C07 Redacted JA.pdf

Department of the NAVY Naval Oceanographic Office

Contracting department 1002 Balch Blvd.

Stennis Space Center, MS 39522-5001

J&A # JA-20-003

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Authority: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) Implemented by: FAR 6.302-1

Pursuant to the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) and in accordance with FAR 6.303-1 Requirements and FAR 6.303-2 Content, the justification incorporates sufficient facts and rationale to support the use of the statutory authority cited.

1. Contracting Activity.

This is a Justification executed by Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) Contracting Department.

2. Description of the Action Being Approved.

NAVOCEANO proposes to enter into a sole source award to Ocean Mapping Training, LLC (OMT) for advanced multibeam sonar training. This is a firm fixed price, commercial-off-the-shelf, training course that is being offered in the local Stennis commuting area by OMT.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

The 6-day training course will include lectures on various sonar design types and applications, system capabilities and limitations, global positioning and spatial referencing, survey design methodologies, system latency issues, and data quality control techniques for bathymetric and hydrographic surveys. The course provides systematic and methodical approaches in resolving problems associated with shallow water multibeam surveys, data processing and visualization issues, and swath mapping constraints required to produce highly optimized bathymetric data and hydrographic charts.

Department of the NAVY Naval Oceanographic Office

Contracting department 1002 Balch Blvd.

Stennis Space Center, MS 39522-5001

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition.

The authority utilized is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented in FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

The Ocean Mapping Training multibeam sonar training course is available in the local area and is the most cost efficient opportunity to fulfill the training requirements of NAVOCEANO and FST personnel.

The course is a non-manufacturer specific, multibeam echosounder data collection training regimen designed to provide a holistic overview of advanced, theoretical, and practical knowledge necessary for the performance of multibeam echosounder marine surveys. A cost avoidance will be realized as travel expenses are significantly minimized by the vendor's selection of a local venue (New Orleans) for the training. Further, it is not realistic to enroll personnel in a year-long, masters degree program at the University of Southern Mississippi, when the 6-day training course provides the necessary skills and knowledge.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practical.

Internet searches identified other multibeam courses offered by industry manufacturers, but those fail to meet NAVOCEANO requirements as they lack the theoretical and applied sciences lectures and discussions necessary for effective hydrographic surveys and multibeam training. These manufacturer courses are limited in scope and are strictly focused on the application of their proprietary data collection systems hardware and software that NAVOCEANO and FST personnel do not use. There are no other multibeam courses equivalent to the OMT course in content, length, or lecturer expertise available in the U.S. outside graduate school courses offered by the University of Southern Mississippi.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

Before making an award, the Contracting Officer will determine the proposed price fair and reasonable based Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

For the reasons set forth in Paragraph 5, NAVOCEANO has no plans at this time to compete future contacts for the types of supplies/services covered by this document. Prior to the award of future contracts, market research will be completed to determine if potential sources have emerged that will allow for competition.