A16_J_A_1.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

California State Office

2800 Cottage Way

Sacramento, CA 95825 www.blm.gov/california

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR ACTIONS OVER $350,000

This document sets forth the justification and approval as required by FAR 12.102-(b).

1. Identification of the Agency and the Contracting Activity.

The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), California State Office

(BLM California), requests the BLM Programs Contracting Office to contract on a sole source basis to procure commercial internet services from Pacific Bell Telephone Company for 25 remote fields and administrative offices across the state of California.

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

This action is a sole source land-based broadband internet services for 25 accounts for the

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California. Under this effort, an award will be issued directly to local internet service providers (ISPs). Pacific Bell Telephone Company is the only commercially available source that is available to the respective geographic areas where services are needed. The resulting contract will include a one-year period of performance.

3. A description of the Supplies or Services required to meet the Agency’s needs

(including the estimated value).

The requirement is to provide commercial broadband internet services to multiple BLM

California locations, with bandwidth ranging from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps depending on mission need. Services must include installation, connection to the public internet, assignment of IP addresses, and technical support. The estimated total value for this sole source requirement is estimated at $1.7M over the one-year period. This procurement ensures uninterrupted access to critical IT systems that support GIS, fire management, public services, and operational communications in rural locations. (See attached list for all BLM California office locations)

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting competition other than full and open.

In Accordance With (IAW) RFO 6.103-1(b) under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), the property or services needed by the agency are available from only one responsible source or only from a limited number of responsible sources and no other type of property or services will satisfy the needs of the agency.

http://www.blm.gov/california

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

Pacific Bell Telephone Company is unique to internet coverage within the remote areas of northern California. Other than full and open competition is based on the lack of multiple qualified ISPs at the required locations. Most BLM California field offices are in geographically isolated or rural areas where only one ISP (Pacific Bell Telephone Company) maintains land-based infrastructure (fiber, coaxial, or copper) capable of providing the required service levels. Some of the locations are in emergency facilities and not all carriers can always provide a level of service. There can be no disruptions at any given time in the event of an emergency, and it becomes an issue of health and safety for the Emergency

Personnel and civilian within the areas.

• Unique Capability: Pacific Bell Telephone Company is the only provider with last-mile infrastructure to deliver services within 30 days. Competitors either do not service the area or cannot meet the performance and timeline requirements.

• Technical Limitation: Many BLM California sites are in areas with no broadband competition due to terrain, distance from service hubs, and lack of population density.

6. A 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 12.102(b) in accordance with 12.102-1. Market research included outreach to commercial providers, examination of FCC broadband coverage maps, and solicitation of availability data from regional ISPs. The requirement was not posted on SAM.gov due to the highly localized nature of each remote service area and the known lack of competitive providers at each location. Historically, we have posted this every year and received no interest from other vendors.