143051-24-0015 Single Source Det SAP for SAT FE redacted 1.pdf

Version 2.0

SINGLE SOURCE DETERMINATION USING

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES (SAP)

FOR AN ACTION NOT EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

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

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1. Agency and contracting activity.

Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division (WAD), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), Antarctic Ecosystem Research Division (AERD) in La Jolla, California.

2. Description of supplies or services required to meet agency needs (including the estimated value).

On 08/21/2023, Task Order 1305M323FNFFR0135 under IDIQ 1305M319DNFFR0008 was awarded to Agencias Universales S.A. (AGUNSA) to provide logistics vessel support to facilitate Antarctic research conducted by the SWFSC AMLR program during its 2023/24 field season from December 23 through March 2024. Tasks included obtaining contracted vessel support to aid in the effort to rebuild the field camp at Cape Shirreff. The vessel was contracted to move personnel and material between Puenta Arenas, Cape Shirreff and other locations in Antarctica. Prior to the 2023/2024 field season, AGUNSA was notified by the contracted vessel that the bank had repossessed their boat and they would be unable to perform. AGUNSA subsequently succeeded in securing a replacement vessel, but due to dramatic economic inflation, the replacement vessel price is $156,350 higher than what was assumed in their original price proposal and currently funded through the existing vehicle. Because the IDIQ ceiling under which this task order was awarded has been raised multiple times and is currently at ceiling, an alternate contract vehicle is necessary for the balance for this expense. As such, NOAA intends to award a firm fixed price (FFP) contract to Agencias Universales SA (AGUNSA) for logistical support services in the region of Punta Arenas, Chile and at Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island located in the South Shetland Islands. Land-based Antarctic research teams will be embarking and/or disembarking for research and maintenance at its remote field camp in the South Shetland Islands. The period of performance is from date of award through September 17, 2024. The total value is estimated to be $156,350.00 for one (1) base year. Options are not anticipated for this requirement.

3. Identification of the single source or the brand name to be solicited.

The only source identified is AGUNSA, located at Urriola 87 Piso 3, Valparaiso, Valparaiso, 2340000, Chile. The point of contact is Gonzalo De La Sotta at +56 32 2556282.

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

Only one source is capable – AGUNSA is uniquely qualified to provide these services to AERD based upon the following:

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a. AGUNSA is an international logistics company that provides container shipment and warehousing in addition to a wide variety of ancillary services, thus providing a single, turnkey option for all of the support services the AERD requires for its Antarctic operations, minimizing cost and logistical challenges. AGUNSA is performing identical services under Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract number 1305M319DNFFR0008, with a period of performance through 09/15/2024, which was awarded on a sole source basis.

They are uniquely familiar with the current requirement and are conducting the logistics services to bring the personnel and equipment to Cape Shirreff.

b. AGUNSA’s primary footprint is in Central and South America. Most importantly AGUNSA maintains facilities in the southernmost region of Chile, at Puntas Arenas, which is a highly beneficial and cost-effective physical location for support given that AERD’s remote Antarctic scientific research stations are on King George and Livingston Islands, which are on the Argentina/Chile side of Antarctica. Market research indicated that there are other providers of similar services, however those entities are based out of South Africa and New Zealand, which are a much greater physical distance than AGUNSA’s Punta Arenas facilities, which would greatly increase the cost and add significant logistical complications.

In addition, the late cancellation of the vessel has created a circumstance in which the replacement transportation must be coordinated in an extremely tight timeline with a vendor that has relationships with local entities. AGUNSA is the only entity that is equipped to successfully ensure transportation in time for the field season.

c. AGUNSA is responsible for the bulk of the logistics tasks for this field season, so if AERD contracting with another entity to obtain the vessel that would require extensive coordination between entities that do not have contractual relationships with each other.

AGUNSA provides expertise in the coordination and completion of the associated customs/import/export documentation, in addition to possessing local knowledge related to Chilean taxes and fees, both of which would be exceptionally difficult for AERD personnel to complete themselves or coordinate between three vendors.

This contract is necessary to avoid a break in service for this critical mission requirement. AGUNSA possesses the requested capabilities and location required to perform this requirement. Given the current requirements and location, it would not be in the Government’s best interest to award to a source other than the original source as any resulting award would create substantial increase in difficulty to the Federal Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition. Additionally, without full completion of this contract, equipment and personnel would be stranded on Cape Shirreff which .

5. Market Research.

The keywords “Antarctica” and “logistics” was entered into the Dynamic Small Business Tool and no results were found. Additionally, no results were found when searching on SAM.GOV, nor UNICOR/FPI or Source America. The current contractor needs to have direct control of the vessels conducting the movement of people and material between the locations, and no historical knowledge of additional sources, no additional market research was conducted.

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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.

Jessica Lipsky Date

Determination I hereby determine that the circumstances of this action deem only one source is reasonably available. This determination is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Sarah Waugh Date Contracting Officer

LIPSKY.JESSICA.DAWN.136582

Digitally signed by

LIPSKY.JESSICA.DAWN.1365824190

Date: 2024.01.29 15:28:37 -08'00'

WAUGH.SARAH.ROSE.1505964051 Digitally signed by WAUGH.SARAH.ROSE.1505964051 Date: 2024.01.29 17:16:29 -08'00'