E21 Redacted SSJ.pdf

Subj: SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION MEMORANDUM FOR UNMANNED

UNDERWATER VEHICLE RESILIENCE IN-WATER TESTING

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Sole Source Justification.”

This is a sole source justification. Contracting activity is NSWC-PCD, 110 Vernon Ave., Panama City, FL, 32407.

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This action will award a firm fixed price contract to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI)for the items listed in Paragraph 3 of this document.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

The required services include two in-water test events in Panama City Beach, FL, to test a REMUS 600 UUV with an FLS payload. The contractor will provide all labor, materials, and support for vehicle mobilization, on-water testing, and demobilization.

This acquisition will be conducted using simplified acquisition procedures. The Government's minimum needs have been verified by the certifying technical and requirements personnel. This memo does not authorize acquisition for other requirements.

4. Identification of the justification rationale and, if applicable, a demonstration of the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications to provide the required supply or service. 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) - Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, FAR 6.302-1.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) is uniquely qualified as the original developer of the REMUS family of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles. WHOI possesses proprietary, in-depth knowledge of the REMUS 600's complex engineering, software, and operational systems, which is essential for the vehicle configuration and troubleshooting required by the Statement of Work.

WHOI has the experienced personnel with the specialized technical expertise required to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot the REMUS 600 vehicle in a field environment, ensuring the integrity of the data collection effort. Mobilizing a different contractor would lack this unique expertise, introducing unacceptable technical risk, and would likely result in substantial, unnecessary costs and delays to the government. As such, it is more advantageous to the Government to award on a sole-source basis to WHOI.

5. A determination by the ordering activity contracting officer that the order represents the best value consistent with FAR 13.106-1(b).

The Contracting Officer has determined that the order represents the best value and results in the lowest overall cost alternative (considering price, special features, administrative costs, etc.) to meet the Government’s needs.

6. A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

For the reasons specified in paragraph 4 above, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute is the only source that can meet the Government’s needs. This requirement will be synopsized in the government point of entry sam.gov.

7. Any other facts supporting the justification.

None.

8. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

As stated in paragraph 4 above, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute is the only source that can meet this requirement.