Date: 2018.05.01 08:18:17 -04'00'