EURO_CRSRA_OSC_LSJ_061621_Redacted.pdf

LIMITED SOURCE(S) JUSTIFICATION

FOR AN ORDER EXCEEDING

THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

(AUTHORITY: FAR 8.405-6)

Purchase Request #: NE-EA6400-21-00481

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule Program.

1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce, NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Satellite Information Acquisition Division (SIAD) and the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS)/Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) & Office of Space Commerce (OSC).

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

This is a limited source(s) justification for a new order for objective, conflict-free consultant services on the analysis of foreign commercial and civil space-based Earth observation operators, data product availability, the comparability of those products, the current market offerings and future of the commercial and international Space Situational Awareness (SSA)/Space Traffic Management (STM) sector. It will be a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) order against the proposed limited source vendor’s (Euroconsult USA, Inc.) GSA schedule contract #

47QRAA18D00A8.

Vendor address: Euroconsult USA Inc., 2816 N St NW, Washington, DC, 20007-3339

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

Under new regulations on Licensing of Private Remote Sensing Space Systems (15 CFR Part 960), effective July 2020, NOAA's Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) is responsible for conducting research on the global space-based Earth observation market and maintaining a current database of foreign space-based remote sensing sensor operators, the availability of remote sensing data products, and comparability between those products. CRSRA has limited prior experience in this area of research and requires contractor support to serve as a SME providing CRSRA with a current and often-updated summary of foreign commercial and civil space-based Earth observation operators, data product availability, and the comparability of those products.

Due to the enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, OSC has been directed to conduct pilots, prototypes and experiments in SSA and STM capabilities, as well as to establish the Open Architecture Data Repository (OADR) to facilitate the establishment of SSA and STM capabilities within the Department of Commerce. OSC requires SME support in the analysis of SSA and STM industry capabilities due to the fact that the anticipated Government-provided services (i.e. OADR) will require both international cooperation, real or perceived competition with industry, and a robust understanding of the current market offerings and future of the commercial and international SSA/STM sector.

PR #NE-EA6400-21-00481

contractual vehicles were reviewed, and knowledgeable subject matter experts were consulted.

7. Any other facts supporting the justification.

All facts have been documented in sections above. There are no additional facts to be reported in this section.

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

The Program Office in coordination with the Acquisition and Grants Office will explore options for removing the barriers of restricting competition in the future with a sources sought through beta.sam.gov to further evaluate the market.

9. Technical/Requirements Representative Certification.

I certify that this requirement constitutes the Government’s minimum needs and the supporting data provided herein is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

10. Office of General Counsel Concur.

PR #NE-EA6400-21-00481

11. Approving Official Determination of Circumstance Applicability.

In accordance with the requirement at FAR 8.405-6(c)(2)(xi), the undersigned approving official for this justification hereby determines the circumstance cited above at #4, Authority and supporting rationale, applies to this acquisition.

Contracting Officer’s Certification and Approval

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