B08_Attachment_1_JOFOC_-_Brand_Name_Only_(redacted).pdf

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Agency and Activity.

The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey plans to contract by means other than full and open competition. This document sets forth the justification and approval for award of a Guideline Geo MALÅ GeoDrone 80 MHz on a limited source basis as required by

FAR 8.405-6

2. Nature of Action Being Approved.

A new order for a Guideline Geo MALÅ GeoDrone 80 MHz Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) system.

3. Description of Supplies or Services.

The Guideline Geo MALÅ GeoDrone 80 MHz is a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) geophysical sensor designed to be mounted and deployed on a small unoccupied aircraft system (sUAS) for geologic and hydrologic geophysical surveys. The GPR system is required by the USGS Water Resources Mission Area (WMA) to meet mission-critical objectives for non-contact streamgaging activities and for collection of related hydrologic data, including but not limited to freshwater bathymetry.

4. Estimated Dollar Value.

The estimated dollar value for this system is xxxxxx

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis under the authority FAR 8.405-6

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5.

The Guideline Geo MALÅ GeoDrone 80 MHz is the only GPR tested as successful for freshwater bathymetry mapping and currently approved for use on U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI) existing fleet of small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS). There is not another vendor that provides a sensor package that meets these requirements at this time. (Note: Despite the name, the MALÅ “Geodrone” is a ground-penetrating radar system and is not an aircraft.

The purchase does not include an aircraft.)

7. Other Information.

Per DOI Operational Procedures Memorandum – 11 (OPM-11), DOI Use of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), all UAS payloads and modifications require DOI approval for operation by USGS on the DOI fleet. USGS Water Resources Mission Area received DOI ongoing approval in 2019 to operate the MALÅ 80 Megahertz GPR system on existing DOI aircraft for ongoing WMA research and development testing purposes.

In addition, the Guideline Geo MALÅ GeoDrone 80 MHz GPR payload meets current DOI operational guidelines necessary for operation on existing DOI fleet sUAS capable of lifting payloads of this size. Specifically, the payload must be a stand-alone system that does not require communication (transmission or receiving) with the aircraft onboard computer or IMU. The sensor must be capable of set up and operations through remote or direct connection to a software package. Flights operations with the sensor must not require use of a specific ground control software package. The payload must not store its data onboard the aircraft computer during flights. These DOI operational limitations differ from common commercial requirements for sensors intended to be used on sUAS. The Guideline Geo MALÅ GeoDrone 80 MHz GPR systems meets these requirements, as GPR setup and operation is managed through a custom Guideline Geo controller system; the data are stored locally on the payload and downloaded to the GPR controller system, and the sensor system does not necessitate use of any particular sUAS ground control system flight software.

8. The Efforts to Identify Additional Sources Including the Market Research Conducted.

The USGS Water Resources Mission Area (WMA) work on airborne GPR spans 25 years, and since 2017, WMA has been at the forefront of integration of sUAS into hydrogeophysics research, and a leader on sUAS GPR scientific surveys research and development. As part of this work, WMA maintains ongoing awareness and assessment of commercially available GPR systems through review of the scientific literature; participation in and coordination of applicable and relevant national and international geophysics workshops and meetings; discussions with geophysics researchers across disciplines and sectors; testing of airborne GPR system prototypes; and review of geophysical equipment manufacturer and vendor web sites, case studies, materials, and other communications.

At this time, the Guideline Geo MALÅ GeoDrone 80 MHz is the only sUAS GPR system known to be meet WMA mission priority needs for freshwater bathymetry surveys and that is approved by DOI for deployment on the existing USGS sUAS fleet. A sources sought notice was posted to SAM.gov within the past month for the same requirement and no responses were received. In addition, an online market research was conducted within the past week which garnered no results as well for other possible vendors/resellers meeting said requirement.

9. Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition.

Technology enhancement will allow new systems to be developed and become available to increase future competition naturally through a normal technology development lifecycle. The USGS will take advantage of this competitive market when new systems and technologies are available to meet requirements.

10. Recommendation and Certification from Program Office Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a limited 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.

JOHN EGGLESTON

Digitally signed by

JOHN EGGLESTON

Date: 2023.07.06 12:59:38 -04'00'

John Eggleston, OSD HRSB Hydrologist Date

11. Certifications and Approval from the Contracting Officer:

a. The determination that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable is based on comparison of previously awarded contract prices and previous Government and commercial contract prices with current proposed prices for like items.

b. This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

12. Approvals

JEFFERY HALL

Digitally signed by JEFFERY HALL Date: 2023.07.07 11:08:19 -04'00'

Jeffery Hall, Contracting Officer Date

JENNIFER

KELLEY

Digitally signed by JENNIFER

KELLEY

Date: 2023.07.10 06:14:18 -04'00'

Jennifer Kelley, Bureau Competition Advocate Date