A16_Single_Source_Justification_NPWC_JGM_1.pdf

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: There are no other organizations or contractors with the existing capacity to carry out the proposed work. NPWC has operated as a contractor with the Service since 2001, and has already conducted the necessary groundwork and established the contacts within the Russian scientific community, permitting agencies and rural Native communities in Chukotka to carry out the proposed work. Building or recreating the experience and operational capacity of NPWC would be time and cost prohibitive.

This request is for a continuation of on-going walrus and polar bear projects the results of which will be incorporated into larger, long-term studies. In order to ensure that the data are comparable with previous and ongoing polar bear and walrus studies in Chukotka (and Alaska), the data needs to be collected and analyzed in a consistent manor. Contracting NPWC to oversee the Russian data collection efforts will ensure that methodologies, the quality control process, and data analysis is consistent and therefore useful in our longer-term walrus and polar bear studies.

Text2: The Service has previously carried out similar bilateral research and management activities for walrus and polar bears in Chukotka, Russia via funded collaborations with regional marine mammal hunter organizations (the Naukan Production Cooperative, and the Yupik Society of Eskimos of Chukotka). These organizations are no longer operating in Chukotka due to declining economic conditions in the Region, and increased regulatory complexity associated with collaborations with U.S. marine mammal researchers.

North Pacific Wildlife Consulting (NPWC) is the only U.S. based contractor currently conducting marine mammal research activities in the Russian Far East. NPWC has more than a decade of proven experience securing the necessary regional and federal permissions necessary to conduct field studies in Russia, and has established good working relationships with Russian academic and government agencies and community leaders operating in rural Chukotka villages. NPWC has direct experience facilitating bilateral collaborations between walrus and polar bear researchers and manager in the U.S. and Russia. They have developed and maintained the necessary partnerships, have navigated the complex permitting process to facilitate walrus research, and have partnered with the Service on successful walrus research in both the U.S. and Russia. The Service is currently in a contract with NPWC for Russian liaison and this would be a continuation of the work that person is currently conducting along with the execution of 2 field projects they have already laid the ground work for in Russia. There are no other organizations or contractors with the existing capacity to carry out this proposed work.

Text1: The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has management authority for Pacific walrus and polar bears in Alaska. These species range across the international border into Chukotka, Russia necessitating close collaboration and coordination of research and management activities between the two countries. Collaborative research and management efforts for these trans-boundary species are complicated by a complex web of municipal, regional, federal, and international policies and regulations, and a lack of infrastructure in the remote regions of Chukotka, Russia where they occur. We are seeking a liaison to help facilitate coordination of polar bear and walrus management and research programs in the U.S. and Russia and assist in the implementation of walrus and polar bear research and management projects in Chukotka, Russia (see attached Scope of Work).

The SOW also includes the implementation of funded field projects in Chukotka Russia,which the liaison will co-manage with Service biologists.

(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.)

Text5: North Pacific Wildlife Consulting (NPWC) is an Alaskan Limited Liability Company held in equal partnership by Dr. Vladimir Burkanov and Donald Calkins. Dr. Burkanov and Mr. Calkins each have more than 30 years experience conducting marine mammal research and management activities in both the United States and Russia. Dr. Burkanov holds dual citizenship with Russia and the U.S. and speaks and writes fluent Russian and English.

Since its establishment in 2001, NPWC has annually conducted marine mammals research projects in Russia under contract with the Service, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Minerals Management Service, NOAA’s Fisheries Marine Mammal Laboratory, and the Alaska Sea Life Center.

NPWC has successfully completed several contracts over the past decade with the Service for polar bear and walrus work in Russia including:

1). Acquired Russian and U.S. permits necessary to export and ship biological samples of walrus and polar bears from Russia.

2). Securely transferred funds to Russian collaborators to carry out biological studies of polar bears on Wrangel Island, Russia.

3).Provided the Service with logistical, administrative and permitting support to contract a Russian ice reinforced vessel and hire Russian biologists to conduct joint US-Russia walrus research cruises and collect skin biopsies from free-ranging walruses in the Bering and Chukchi seas during 2015-2018.

4.) Led field projects to collect biological information from walrus haulouts in Chukotka, collected walrus harvest data from rural Chukotka villages, and collected information on natural walrus mortalities along Chukotka coast in 2018-2019.