A16-3-0034_Single_Source_Justification_GlueonTags_1.pdf
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- NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE Federal contract opportunity
- Solicitation number
- DOIFFBO250097
About this file
This is a Single Source Justification (SSJ) form from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for purchasing 7 Argos glue-on GPS tags for polar bear tracking. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requires these specialized tags for a study monitoring polar bear movements in the Chukchi Sea, with an estimated cost of $24,115. Wildlife Computers is the sole source for these tags, as the agency has determined through market research that no other manufacturer can provide tags meeting their specific requirements or support the continuity of data collection.
The document justifies the sole source procurement under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) by demonstrating that Wildlife Computers' tags have performed exceptionally well in previous deployments, staying on bears for over 5 months and providing locations without negative effects. The agency has reviewed websites for wildlife telemetry manufacturers and found no alternative companies producing glue-on Argos satellite tags specifically designed for polar bears in the Arctic Ocean environment. The document is digitally signed by Ryan Wilson (Program/Project Officer) and John Skogen (Contracting Officer) with a planned execution date in June 2025.
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Text version
FWS Form 3-0034 (Rev. 10/2020) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1. Description of Need
3. Other Capable Sources
2. Market Research Conducted
Pursuant to FAR subpart 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) and (ii), for purchases not exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT), Contracting Officers may solicit from only one source if the circumstances deem only one source is reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization).
Instructions: The information in the text boxes are provided as sample language or to indicate a needed fill-in. Sample language should be removed from the final document. All text boxes require information and shall not be left blank.
SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION
(UNDER SAT)
JOINT ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS
Acquisitions Operations
4. Barriers to Competition
5. Contractor's Qualifications
6. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost
7. Recommendation and Certification by Program Office
Based on the above justification, I recommend this acquisition to be conducted using sole source acquisition procedures. I hereby certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Program / Project Officer
8. Contracting Officer Certification and Approval: Under SAT
Based on the above justification, I hereby certify and approve the use of sole source acquisition procedures under FAR Part 13 for this purchase.
Contracting Officer
| Text3: I surveyed existing tag manufacturers and none meet the specifications we require for a tag to be applied to a polar bear. |
| Text2: No other manufacturer can support continuity of data collected. |
| Text1: We require the purchase of 7 Argos glue-on tags designed for polar bears. These tags are deployed on polar bears as part of a study to monitor movements of bears in the Chukchi Sea. The estimated cost for the tags is $24,115. |
Since 2011, we have deployed glue-on polar bear tags from Wildlife Computers. The tags have worked as expected in the harsh environment of the Arctic. While other companies manufacture Argos tags that could be applied to polar bears, to our knowledge none have, and we would be concerned that they would not function properly given the harsh environment. Wildlife Computers has significant experience designing tags for the Arctic marine environments, not just for polar bears, but other marine mammal species as well. We also know that the tags manufactured by Wildlife Computers do not impact polar bear welfare but which we cannot currently confirm for tags from other companies. Lastly, we require consistent data collection to make comparisons with previously tagged bears which may not be possible if tags from other manufacturers were deployed.
Wildlife Computers polar bear glue-on tags have the following specifications necessary for collecting data from polar bears in this Arctic marine study area:
-Operational life: ~240 days with 1 hr fix intervals -Weight: <140 g -Dimensions: 86 x 55 x 28.5 mm
Wildlife Computers is currently able to produce the desired product without any additional research and development needed, which if required, could delay our acquisition of tags prior to the autumn 2024 field season which begins in August.
| Text4: We have reviewed websites for wildlife telemetry manufacturers and have not found any other companies, beyond those listed above, that produce glue-on Argos satellite tags specifically designed for polar bears in the Arctic Ocean environment. | |
| Text6: (Include a statement by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost will be considered fair and reasonable and provide the basis used for this determination. Examples may include the results of the restricted competition, comparison of proposed costs/prices with costs/prices for similar supplies or services, commercial price lists, prior acquisition history, etc.) | |
| 2025-06-05T08:50:53-0800 | |
| RYAN WILSON |
| 2025-06-18T09:24:04-0500 | |
| JOHN SKOGEN |
Text5: We have used glue-on GPS tags from Wildlife Computers for the last few years and their performance has been exceptional. They stay on the bear for >5 months and provide locations for the duration of that period. They also are able to be attached to bears in a non-invasive manner and have been shown to not lead to any negative effects on the bears.
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