Sole_Source_Justification.pdf

Department of the Interior Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

FAR Subpart 13.5 - For Certain Commercial Items

(Mandatory for Acquisitions > SAT) (Optional for Acqs. SAT)

1. Bureau and Contracting Activity [FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii) and 6.303-2(b)(1)]

2. Description of Supplies or Services [FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii) and 6.303-2(b)(3)]

3. Requisition No.

4. Cost Estimate (including options)[FAR 6.303-2(b)(3)]

5. Name of Proposed Source(s)

6. REQUESTING OFFICE CERTIFICATION

I certify that this recommendation contains the information required by FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii) and 6.303-2(b) and its contents are accurate.

Date:Phone No:Signature:Requesting Office Rep. (Name &Title)

7. ACQUISITION OFFICE CERTIFICATION

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

Signature: Phone No: Date:Contracting Officer (Name)

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Acquisition Operations Branch 45600 Woodland Road Mail Stop VAE-AMD Sterling, VA 20166

This justification authorizes and approves the issuance of a Sole Source contract to purchase IHS PetroData - FieldsBase, FPSBase, and SeismicBase on-line subscription services. These subscriptions supply an extremely large quantity of almost real time information which is essential to the BOEM in reacting to breaking news and trends in the Gulf of Mexico Region. The subscriptions are only available from IHS Global, Inc.

IHS Global Inc.

15 Inverness Way E Englewood, CO 80112-5710

DUNS #: 620365023

07/19/2019Diana Smith 504-736-2706

07/19/2019David Jablonski 703-787-1589

DAVID

JABLONSKI

Digitally signed by DAVID

JABLONSKI

Date: 2019.07.19 12:36:56 -04'00'

Identify the authority being used to justify a sole source acquisition [FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii)]. Refer to block number 10 for justification details.

8. Section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 .

9. 41 U.S.C. 428a - Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003.

10. JUSTIFICATION (Attach additional pages if needed)

(a) Demonstration that the proposed contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited [FAR 6.303-2(b)(5)]. [Prepared by Program Office]

(b) Describe the efforts taken to ensure offers were solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a Government-wide point of entry (GPE) notice was or will be published as required by FAR 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR

5.202 applies. [FAR 6.303-2(b)(6)]. [Prepared by Program Office]

In accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2, a notice of intent to sole source will be posted to FBO.gov to allow vendors to submit capability statements to be reviewed by the Contracting Officer.

IHS is the only company that offers the comprehensive and up to the minute information in: FieldBase, FPSBase, and SeismicBase data. BOEM requires a variety of different up to date data types from a number of sources for analysis and presentations. With over 50 years of industry experience, IHS has been an industry leader in global information with world-class experts in pivotal topics related to the energy field setting the standard in engineering and economic resources. In 2011, IHS acquired ODS-Petrodata. ODS-Petrodata was a leading provider of energy information covering rigs, offshore field construction and marine support vessels that support critical commercial decision-making in the energy market. The company had more than 35 years of offshore data built on the legacies of its predecessor companies, and provides companies operating in the offshore oil and gas arena with an independent, authoritative source for market intelligence, data, market research, and consulting services. From its original strength in offshore rig data and information, ODS-Petrodata expanded into field development, marine and renewable energy data.

10. JUSTIFICATION CONTINUED (Attach additional pages if needed)

(c) Demonstration that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable [FAR 6.303-2(b)(7)]. [Prepared by Contracting Officer]

(d) Describe the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted. [FAR

6.303-2(b)(8)]. [Initiated by the Program Office and finalized in collaboration with the Contracting Officer]

Sufficient pricing details will be obtained from the offerer to allow a thorough technical evaluation and cost analysis of the proposed pricing in order to make a determination that the costs are fair and reasonable.

BOEM investigated the utility of other potential technical solutions through, Internet based market analysis, discussions with relevant sources, and previous knowledge and experience. Market research reveals that IHS Global, Inc. is the only company that offers the comprehensive and up to the minute information in: FieldBase, FPSBase, and SeismicBase data. The Contracting Officer will post a notice of intent to sole source to the GPE at FBO.gov notifying vendors of this requirement and allowing vendors to submit capability statements for the bureau to evaluate.

10. JUSTIFICATION CONTINUED (Attach additional pages if needed)

(e) Any other facts supporting the use of a sole source acquisition. [FAR 6.303-2(b)(9)]. [Prepared by Program Office]

(f) List sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition. [FAR 6.303-2(b)(10)]. [Prepared by Program Office]

(g) Statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to competition before any subsequent acquisition for supplies and services. [FAR 6.303-2(b)(11)] [Initiated by the Program Office and finalized in collaboration with the Contracting Officer]

N/A

None

The BOEM, Office of Resource Evaluation will periodically reassess its future needs for this requirement and review the market place for alternatives.

APPROVALS [FAR 6.304]

12. Competition Advocate (Name & Title)

APPROVE

DISAPPROVE

(Phone No.)

(Date)

13. Head of the Contracting Activity (Name & Title)

(Date)

(Phone No.)

(Signature)

(Signature)

(Signature)

APPROVE

DISAPPROVE

14. Departmental Senior Procurement Executive (Name & Title) APPROVE

DISAPPROVE

(Phone No.)

(Date)

O ve r $7

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O ve r

$1 3.

m ill io n O ve r

$6 m ill io n

(Signature)11. Chief of the Contracting Office (Name & Title)

APPROVE

DISAPPROVE

(Phone No.)

(Date)O ve r

SA

T

703-787-1324

Douglas Marr Chief, Acquisition Operations Branch

7/19/2019

X

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING FORM

Block No.

Identify Bureau initiating the requirement and Acquisition Office processing the requirement.

- Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), or Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

- Acquisition Operations Branch - Headquarters, or Acquisition Operations Branch - NOLA

Provide a clear, concise description of the product(s) and/or service(s) to be procured, including the delivery schedule and/or the period of performance (including all option periods). Always include the estimated value in Section 4 below.

This provides the reviewing and approving official with a better understanding of the scope, magnitude, and complexity of the requirement.

4 Include all applicable options and system life-cycle costs.

Include more than one source as a proposed vendor. For example, if the procurement is based on an urgent need, you must still contact as many potential sources as is practicable unless the justification for urgency contains detailed documentation to show that it is not practicable under the circumstances to solicit additional sources.

6 & 7 Obtain certification from the requesting office and contracting officer prior to submitting for approval.

8-9 Check the box next to the justifying authority. Only one authority can be cited.

10(a)

Provide an explanation of the contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition that requires the use of the statutory authority cited. This is the most important part of the justification because it demonstrates that the prospective contractor has unique qualifications and/or specialized capabilities or expertise that is not prevalent in the marketplace. Also, explain what unique qualifications and special capabilities the contractor possesses. Unique qualifications and expertise is defined as knowledge that is currently very limited within the marketplace; there is only one company or individual that has the expertise to provide the product or perform the required services.

10(b)

If the requirement was not publicized, explain why it was not publicized. When an acquisition contains brand name specifications, the contracting officer shall include with the solicitation the justification or required documentation. See FAR 5.102(a) (6) for the requirement to post the brand name justification. The justification should normally be prepared after the requirements notification is posted on Federal Business Opportunities, to allow the requirements office an opportunity to examine the results of industry inquiries and reach a conclusion concerning the potential degree of competition. If the justification is staffed prior to satisfying the synopsis requirement, state the reasons why this was done after the justification was processed. This paragraph should provide a description of the type of action, i.e., purchase and/or delivery order, task orders, and estimated quantities. This section should also include a description of the efforts by the program office and contracting office to ensure that offerors are solicited from as many potential sources as possible.

10(c)

Provide a narrative of the measures performed by the contracting officer to ensure that the costs and/or prices will be fair and reasonable before negotiations commence. In addition, provide the methodology used in the market research analysis that supports a determination of fair and reasonable costs/prices. Provide any information, such as commercial pricelists or prior acquisition history that will help the contracting officer determine that the anticipated cost is fair and reasonable.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING FORM

Block No.

10(d)

Issuance of a synopsis as required in FAR Part 5 does not satisfy the requirement to conduct a market survey. A survey can include announcements in trade journals or telephone surveys with interested/knowledgeable individuals in or out of government. Market research requires collecting and analyzing product/service information on the technical capabilities and prices/costs within the marketplace to satisfy agency needs. If market research was not conducted, the reasons it was not conducted should be stated. Since this is a sole source acquisition, the only possible way to state that there is only one contractor who can fulfill the agency's needs, is to conduct market research and it must be summarized here.

10(e)

Explanation of why technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statements of work, or purchase descriptions suitable for full and open competition have not been developed or are not available.

-When FAR 6.301-2 is cited for follow-on acquisitions as described in 6.302-1(a) (2) (ii), an estimate of the cost to the Government that would be duplicated and how the estimate was derived.

-When FAR 6.302-2 is cited, data, estimated cost, or other rationale as to the extent and nature of the harm to the Government.

10(f)

Include a listing of the sources that expressed written interest in the acquisition. If applicable, clearly state "To date, no other sources have expressed an interest in writing." [Also state that the notices required by FAR 5.201 shall be/have been published and any proposals received shall be considered. If a FedBizOpps notice will not be published, state which exception in FAR 5.202 applies.

10(g)

Describe actions taken, or that will be taken, to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisitions for the item/service or brand name item(s), including challenges to restrictive data markings, data rights, preparation of a performance based work statement, etc. If planning a competition, include the estimated date when the competitive procurement will occur. If competition is not planned, state so and provide the appropriate justification. Include written responses to synopsis announcements and other expressions of interest. All responses must be addressed prior to the approval of the justification. State the reasons why it is sole source. If this is a follow-on procurement, state the measures initiated to eliminate or reduce competitive barriers.

11-14 If any person required to sign-in these blocks does not approve, the procurement shall not proceed any further and the justification shall be returned to the requisitioner through the contracting officer. All signatures required on the form (as applicable to the particular acquisition) must appear in order for the procurement to proceed.