B02_04_J_A_Sole_Source_Under_SAT_Essays_v1.pdf

140R1725Q0016 Page 1 of 3

WBR 1413.106-1 Template 1 eFile - B02

(11/2020)

DETERMINATION TO SOLICIT FROM A SINGLE SOURCE

Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), for purchases not exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) Contracting Officers may solicit from only one source if the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source is reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization).

Pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(ii), when a single source is identified to provide a portion of the purchase as a Brand-Name, the documentation in paragraph 3 must state that this determination is only for a portion of the requirement.

1. Agency and Contracting Activity. (U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation,

2. Name and Address of Single Source.

History Link 93 Pike Street, STE 315 Seattle, Washington 98101-2067

3. Description of Supplies/Services and Estimated Cost.

The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) requires that Federal agencies take action to assess and resolve adverse effects to historic properties caused by Federal actions. To fulfill environmental compliance requirements, the Columbia-Cascades Area Office (Reclamation) has conducted consultation under Section 106 of the NHPA (36 CFR § 800) for various undertakings. For five of those undertaking, in which a finding of adverse effect to historic properties was reached, Reclamation committed to the creation of online illustrated essays describing the histories and significance for specific historic properties as mitigation measures in stipulations of Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) or Programmatic Agreements

(PA).

This requirement is intended to address those commitments by providing for a contractor to prepare and publish five illustrated online essays meeting the standards outlined in the agreement documents. The work will include research, the production of a draft and final version of the illustrated essay, and the publication of that final version of the essay on a publicly accessible website, for long-term availability.

4. Description of Circumstances, including why only one source is reasonably available.

IAW FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(ii), the specific requirements of researching, writing, and publishing Online Illustrated Essays limit the availability to a sole source. The requirement calls for professional services in historic researching and writing essays. Along with a long-term digital publication of those essays in a place where the general public will be able to conveniently locate and access them for Washington state.

Only this suggested source can furnish the requirements, to the exclusion of other sources, because Reclamation's website emphasizes the Projects in its organization, and generally does not provide a convenient way to publicize information about individual components of

140R1725Q0016 Page 2 of 3 those Projects (such as specific canals or pumping plants), which would make any online essays published through the website challenging for visitors to access and difficult to publicize to the general public on a long-term basis. Reclamation's website is not well configured for the publication of illustrated essays like the ones stipulated in the MOAs.

The Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) between the Bureau of Reclamation, Columbia-

Pacific Northwest Region, Columbia-Cascades Area Office, and the Washington State

Historic Preservation Officer call for the following in each area for on-line essays.

1. R21MA3701, Kennewick Irrigation District Title Transfer, Reclamation shall publish an illustrated essay utilizing an existing online public outlet such as HistoryLink

(www.historylink.org) or a suitable alternative approved by the Parties.

2. Kittitas Division Yakima River Pressure Tunnel Rock Trap, MOA states that the on-line illustrated essay will be posted for permanent on-line exhibit on Reclamation’s website history page(s). Due to the aforementioned issue with Reclamation website, Reclamation will use be using Historylink to develop and post the essay for Kittitas.

3. Log: 080604-01-BOR, Sunnyside Canal, In consultation and coordination with SHPO and HistoryLink, develop an on-line illustrated essay of the Sunnyside Canal. Also, once completed the on-line illustrated Sunnyside Canal essay will be posted for permanent online exhibit on the HistorLink.org website, the On-Line Encyclopedia of Washington

State History.

4. R22MA13725, Kachess Safety of Dams, Dam, Reclamation shall publish an illustrated essay utilizing an existing online public outlet such as HistoryLink (www.historylink.org) or a suitable alternative approved by the consulting parties.

5. R23MA13701, Cle Elum Reservoir, Reclamation shall publish an illustrated essay utilizing an existing online public outlet such as HistoryLink (www.historylink.org) or a suitable alternative approved by the consulting parties.

History Link was founding in 1997 as a 501(c)(3) with the goal of historical research, education, and publication. Thy host, maintain and upload content to Historylink.org, a free website with scholarly articles, historic photographs, and a timeline of Washington State history.

History Link has been registered with the Government since Aug 04, 2004 and is the only digital resource of its size or prominence within Washington fulfilling a mission specific to public education about state history. It currently has 8,168 publicly available essays accessible on its website, which include illustrations and bibliographic citations. All work for commissioned essays is conducted by professional historians, with a well-established review and quality-assurance process. History Link also has an established social media presence that supports public engagement with the materials hosted on the site; the website serves an average of 4,500 visitors per day.

History Link also has the experience managing, maintaining, and promoting an online encyclopedia of Washington State history to a broad audience. They employ or contract with

140R1725Q0016 Page 3 of 3 experienced historians who have made published significant amounts of academic and scholarly research on various topics pertaining to Washington State history.

5. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Price.

Fair and reasonable pricing will be determined in accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(ii).

Comparison of the proposed prices will be based on, current price list from History Link, Comparison to the IGCE, and comparison between labor categories of the IGCE and GSA which will be used to determine price reasonableness for this action.

6. Description of Market Research.

Customer submitted History Link website which is a not-for-profit entity located in Seattle

Washington. Washington State Historical Society was located on the internet but according to SAM.gov History Link only accepts, Federal Assistance Awards. A sources sought was posted to GSA eBuy to 26 vendors, but there were no positive results. Another sources sought was posted on SAM.gov. There were eight vendors that were interested. Four of the vendors did not respond after the draft PWS was sent to them. One vendor was only interested if the set-aside was for an 8(a), and three vendors had no mention of posting the essays for long term access for the public.

Based on the information provided above the Contracting Officer has determined that History

Link is the only source capable to meeting the requirements for publishing five essays for the

Bureau of Reclamation.

SIGNATURES

PREPARED BY CONTRACTING OFFICER (CO) (FAR 13.106-1(b)):(All Values):

Name:

Date:

X