A16___JFOC_FINAL_1.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(Sole Source Justification)

In accordance with the authority granted under 41 U.S.C. 253(c), this request for award under other than full and open competition is herby submitted.

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity:

Bureau of Land Management, Arctic District Office

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

Due to the circumstances described below, we request that soil thermistor stations be acquired from BeadedStream (https://www.beadedstream.com) using other than full and open competition in support of the Arctic District Office’s frozen soil depth monitoring program for winter tundra travel per the 2020 NPR-A IAP/EIS in coordination with other Arctic land management agencies (USFWS, ADNR).

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value):

Data for 14 existing soil temperature and snow depth monitoring stations with telemetry capabilities to send near real-time data to town are needed to meet the Arctic District’s needs for FY2023 and beyond. An estimate to purchase this data and equipment from BeadedStream values this service at $13,440.00.

4. An identification of the Statutory Authority permitting other than full and open competition:

10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

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

The existing soil thermistor stations and data connection being requested are only manufactured and available from a single source: BeadedStream (https://www.beadedstream.com). This specific product is requested because they are the (only) type of plug and play soil temperature and snow depth monitoring stations currently being utilized by the USFWS and ADNR in the Arctic. Winter soil temperature and snow depth monitoring related to tundra travel to be conducted by the BLM in the NPR-A is in direct coordination with efforts to monitor soil temperatures and snow depths by those other agencies. Having standardized equipment across agencies ensures that data is collected consistently and are comparable. Utilizing other equipment from a different source and/or data platform would also require substantial additional expenses in terms of training and data management.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited form as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 5.2, and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies:

No additional sources were sought after, as the only provider of data plans for these stations is BeadedStream and their product is not sold by any other vendor.

A notice will be published.

7. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable, and the basis for that determination:

Pricing is as a commercial off-the-shelf market prices offered in a competitive environment.

8. A description of the market research conducted (FAR part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted:

Internet-based market research confirms that no other manufacturer or vendor can satisfy the Arctic District Office’s current needs, as described above.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition FAR 6.303-2(a) (9)):

The requested data plan will be needed for data hosting and remote monitoring of system status. BeadedStream is currently fulfilling these aspects for the other deployed stations in the Arctic and can fulfill these needs for the Arctic District Office at a reasonable cost when utilizing existing BeadedStreams equipment.

10. A listing of sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition:

None.

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required:

There is currently no plan to fully replace the existing inventory utilized across the BLM for this type of equipment at this time.

CERTIFICATIONS:

I, herby, certify that this requirement does not exceed the Government’s minimum needs or scheduled requirements, and that the basis for award under other than full and open competition is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief:

/s/: Matthew Ferderbar 6/12/2023 Requisitioner’s Signature / Date

I, hereby, certify that this justification for other that full and open competition is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief:

Contract Specialist Signature / Date