Acoustic_EQ_Biosonics_Brand_Name_Justification_Redacted.pdf

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Agency and Activity

The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey Denver Acquisitions plans to contract by means other than full and open competition. This document sets forth the justification and approval for award of a brand name BioSonics DT-X Extreme

Echo Sounder Surface unit on a limited source basis as required by FAR 6.104.

2. Nature of Action Being Approved

New firm-fixed price purchase order. The Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences

Center (UMESC) intends on a brand name purchase with BioSonics, Inc. for a hydroacoustic system.

3. Description of Supplies or Services

UMESC requires a BioSonics dual-axis mechanical rotator (1), an autonomous echo sounder surface unit equipped with two transducer ports (1), and 200 kHz 6° split-beam transducers (2).

4. Statutory Authority

The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis in accordance with FAR

6.103-1 “Only One Source Reasonable and No Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy

Agency Requirements”.

5. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5

BioSonics is the only hydroacoustic transducer system that is fully compatible with the equipment currently in use by UMESC and its management partners, including the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service. Selecting any alternative brand of hydroacoustic system would create immediate incompatibility with the existing UMESC hardware and software suite and would result in data outputs that are not directly comparable to the long-term datasets produced by our partner agencies. Maintaining data continuity and compatibility across all monitoring programs is essential for meeting ongoing scientific and management objectives.

Only BioSonics equips the ROS rotator with the proprietary motor-control hardware and software required for full integration with BioSonics transducer systems. The BioSonics transducer platform is not engineered to operate with any other brand of rotator, and, conversely, a ROS rotator purchased through any vendor other than BioSonics will not be configured for use with UMESC’s existing BioSonics sonar equipment.

If the rotator is procured from a non-BioSonics vendor, the unit must be shipped to

BioSonics for proprietary calibration and integration, which would require a separate service contract, additional cost, and added downtime. Procuring the

BioSonics-configured ROS rotator directly through BioSonics is therefore the only feasible approach that ensures system compatibility, preserves data integrity, and avoids unnecessary delays and costs associated with post-purchase calibration.

6. Other Information

N/A

7. The Efforts to Identify Additional Sources including the Market Research

Conducted.

Market research via the Internet and based on the Contracting Officers knowledge of same/similar requirements, approximately two resellers are available to meet the

Governments requirements.

8. Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition

Action to increase future competition is not required because there are no planned acquisitions for or related to this requirement, and none are likely to develop.

9. Recommendation Program Office

Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a sole 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.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) considers employee signature to be Personal

Information and therefore all employee signatures have been redacted. By posting this document, the Contracting Officer attests all appropriate signatures have been obtained.