A27 - Redacted Sole Source Justification.doc

Subj: SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION MEMORANDUM FOR SEA-BIRD ELECTRONICS ACS AND CTD

Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Sole Source Justification.”

This is a sole source justification. Contracting activity is NSWC-PCD, Code 024, 110 Vernon Ave., Panama City, FL, 32407.

Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This action will award a purchase order, on a sole basis, for an absorption and beam attenuation spectrophotometer (ACS) and SBE-19 plus v2 CTD from Sea-Bird Electronics.

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

Part Number Description Quantity

FAS-000308

ACS Spectrophotometer 19P.132021S SBE 19plus v2 CTD 801269.I SBE 19plus 40 inch Deployment Cage 20200.0 RS232 Converter Adaptor

This acquisition will be conducted using simplified acquisition procedures with a total estimated value greater than $25,000. The Government's minimum needs have been verified by the certifying technical and requirements personnel. This memo does not authorize acquisition for other requirements. This acquisition will be conducted using simplified acquisition procedures with a total dollar value above micro-purchase levels, but not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold of $250,000.00.

Identification of the justification rationale and, if applicable, a demonstration of the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications to provide the required supply or service. 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) - Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, FAR 6.302-1.

Sea-Bird Electronics recently acquired WetLabs, Inc which has manufactured and serviced NSWC PCD’s four (4) absorption and beam attenuation spectrophotometers. Two (2) of the absorption and attenuation spectrophotometers have reached end of service life, and the other two (2) receive maintenance from WetLabs, Inc through Sea-Bird Electronics. Sea-Bird Electronics ACS is proprietary, custom made to order, and is similar to the current systems owned by NSWC PCD. The base optical sensor is identical and the power and data handling reduction limits external auxiliary sensor integration. The NSWC PCD Oceanographic Support Office (OSO) can supplement with items already in current inventory.

Sea-Bird Electronics also currently services NSWC PCD’s 6 SBE 19plus CTD systems, of which four (4) have reached end of service life, and two (2) receive maintenance from Sea-Bird Electronics as the sole provider. Sea-Bird Electronics CTD Model SBE 19plus v2 is also proprietary, custom made to order, and is identical to the current systems owned by NSWC PCD including modifications unique to oceanographic test support up to 350 meters collection of conductivity, temperature, and depth data. Sea-Bird Electronics CTD is relied on for deep water column profiling and requires little training with the immediate ability to support quick turnaround operations required for NSWC PCD.

Both ACS and CTD systems are in operation at NSWC PCD with high demands and transitioning to a new set of equipment would require potential IT infrastructure changes to accommodate different software requirements. The current set of RDT&E computers are configured with the appropriate software suite and data processing structures already support ACS and CTD requirements and have already been vetted through the lengthy IT process. This equipment would provide continued operations, without leaving a gap in support and eliminating the need for new training requirements to support personnel.

As such, the government does not expect significant savings through competition and it is more advantageous to the Government to award on a sole source basis to the Sea-Bird Electronics for the items listed in Section 3.

A determination by the ordering activity contracting officer that the order represents the best value consistent with FAR 13.106-1(b).

The Contracting Officer has determined that the order represents the best value and results in the lowest overall cost alternative (considering price, special features, administrative costs, etc.) to meet the Government’s needs.

A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

For the reasons specified in paragraph 4 above, Sea-Bird Electronics is the only source that can meet the Government’s needs. This requirement will be synopsized in the government point of entry sam.gov because it is estimated greater than $25,000.00.

Any other facts supporting the justification.

None.

A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

As stated in paragraph 4 above, Sea-Bird Electronics is the only source that can meet this requirement.