2022.09.13 J&A_Redacted.pdf

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SOURCE SELECTION INFORMATION – See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL (J&A)

USTRANSCOM JUSTIFICATION FOR

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

PORTS & VESSELS SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL

HTC71122QD058

Control Number 22-49

1. CONTRACTING ACTIVITY.

United States Transportation Command, USTRANSCOM TCAQ-D, 508 Scott Drive, Building 1900W, Scott AFB IL 62225-5357.

2. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF ACTION BEING APPROVED.

USTRANSCOM has a requirement to manage and distribute port and vessel information to Headquarters USTRANSCOM, Air Mobility Command (AMC), Military Sealift Command (MSC), Military Surface Deployment & Distribution Command (SDDC), Joint Transportation Reserve Unit) JTRU), JECC, National Geospatial Agency (NGA), and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) from USTRANSCOM"s enterprise reference data repository. To meet this requirement, USTRANSCOM must acquire the applicable ports and vessel characteristics data from a commercial vendor.

The Government anticipates award of a new firm-fixed price (FFP) contract.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES/SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGENCY’S

NEEDS.

Headquarters USTRANSCOM, AMC, MSC, SDDC, JTRU, JECC, NGA, and DLA require the ability to retrieve current ports and vessel reference data for 60 concurrent users with 50 fields of data. Vessel names/ownership and port capabilities change frequently, and it is vital that USTRANSCOM and its components have access to the most up-to-date information for the war fighter. Due to the uniqueness and complexity of this data requirement, this effort requires other than full and open competition for the renewal of the Ports and Vessels Subscription, as the Ports and Vessel Information database is maintained by IHS Global, Inc. The database provides information such as ships' current and previous call names, call signs, flag and port of registry, sizes, and more. The full list of data that is required to be updated daily, at a minimum. The database is a web-based service that can be accessed by multiple users at once.

The estimated cost of this acquisition (including options) is , with period of performance:

Base Period: 01 October 2022 – 30 September 2023 Option Period One: 01 October 2023 – 30 September 2024 Option Period Two: 01 October 2024 – 30 September 2025 Option Period Three: 01 October 2025 – 30 September 2026 Option Period Four: 01 October 2026 – 30 September 2027

Controlled by: USTRANSCOM Controlled by: Directorate of Acquisition CUI Category/ies: SSEL Limited Dissemination Control: FED ONLY

POC:

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4. STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION.

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.

IHS Global, Inc. is the autho1itative source of vessel data, and the sole provider of this web-based subscription. The renewal of the IHS Po1ts & Vessels Subsc1iption is essential to the Government's requirements. IHS Global, Inc. 's ship regist:Iy is cunently utilized by USTRANSCOM for daily, weekly, and monthly operational planning. Their registiy contains vessel characteristics for over 228,000 ships of at least 100 gross tons and their ports registiy contains data on over 6,947 ports, 17,295 tenninals, 44,986 be1ths, and 29,000 po1t se1vice providers. Without this data, the Government would nm the Iisk of having to completely redesign their existing schema and interfaces impacting at least six major USTRANSCOM programs (IGC, !CODES, CRIS, IBS, ISDDC, and ADV ANA) ability to utilize the data without extensive reconfiguration of the program's specific inte1faces. Market research indicates other companies' offer po1t and vessel subsc1iptions but cannot meet the vessel or po1t characteristics required by USTRANSCOM and/or cannot have the system inte1face or schema modifications in place to meet the agency's needs in a timely fashion.

6. DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS ARE SOLICITED

FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS IS PRACTICAL.

Sources Sought Synopsis. A Request for Info1mation (RFI) was posted on sam.gov on 25 July 2022.

Three vendors provided a submission. After Government review, it was dete1mined that IHS Global, Inc.

is the only vendor found to be capable of providing the supplies or se1vices required at the level of quality required because the supplies or se1vices ordered are unique or highly specialized.

----submitted a response to the RFI.----po1t dataset contains ~ 00 po1ts, 15,000 te1minals, and 4~ ghout 208 counn·ies.

data is accessed through an online database, - ·

--· also submitted a response to the RFI. This vendor is a webse1vice only and did not display ~ d po1t data experience in their submission. In addition, the vendor did not provide any experience or knowledge regarding accessibility to an online user inte1face to search and view po1ts and vessel characteristics, which is vital to the requirement.

IHS Global, Inc. 's submission demonst:I·ated their ship registiy is the most comprehensive on the market containing vessel characteristics for over 228,000 ships of at least 100 gross tons and their ports registiy contains data on over 6,947 po1ts, 17,295 te1minals, 44,986 be1ths, and 29,000 po1t se1vice providers. Vessel and ports characteristics tend to change frequently and the USTRANSCOM Ente1prise requires the most cun ent info1mation is consumable by our functional users (war fighters, po1t managers, and shippers). For example, if a vessel is sold, the po1t managers need to know the new name of the vessel and its port of regist:Iy. If a port cannot provide adequate storage for a shipment or is closed, the Regist:Iy can provide that info1mation. Accurate and timely info1mation like this allows necessaiy shipping changes to be made before problems aiise.

Through IHS Global, Inc. 's specialized database se1vices, USTRANSCOM and its component commands will have access to the most cun ent vessel and port info1mation for up to 60 concun ent users and 50

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In accordance with FAR 5.2, a notice of intent was posted to sam.gov. Interested parties had the opportunity to identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement.

submitted a response to provide clarification of the number of vessels within their database.

However, this information does not address the issue of the reconfiguration of the interfaces. The online portal, , proposed by would have to be reconfigured as expressed in paragraph 5 in order to be utilized by other USTRANSCOM programs. IHS Markit’s software is already utilized by USTRANSCOM and would not require any reconfiguration for system compatibility.

7. DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST

TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE.

The Contracting Officer will determine the order represents the best value using the proposal analysis techniques at FAR 15.404-1(b) to establish a fair and reasonable price, such as comparison of proposed prices to historical prices paid and published price lists. Based on this approach, the Contracting Officer anticipates that a fair and reasonable price will be obtained.

8. DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AND THE RESULTS OR A

STATEMENT OF THE REASONS MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED.

A search of Internet websites ESI, NASA SEWP, and GSA revealed zero (0) Ports & Vessels Subscription resellers. IHS Global, Inc. has no authorized resellers and is the sole provider of this subscription. As a result of the market research, this requirement will be sent to IHS Global, Inc.

9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION.

Not applicable.

10. A LISTING OF SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN THE

ACQUISITION.

IHS Global, Inc., Please see paragraph 6 for summary of RFI submissions.

11. A STATEMENT OF ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR

OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFORE MAKING ANY SUBSEQUENT

ACQUISITION FOR THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED.

USTRANSCOM is continuing to solicit information from the industry to provide new technology which would overcome the proprietary aspects of the restrictions described above.

12. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S CERTIFICATION.

I ce1t ify that the data suppo1t ing the recommended use of other than full and open competition is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

COOMBES.DEBOR ogilal1ysigned0y

AH.KARLEE~ COOMBES.DEBORAH.KARLEE

- £j££ .. , . ,0340-05W

DEBORAH K. COOMBES

Contracting Officer

13. TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS PERSONNEL CERTIFICATION.

I ce1tify that the data suppo1ting the recommended use of other than full and open competition is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

o;gilaly signed by

I l'1.1" lo l • I I I

Acqms1t1on Program Manager, TCJ6

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