King_Salmon_5MB_Sole_Source_GCI_TERRA_all_signed.pdf

JUSTIFICATION DOCUMENT

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

KING SALMON, AK TERRESTRIAL 5 MB INTERNET SERVICES

1. CONTRACTING AGENCY: General Services Administration (GSA), Federal Acquisition Services (FAS), Office of Information Technology Category (ITC), Office of Acquisition Operations, Telecom Services Contract Operations Division.

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION: A new firm-fixed-priced contract for the Department of Interior (DOI) is being sought. The contract will be for four (4) year duration. No year funding is being utilized for this requirement.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES: DOI is requesting terrestrial internet circuits since they are experiencing almost a total loss of communications at remote sites throughout Alaska via existing satellite links. DOI is requesting 5 Mb terrestrial internet service at this location to provide sufficient bandwidth for multiple users at the agency location. The internet connection must be a dedicated service that does not share bandwidth with other non-agency users and will allow for a LAN-to-LAN connection. Connection latency must be 125 milliseconds or less to allow for maximum network efficiency and stability. Contractor will establish new service without affecting existing service to the locations listed below. The Period of Performance (P.O.P) will be four (4) years from date of award. The total awarded value of this requirement is $364,471.00. The place of performance will be AK Peninsula/ Becharof NWR, USFWS Road Building #4, King Salmon, AK 99613.

4. AUTHORITY CITED: This action is authorized under provisions of FAR 6.302-1- Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) or 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1).

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED: The Department of the Interior relies on network communications between all DOI agencies to perform day to day operations of federally managed lands in Alaska. Remote parts of Alaska currently use satellite communications circuits to connect to the DOI network. Satellite circuits have latency values greater than 500 milliseconds with an average of 750 milliseconds for service in Alaska. Due to the extreme latency of satellite communications, this service does not allow for reliable and efficient network utilization which is having a substantial impact on the ability of DOI agencies to fulfil their mission of management in Alaska. DOI is requesting that where possible, they be allowed to use terrestrial circuits which have latency values less than 125 milliseconds since they are experiencing almost a total loss of communications at remote sites.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION: Information was sought from available sources that provide services in Alaska. A total of three vendors were contacted and only one vendor has the capability of providing terrestrial services.

7. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION: Currently only one vendor provides terrestrial services that can meet the agency requirements for this area of Alaska.

We will continue to monitor vendors to see if any vendors begin offering the required terrestrial services for future acquisitions.

8. MARKET RESEARCH: Market research was conducted in accordance with FAR

10.002 to determine availability of service, possible vendors, and approximate market costs for this location.

The following vendors were contacted:

AT&T Alascom Alaska Communications Systems (ACS) General Communications Inc. (GCI)

AT&T Alascom and ACS were contacted about offering this service. Neither company expressed interest in providing pricing as they do not have any facilities that can meet the technical requirements of less than 125 milliseconds latency. GCI verified they were able to provide the specified service and provided an open market price estimate for the service.

9. INTERESTED SOURCES: GCI was the only vendor to express any interest in the requirement. This justification for other than full and open competition will be published to FedBizOpps (FBO) upon approval to allow any other possible vendors an opportunity to express interest in the requirement.

10. OTHER FACTS: Procurement History:

Satellite circuits have an extreme amount of delay known as latency which causes significant degradation in network performance and/or outright loss of services. Satellite circuits have latency greater than 500 milliseconds with an average of 750 milliseconds for service in Alaska. Latency this extreme makes reliable network communications impossible and is resulting in a loss of network connections for the AK Peninsula/Becharof NWR which is having a significant effect on F&WS staff and their ability to perform their duties. This includes inability of users to complete required annual training via computer;

inability to reliably credential new users to HSPD-12 standards due to the light credentialing systems timing out before credential certificates can be loaded;

inability to reliably patch computers for critical vulnerabilities; inability for help desk staff to reliably perform technical service through remote administration, and; in many cases, technicians are unable to remotely access user computers, and when they do, routine tasks often take considerable time.

11. TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance included in this Justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Name: Date:

Title: Signature: _______________________

13. FAIR AND REASONABLE COST DETERMINATION: The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated price for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. The techniques identified at FAR 15.404-1(b) will be used to ensure award will be at fair and reasonable prices. The Contracting Officer used a comparison of current pricing for satellite internet services and the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) developed by the program office. Additionally, the techniques identified at FAR 15.404-1(c)(2)(iii) will be used to further ensure award will be at fair and reasonable prices. Certified cost and pricing data will not be obtained.

Approval

I certify that this Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of terrestrial 5 mb internet services on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of FAR 6.302-1 Only one response source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, consistent with 10 U.S.C.

2304(c)(1) or 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) subject to the availability of funds, and provided that the services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Signature: ____________________________ Name David Feliciano Title Senior Contracting Officer Agency GSA/FAS/ITC/QT2A1GC

Mike Outterson Telecommunications Manager