B01-Sole_Source_Justification_1.pdf

Department of the Interior Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

FAR Subpart 13.5 - For Certain Commercial Items

(Mandatory for Acquisitions > SAT) (Optional for Acqs. SAT)

1. Bureau and Contracting Activity [FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii) and 6.303-2(b)(1)]

2. Description of Supplies or Services [FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii) and 6.303-2(b)(3)]

3. Requisition No.

4. Cost Estimate (including options)[FAR 6.303-2(b)(3)]

5. Name of Proposed Source(s)

6. REQUESTING OFFICE CERTIFICATION

I certify that this recommendation contains the information required by FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii) and 6.303-2(b) and its contents are accurate.

Date:Phone No:Signature:Requesting Office Rep. (Name &Title)

7. ACQUISITION OFFICE CERTIFICATION

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature: Phone No: Date:Contracting Officer (Name)

This acquisition is being conducted by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), Office of Administration (OA), Acquisition Operations Branch (AOB) for a study developed by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Office of Environmental Programs (OEP), Environmental Sciences Division (ESD).

BSEE intends to award a purchase order to Terra Mar Applied Sciences, LLC for a study titled Northern Gulf of Mexico Monitoring for Protected Birds (GM-24-02b-e). The study aims to assess collision risk of birds with offshore wind turbines, conduct boat-based surveys of birds, and perform project coordination. The period of performance is anticipated to be five years.

40658261

$796,216.00

Terra Mar Applied Sciences, LLC (Terra Mar)

UEI: RT15TP554KX4

1370 Tewkesbury Place NW Washington, DC 20012-2922

Identify the authority being used to justify a sole source acquisition [FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii)]. Refer to block number 10 for justification details.

8. Section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 .

9. 41 U.S.C. 428a - Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003.

10. JUSTIFICATION (Attach additional pages if needed)

(a) Demonstration that the proposed contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited [FAR 6.303-2(b)(5)]. [Prepared by Program Office]

(b) Describe the efforts taken to ensure offers were solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a Government-wide point of entry (GPE) notice was or will be published as required by FAR 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR

5.202 applies. [FAR 6.303-2(b)(6)]. [Prepared by Program Office]

A pre-solicitation notice will be published announcing the Government's intent to issue a sole source purchase order.

Alternative vendors who believe they can meet the Government's requirement will be able to submit its capabilities for Government review and consideration. In addition, this justification will be published to ensure that the public is aware of the intended award. Consequently, full and open competition is not planned for this effort.

Terra Mar is uniquely qualified to assess collision risk of birds with offshore wind turbines, conduct boat-based surveys of birds, and perform project coordination. Terra Mar's team is comprised of experts in avian ecology, wind turbine interactions, and data analysis, allowing them to execute studies tailored to specific projects and local bird populations. Terra Mar is actively involved in updating models of avian collision with wind turbines, which will ensure utilization of the latest information on collision risk, leading to more accurate assessments and scientifically sound results. Further, Terra Mar has the unique experience of conducting boat based avian surveys, with a team consisting of highly trained observers with experience in offshore environments and familiarity with the targeted bird species. They also possess the necessary equipment and have protocols to ensure data quality and adherence to BOEM guidelines.

10. JUSTIFICATION CONTINUED (Attach additional pages if needed)

(c) Demonstration that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable [FAR 6.303-2(b)(7)]. [Prepared by Contracting Officer]

(d) Describe the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted. [FAR

6.303-2(b)(8)]. [Initiated by the Program Office and finalized in collaboration with the Contracting Officer]

BSEE will obtain sufficient pricing details from the intended source to allow for a thorough price analysis to ensure pricing quoted under this effort is fair and reasonable. BSEE may use the following technique to determine price reasonableness:

published market pricing, comparison to the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE), and pricing information from the offeror.

BOEM OEP ESD conducted market research focused on avian collision risk with offshore wind turbines, the use of artificial intelligence in seabird studies, imagery collection of seabirds at sea, and project management. BOEM OEP ESD spoke with vendors and reviewed their capability statements. BOEM OEP ESD found that none of the other vendors had experience collecting seabird data at sea from boats using standard protocol and assessing collision risk with data in-hand to meet the study requirements. BOEM OEP ESD also spoke to other government agencies and non-governmental organizations. No other entity had the capability to meet the study requirements.

10. JUSTIFICATION CONTINUED (Attach additional pages if needed)

(e) Any other facts supporting the use of a sole source acquisition. [FAR 6.303-2(b)(9)]. [Prepared by Program Office]

(f) List sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition. [FAR 6.303-2(b)(10)]. [Prepared by Program Office]

(g) Statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to competition before any subsequent acquisition for supplies and services. [FAR 6.303-2(b)(11)] [Initiated by the Program Office and finalized in collaboration with the Contracting Officer]

Terra Mar consistently uses standardized protocols for collecting distribution and abundance data of seabirds at sea and other wildlife from ships, and very importantly, using specific distance zones to estimate densities. Terra Mar’s understanding of standardized data collection protocols used on ship-based programs is a key differentiator when comparing to the capabilities to other vendors. This will provide BOEM consistency and comparability in our data collection efforts, which is crucial for reliable scientific analysis. Additionally, Terra Mar's decades-long experience in seabird spatial ecology science, combined with their specialized knowledge of seabird distribution and abundance in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic, make them uniquely qualified to meet the study requirements. Terra Mar has a strong network of collaborators who are highly regarded in the field of seabird identification, ecology, and risk assessment and their unique strengths position them as a leading provider of seabird data collection and analysis services. Terra Mar’s expertise, standardized protocols, and extensive experience will enable them to deliver high-quality and informative data products that meet the study requirements.

No other sources have expressed interest in this acquisition to date.

BOEM OEP ESD will reassess its future needs for this requirement at the end of the period of performance of the anticipated purchase order and accordingly, review the marketplace for other vendors who have the capabilities to meet the study requirements.

APPROVALS [FAR 6.304]

12. Competition Advocate (Name & Title)

APPROVE

DISAPPROVE

(Phone No.)

(Date)

13. Head of the Contracting Activity (Name & Title)

(Date)

(Phone No.)

(Signature)

(Signature)

(Signature)

APPROVE

DISAPPROVE

14. Departmental Senior Procurement Executive (Name & Title) APPROVE

DISAPPROVE

(Phone No.)

(Date)

O ve r $7

,0

O ve r

$1 m ill io n

O ve r $7 m ill io n

(Signature)11. Chief of the Contracting Office (Name & Title)

APPROVE

DISAPPROVE

(Phone No.)

(Date)O ve r

SA

T

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING FORM

Block No.

Identify Bureau initiating the requirement and Acquisition Office processing the requirement.

- Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), or Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

Provide a clear, concise description of the product(s) and/or service(s) to be procured, including the delivery schedule and/or the period of performance (including all option periods). Always include the estimated value in Section 4 below.

This provides the reviewing and approving official with a better understanding of the scope, magnitude, and complexity of the requirement.

4 Include all applicable options and system life-cycle costs.

Include more than one source as a proposed vendor. For example, if the procurement is based on an urgent need, you must still contact as many potential sources as is practicable unless the justification for urgency contains detailed documentation to show that it is not practicable under the circumstances to solicit additional sources.

6 & 7 Obtain certification from the requesting office and contracting officer prior to submitting for approval.

8-9 Check the box next to the justifying authority. Only one authority can be cited.

10(a)

Provide an explanation of the contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition that requires the use of the statutory authority cited. This is the most important part of the justification because it demonstrates that the prospective contractor has unique qualifications and/or specialized capabilities or expertise that is not prevalent in the marketplace. Also, explain what unique qualifications and special capabilities the contractor possesses. Unique qualifications and expertise is defined as knowledge that is currently very limited within the marketplace; there is only one company or individual that has the expertise to provide the product or perform the required services.

10(b)

If the requirement was not publicized, explain why it was not publicized. When an acquisition contains brand name specifications, the contracting officer shall include with the solicitation the justification or required documentation. See FAR 5.102(a) (6) for the requirement to post the brand name justification. The justification should normally be prepared after the requirements notification is posted on Federal Business Opportunities, to allow the requirements office an opportunity to examine the results of industry inquiries and reach a conclusion concerning the potential degree of competition. If the justification is staffed prior to satisfying the synopsis requirement, state the reasons why this was done after the justification was processed. This paragraph should provide a description of the type of action, i.e., purchase and/or delivery order, task orders, and estimated quantities. This section should also include a description of the efforts by the program office and contracting office to ensure that offerors are solicited from as many potential sources as possible.

10(c)

Provide a narrative of the measures performed by the contracting officer to ensure that the costs and/or prices will be fair and reasonable before negotiations commence. In addition, provide the methodology used in the market research analysis that supports a determination of fair and reasonable costs/prices. Provide any information, such as commercial pricelists or prior acquisition history that will help the contracting officer determine that the anticipated cost is fair and reasonable.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING FORM

Block No.

10(d)

Issuance of a synopsis as required in FAR Part 5 does not satisfy the requirement to conduct a market survey. A survey can include announcements in trade journals or telephone surveys with interested/knowledgeable individuals in or out of government. Market research requires collecting and analyzing product/service information on the technical capabilities and prices/costs within the marketplace to satisfy agency needs. If market research was not conducted, the reasons it was not conducted should be stated. Since this is a sole source acquisition, the only possible way to state that there is only one contractor who can fulfill the agency's needs, is to conduct market research and it must be summarized here.

10(e)

Explanation of why technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statements of work, or purchase descriptions suitable for full and open competition have not been developed or are not available.

-When FAR 6.301-2 is cited for follow-on acquisitions as described in 6.302-1(a) (2) (ii), an estimate of the cost to the Government that would be duplicated and how the estimate was derived.

-When FAR 6.302-2 is cited, data, estimated cost, or other rationale as to the extent and nature of the harm to the Government.

10(f)

Include a listing of the sources that expressed written interest in the acquisition. If applicable, clearly state "To date, no other sources have expressed an interest in writing." [Also state that the notices required by FAR 5.201 shall be/have been published and any proposals received shall be considered. If a FedBizOpps notice will not be published, state which exception in FAR 5.202 applies.

10(g)

Describe actions taken, or that will be taken, to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisitions for the item/service or brand name item(s), including challenges to restrictive data markings, data rights, preparation of a performance based work statement, etc. If planning a competition, include the estimated date when the competitive procurement will occur. If competition is not planned, state so and provide the appropriate justification. Include written responses to synopsis announcements and other expressions of interest. All responses must be addressed prior to the approval of the justification. State the reasons why it is sole source. If this is a follow-on procurement, state the measures initiated to eliminate or reduce competitive barriers.

11-14 If any person required to sign-in these blocks does not approve, the procurement shall not proceed any further and the justification shall be returned to the requisitioner through the contracting officer. All signatures required on the form (as applicable to the particular acquisition) must appear in order for the procurement to proceed.