A16_Brand_Name_Justification_-_Ceescope_(REDACTED).pdf

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Agency and Activity. The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey plans to contract by means other than full and open competition. This document sets forth the justification and approval as required by FAR 13 .106-1 (b )(1 ).

2. Nature of Action Being Approved. Equipment - (2) CeeHydroSystems CEESCOPE portable single-beam echosounders

3. Description of Supplies or Services. The St. Petersburg Coastal Marine Science Center has a need for two (2) CeeHydroSystems CEESCOPE portable single-beam echosounders. This equipment is essential to the mission of the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct active research and modeling of coastal hazards and ecosystems. The CEESCOPE is a GPS integrated, portable, shallow-water, high sampling rate echosounder that surveys seafloor elevations and substrate composition including aquatic vegetation. The information collected with these instruments is needed to advance USGS numerical models of coastal storms, waves and flooding impacts, and detect geomorphological changes to coastal systems which require high-resolution bathymetry and bottom type data. This research supports high-profile USGS-led projects such as the Total Water Level forecaster (TWL), which uses the data collected with these instruments to ingest into computer models to determine flooding potential from natural hazards such as hurricanes.

Extreme events, including hurricane induced storm surge and flooding play important roles in defining the bathymetry of coastlines and estuaries. Regular monitoring of bathymetry would be integral to providing up-to-date information to multiple stakeholders. Specifically, we are requesting funds to purchase two (2) single-beam sonar system that would greatly increase SPCMSC’s capacity to address these types of critical questions in support of the Department of the Interior’s priorities.

4. Estimated Dollar Value.

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR 13.106-l(b )(1) - only one source reasonably available.

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5.

The USGS requests that Ceehydrosystems be considered the sole source for the purchase of the CEE-SCOPE echo sounder requested. USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program leadership has encouraged the three centers under its purview to share resources in order to accomplish program goals efficiently and in a cost-effective manner. The St Petersburg and Santa Cruz centers conduct identical research and have agreed to use the same hydrographic data collections systems. The St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center already owns two CEE-SCOPE systems and requires two additional units to enable the capability of performing simultaneous surveys in different locations as well as serve as a replacement in the event that one CEE-SCOPE needs repair or the Santa Cruz office needs a spare. The CEE- SCOPE echo sounder is the only scientific grade echo sounder capable of recording and integrating the raw echogram with Hypack acquisition software while also comprising the following specifications:

• Most Portable Echo Sounder for Shallow water Mapping.

• This is the smallest and lightest (3 kg) portable echo sounder package that allows for operation on small skiffs, kayaks/canoes, or ADCP river boats/rafts required for accessing many of the shallow environments that our clients have requested us to survey.

• Integrated survey grade global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver.

• This is the only portable echosounder with an integrated survey grade GNSS receiver that is capable of operating in real-time kinematic mode as well as log raw GNSS data for post-processing.

• Self-contained control box.

• This is the only portable echo sounder that can be deployed with a small self-contained water-tight top-side control box with all necessary data integration (e.g. GNSS positioning, Bluetooth connectivity, power that minimize post-processing and maximize productivity, efficiencies and accessibility associated with field operations.

• Internal logging and integration of raw echogram with Hypack acquisition software.

• CEE-SCOPE is the only single beam sonar that can both record internally in the self-contained acquisition box (no control computer required) and integrate real-time or post-survey with Hypack acquisition software, for which USGS has established efficient workflows and precise survey protocols.

• High sampling rate.

• CEE-SCOPE is one of the few sonars to record raw echogram at 20Hz enabling significant details to be surveyed or higher survey speeds for greater time-efficiency and cost-savings.

• Minimum Operating Depth of 15cm.

• This is the only portable echo sounder that can acquire depth within 15cm allowing extensive areas of estuaries and rivers targeted for our research to be mapped where today no data exist. Other echo sounders generally collect data between 0.3 - 0.5 m.

• Inclusive timestamp on each sonar data point.

• Includes ZDA / GPS or 1PPS clock time stamped data files and output stream minimizing latency on saved or exported data, a common problem of other sonars.

Non unique features:

• 20Hz ping rate

• Full water column echo envelope 1600 samples per ping HYPACK

• 200 khz high frequency channel

• Bluetooth, RS232 cable, Ethernet data output

• 9-30V DC input or 110V power supply

• RTCM input, tide input, motion / heave input

• Sound speed and bar checking

7. Other Information.

Future acquisition requests will need to be Brand Name Justified until it is decided that a complete substitution of the instruments used for hydrographic survey occurs. Currently, the Santa Cruz Science Center owns four (4) CeeHydrosystems CeeScope Echosounders, and the St.

Petersburg office owns two (2) systems. This is planned purposely in order to accommodate requests to supply shared equipment between the centers in the program the devices needed to accomplish our goals, limiting down time and waste.

8. The Efforts to Identify Additional Sources Including the Market Research Conducted.

Other sources known to possess some but not all of the qualifications outlined in Part III of this justification for Noncompetitive Procurement include:

• Teledyne Odom Hydrographic

• Seafloor Systems

The recommendation of the St Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center in support of this noncompetitive justification is made in recognition of the fact that competition must be obtained to the maximum extent possible.

9. Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition.

Should a vendor be located that can provide the exact specifications needed for compatibility with the existing instrument, competition will be solicited.

10. Recommendation and Certification from Program Office

Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a limited source basis. I certify that technical data which form a basis for this justification, that are the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel are complete and accurate.

Brand Name Justification for the purchase of two (2) CeeHydroSystems CEESCOPE Echosounders

11. Certifications and Approval from the Contracting Officer:

a. The contracting officer must include a determination that the order represents a fair and reasonable price to the Government with a short statement of the basis for that determination.

b. This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

12. Approvals

Contracting Officer Date

RAFAEL ANDERSON

Digitally signed by RAFAEL

ANDERSON

Date: 2026.06.09 11:37:03 -04'00'