A16_JOFOC_Sofar_Redacted_1.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

FOR FEDERAL SUPPLY SCHEDULE (FSS) AWARD

1. Contracting Agency and Activity. The Department of the Interior, Reston Science Acquisition Branch.

2. Nature of Action Being Approved. The establishment of single award FSS BPA under Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract 47QSMS25D00AX Sofar Ocean for one year with four option periods.

3. Description of Supplies or Services. The USGS St. Petersburg Coastal Marine Center requires Sofar Ocean’s Spotter platform, related hardware, maintenance, and access to application programming interface (API) Spotter Dashboard.

4. Estimated Dollar Value. $250,000.00

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action is justified on a sole-source basis under the statutory exception at 10 U.S.C. 3406(c)(2) in accordance with the procedures of GSAR 538.7104-3(a).

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5 Since 2021, the SPCMSC has collected marine data using the Sofar Ocean Spotter platform. The Center has procured ten Spotter buoys, each valued at $10,400, representing a total investment of $104,000 in hardware that is fully integrated with Sofar Ocean’s proprietary data ecosystem. Spotter buoys transmit real-time ocean observations via cellular or satellite links directly to Sofar Ocean’s marine weather prediction model, after which the data is delivered to the Spotter Dashboard for user access. All associated data, analytics, and custom dashboards are stored within Sofar Ocean’s cloud environment, enabling immediate access from any internet-connected location.

Use of any alternative sensing platform would result in the Government losing its existing investment, as Spotter buoys are not compatible with third-party software systems and cannot interface with non-Sofar data networks. Transitioning to another platform would also introduce methodological inconsistencies, including differences in sensor calibration, data collection, and data processing standards. These discrepancies would compromise the continuity and comparability of long-term datasets, undermining the accuracy of environmental monitoring and trend analysis. Continued reliance on the Spotter system ensures uniform data quality, consistent methodology, and preservation of the historical dataset’s integrity.

Sofar Ocean has confirmed in writing that there are no authorized third-party distributors, service providers, or entities with access to the Spotter API. As the original equipment manufacturer, Sofar Ocean is the sole source capable of supplying compatible hardware, system maintenance, and end-to-end data services required to sustain uninterrupted operational performance.

7. Other Information. In 2021, the initial requirement for ocean sensing buoys was competitively awarded to Sofar Ocean for the buoy instrument package under 140G0121P0255.

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

Market research included a review of prior procurements for identical items and services, all of which were awarded noncompetitively to Sofar Ocean due to the proprietary nature of the Spotter ecosystem. A sources sought notice was posted, yielding two responses: one from Sofar Ocean and one from a third-party vendor that did not provide documentation demonstrating OEM affiliation or the ability to supply or support Spotter-specific API, telemetry, or firmware.

The Government also reviewed GSA MAS catalog offerings and conducted independent market research through industry surveys, technical literature, and procurement history databases. This research confirmed that while other firms produce buoys or ocean sensors, no alternative vendor provides an integrated hardware-plus-DaaS solution engineered as a cohesive, remotely managed system. Only Sofar Ocean offers end-to-end functionality—hardware, data transmission, forecasting, API services, and ecosystem compatibility—required to satisfy USGS mission-critical operational needs.

9. Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition. Future requirements will undergo market research for comparable items and services and be competed to the maximum extent practical.

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.

11. Certifications and Approval from the Contracting Officer:

a. The contracting officer will determine the prices to be fair and reasonable through the comparison of previous procurements for the same items and services.

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

13. Approvals