A17_SSJ_-_Rclone_redacted_1.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR ACQUISITION UNDER THE

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

1. Contracting Agency and Activity. The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey, plans to contract on a sole source basis. This document sets forth the justification and approval as required by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1).

2. Nature of Action Being Approved. Purchase of Rclone Business Support Package to support existing integrated use of Rclone open-source software for National Geospatial Technical Operations Center. The proposed awardee is Rclone Services Limited (Ltd).

3. Description of Supplies or Services. The requiring program office is the National Geospatial Technical Operations Center (NGTOC). The required software is already built into our existing Backup and Disaster Recovery solution currently in use in in the production environment. Rclone is a critical component of NGTOC operations. These services software support services are required from the open-source software vendor, Rclone Services Limited (Ltd).

4. Estimated Dollar Value. (REDACTED)

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) – only one source reasonably available.

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5. The requested purchase will support existing and ongoing backup and disaster recovery software support requirements. Rclone open-source software is required and already built into NGTOC’s production data backup, recovery and retention environment. Engineering another solution into existing processes would cost an estimated $85Million. Purchasing the Business Support Package will provide dedicated support for maintenance updates, bug fixes, and development. There is no other company that provides these required support services. Rclone is the only company that maintains the software and sells support services for the application.

7. Other Information. N/A

8. The Efforts to Identify Additional Sources Including the Market Research Conducted.

Efforts to identify software support services available to perform the required functions included web research, including SEWP/GSA, and interaction with colleagues both inside and outside the USGS. Rclone has been configuring it specifically for NGTOC needs. Rclone is only available from Rclone Services Ltd. On January 24, 2025, a sources sought notices was posted on www.sam.gov. to seek businesses within the United States. As a result, no responses were received.

9. Future Plans to Permit Competition. The ability to permit future competition is constrained by the availability of software support products that provide the required capabilities outlined in the preceding sections. Rclone Services Ltd, develops and maintains Rclone and is the only vendor that sells support services for Rclone. Market research will be conducted to the maximum extent practicable for all future requirements.

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR ACQUISITION UNDER THE

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

10. Recommendation and Certification from Program Office (REDACTED)

11. Certifications from the Contracting Officer:

a. The anticipated cost to the Government will be determined fair and reasonable using a published price list or redacted invoices for the same or similar product.

b. This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

12. Approvals (REDACTED)