3 SSJ NR-MAH000-21-00220_Redacted.pdf

Version 3.0

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

FOR AN ACTION EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

USING SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS

(AUTHORITY: FAR 13.501(a), 41 U.S.C. 1901)

NR-MAH000-21-00220

1. Agency and contracting activity.

Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division (WAD) and the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL).

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

This is a sole source justification for a follow-on to an existing contract vehicle, 1305M318DNRMA0010. The follow-on contract vehicle will be an indefinite delivery indefinite quantity providing for firm fixed price orders. The government intends to solicit an offer from Inmarsat Government, Inc.

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

This requirement is for Iridium satellite communication services. The services are used for transmission of data from oceanographic moorings by way of Iridium Router-based Unrestricted Digital Interworking Connectivity Solution (RUDICS) and Short Burst Data satellite transmissions to NOAA servers. In addition, voice satellite services are required for cruises that lack another means of communication between NOAA and the NOAA personnel on the cruise. The total estimated value for the base and all options is . The expected total period of performance is 1 September 2021 to 31 August 2028, which includes one (1) five-year base ordering period and one (1) two-year option period.

4. Statutory authority permitting the sole source (including brand name) acquisition.

41 U.S.C. 1901, using SAP up to $7M as authorized by FAR 13.500(a) and implemented by 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. The contracting officer has determined the following circumstances justify the use of a sole source as supported below:

Compatibility to existing systems or equipment - Inmarsat is uniquely qualified to provide these services to PMEL because no other contractor can provide communications using the existing Inmarsat Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards deployed. PMEL currently has over 400 active Inmarsat SIM cards deployed in equipment throughout the world’s oceans.

Switching the physical SIM cards requires NOAA ship time, which currently costs approximately $25K per day, and travel time to get to each SIM card location can take one (1) to ten (10) days depending on location and weather conditions. Further, PMEL's engineering department estimates that switching the SIM cards at scheduled service intervals would take seven (7) years to complete. These factors alone make it unfeasible to switch SIM cards to accommodate a different service provider. Additionally, no vendor has been identified that is able to offer a transition from Inmarsat service to their service with a guarantee of an error free transition and minimal downtime (less than 4 hours).

6. 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.

A notice will be prepared in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2 and will be posted to the Governmentwide Point of Entry prior to release of the solicitation. Potential vendors will be given the opportunity to submit a request for solicitation through this synopsis. Market research efforts are described in Section 8.

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

The contracting officer determines that the anticipated price(s) will be fair and reasonable based on price analysis using prices previously paid by the Government. The Government has pricing information since 2014 for similar services that can be used for comparison.

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

Market research conducted through communication with an Iridium representative showed that transfer of SIM card services between vendors is possible. However, switching vendors without switching physical SIM cards requires agreement and coordination from the current vendor and the new vendor. Market research provided no vendors with this agreement and coordination capability. Additionally, a request for information for a similar Iridium satellite services requirement was posted to the Governmentwide Point of Entry on 21 September 2020, with a closing date of 21 October 2020. This posting specifically asked for SIM card switching capability. Nine (9) responses were received, but none showed the capability to transfer SIM services from one provider to another.

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

All supporting facts have been documented herein.

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

No sources have expressed written interest in this particular acquisition.

11. 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.

NOAA will continue to conduct thorough market research to gauge the marketplace capabilities for future requirements. The possibility remains that other satellite providers could provide service with existing equipment.

12. 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.

Benjamin Carlson Date PMEL Acquisition Management Specialist

13. Office of General Counsel Concurrence

Concur

Rebecca Jacobsen Date Office of General Counsel

14. Contracting Officer’s Certification

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

Darrin Moore Date Contracting Officer

15. NOAA Competition Advocate Approval:

Approve

Jeffrey S. Thomas Date NOAA Competition Advocate

MOORE.DARRIN.SCOTT.1523

880221

2021.03.08 12:42:13 -07'00'

REBECCA JACOBSEN Digitally signed by REBECCA JACOBSEN Date: 2021.03.08 15:27:53 -05'00'

CARLSON.BENJAMIN.AL

LAN.1100211722

Digitally signed by

CARLSON.BENJAMIN.ALLAN.1100211722

Date: 2021.03.09 05:54:36 -08'00'

3/17/2021

MABE.KELLY.

D.1229305057

Digitally signed by

MABE.KELLY.D.12293050

Date: 2021.03.17 07:12:09 -04'00'