JUSTIFICATION.docx

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

For purchases made under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures (Under $250,000) Name and Location of the organization making the purchase: Federal Highway Administration 21400 Ridgetop Circle Sterling, VA 20166

Describe supplies and/or services being procured:

Conduct a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey to determine pavement layer thicknesses, areas of stripping, and deeper subsurface anomalies on a section of US-441 in Sevier County, Tennessee. The GPR collection shall consist of two integrated GPR antenas; one antenna to determine the pavement layer thicknesses and to determine areas of stripping (a 1-GHz air horn antenna) and a second antenna for a deeper (approximately up to 10’ deep) subsurface investigation (a 350 MHz ground coupled antenna). GPR collection will be done at driving- speed and resolve pavement layers down to 1 inch while penetrating the entire pavement section (bound and unbound pavement layers). GPS data is to be collected concurrently with the GPR data with a one meter horizontal accuracy.

GPR data is to be collected continuously and analyzed or processed at 5-foot intervals. The results of the pavement thickness data analysis is to be presented in both tabular and graphical formats. The milepost, latitude, longitude, asphalt concrete pavement layer thicknesses, total asphalt concrete pavement thickness, and aggregate base layer thicknesses for the centerline of both lanes is to be provided in tabular format. A stripping and deeper subsurface anomalies investigation analyses is to be conducted with the results provided in tabular outputs with the locations and approximate dimensions of all identified areas. The report is also to include a summary of the data collection procedures and analysis method.

Along with the above report, the raw data files and any video of the GPR collection are to be provided.

Name and Contact Information of Required Source:

Infrasense 21-G Olympia Avenue, Suite 45 Woburn, MA 01801

Point of Contact: Adam Carmichael Email: acarmichael@infrasense.com Office Phone: 781-281-1686 Cell Phone: 781-572-0563

Rationale supporting the sole source acquisition (Authority under FAR 13.106-1(b))

“(b) Soliciting from a single source:

(1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency*, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name or industrial mobilization). “

· Explain why this is the only item that will meet your need

· Explain why a particular expertise or capability is critical to meeting your needs and why no other source can meet this need

· Explain why a particular situation is critical to meeting your needs and why no other source can address the situation

GPR collection and analysis require speciality personnel with proven field-specific expertise. Infrasence is a known expert in the field of GPR collection and analysis and has done GPR work for EFL on the GWMP 1A97 project. They have significant experience across many DOTs, have published field-specific research (such as for SHRP), and some of their personnel have even been presenters at TRB and other notable conferences. They ulitilze GPR antennas and software that is compatible with the same type of analysis software Eastern Federal Lands owns (Materials). This will reduce risk and potential additional external analysis costs by allowing additional in-house analysis for more granular analysis should it be required.

Additionally, time is of the essense to have the work performed so not to adversely impact the PS&E schedule. Infrasense personnel are able to collect, analysis, and report the GPR survey in the timeframe necessary to deliver the PS&E package.