Sole_Source_May_2013_final_5_31.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

Southern Research Station Headquarters

200 WT Weaver Blvd.

Asheville, NC 28802 828-257-4832 Voice 828-257-4840 Fax

828-259-0503 TDD

Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper

File Code: 6320 Date: May 31, 2013 Route To:

Subject: Sole Source Justification for UNCA National Environmental Model Analysis Center

To: Karen Welch

DETERMINATION AND FINDINGS

The following document is prepared in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (1) and Far 6.302-1, services required are available from one source with unique capabilities to satisfy agency requirements:

Findings:

1) Identification of the agency and the contracting activity:

The USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Acquisition Management Group and the Eastern Administrative Zone.

2) Nature and/or description of action being approved:

The Southern Research Station and the National Forests in North Carolina have a need for a mobile web application that provides general as well as specific information on trails in the Cheoah and Tusquitee Districts. The mobile application is to feature an interactive trail map which contains trail information, forest cover type data, description of forest health issues, and a search function.

3) A description of services required to meet the agency's needs:

The user-friendly web-based mobile application will provide trail, trip planning and recreational information for 18 to 37 trail or trail sections in the Cheoah and Tusquitee Districts.

The mobile application will include the following features for each trail or trail section:

Interactive Map Display of forest information Display of trail information Links to website Display of key message Search functionality Print formatting Functionality to allow users to explore 3-D representations of the trail area.

A color coded map presentation of the Vitality Index shall be included in the FIA Mobile Trail App.

Vitality Index information from Southern Forest Futures Project sub regional reports shall be included in the FIA Mobile Trail App.

4) A demonstration (description) that the proposed contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited:

In accordance with FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii) Supplies may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment, including major components thereof, when it is likely that award to any other source would result in – (A) Substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition;

This project is the continued development of research conducted jointly between the Southern Research Station and the University of North Carolina Asheville. The project will use data that was developed jointly be the USDA Forest Service and National Environmental Model Analysis Center (NEMAC). NEMAC is uniquely suited to perform this task because they have research staff specialized in geographic information systems and already has many of the data bases needed for this project in Arc programs and will need to only extract the Western North Carolina and Southern Appalachian counties needed. This data is not available to other contractors due to a combination of security and data currency issues. The time and cost of providing the foundational data to other contractors for the project are not expected to be recovered through competition.

Therefore in accordance with FAR 6.302-1 “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements” is the appropriate circumstance to permit other than full and open competition.

5) A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable:

This cost estimate for this project is approximately $100,000.00. Based on our current grants and agreements with the University of North Carolina Asheville, the negotiated prices are expected to be fair and reasonable.

6) A description of the market survey conducted (Sec. 7.101) and the results or a statement of the reasons a market survey was not conducted.

A formal market survey was conducted and approximately 20 firms expressed an interest in this project. When these firms were reviewed, their lack of access to the foundational data was identified. The substantial duplication of the foundational data would result in time and cost increases that are not expected to be recovered through competition.

7) Other factors supporting the use of other than full and open competition:

UNCA National Environmental Model Analysis Center participates in a wide range of activities that assess sustainability in the eastern US and in this sub region. They are also involved in a wide range of modeling and data analysis activities in the South and in Western North Carolina which makes them particularly well informed about what data sets are available on how to best use the data to determine sustainability/threats over time.

8) Statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the services require:

The Southern Research Station supports full and open competition and seeks opportunities to work with small businesses. Advance Acquisition Plans in Work Plan are reviewed for barriers to competition and small business opportunities. For fiscal year 2012 the Eastern Administrative Zone awarded over 90% of their contract to Small Businesses.

9) Certification:

The above justification is accurate and complete to the best of our knowledge and belief.

Submitted by: Jennifer Plyler Date: May 31, 2013

DETERMINATION

Based on the above information a sole source contract with National Environmental Model Analysis Center (NEMAC) is in the best interest of the USDA Forest Service and it is anticipated that the cost of the resulting contract will be fair and reasonable.

/s/ Karen Welch

KAREN B. WELCH

Contracting Officer Date: 05/31/2013