FAR 13 Limited Sources Justification F2M_Redacted.pdf

Limited Sources Justification United States Department of Agriculture

FAR 13.106-1

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Washington Office (WO), Procurement and Property Services (PPS), Special Project Operations Center (SPOC) East Branch.

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved.

USDA-FS wishes to award a Purchase Order for a renewal of subscription services to Forest2Market to an existing subscription service.

The Government anticipates awarding a firmed-fixed price Purchase Order utilizing FY24 Operation and Maintenance funding to Forest2Market Corporation for a one-year subscription service renewal in support of the NFS - EMC Staff area. The proposed period of performance is one (1) base year with four (4) Option Years. The anticipated award date is 15 Sept 2024.

Period of Performance:

Base: 15 Sept 2024 – 14 Aug 2025 OY 1: 15 Sept 2025 – 14 Aug 2026 OY 2: 15 Sept 2026 – 14 Aug 2027 OY 3: 15 Sept 2027 – 14 Aug 2028 OY 4: 15 Sept 2028 – 14 Aug 2029

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

The Forest Service is continuing the development and production of quarterly market intelligence reports that characterize trends and factors affecting demand for forest products from National Forest System lands, at national and regional levels. The Forest Service continues to modify, update, and provide these reports since 2020, relying on data from Forest 2 Market throughout that time, and wishes to continue accessing that same data source to sustain market intelligence reporting efforts.

This contract consists of a one year subscription (license) for Forest Service staff to access forest product market data at Forest 2 Market, Inc (within ResourceWise, Inc.). Data access by Forest Service staff will occur through government owned computers; Forest 2 Market is not providing any additional hardware or software products or services. Forest 2 Market will provide help desk services to answer questions about data access and downloads; Forest 2 Market is providing no other services or deliverables.

4. The authority and supporting rationale.

The authority for this acquisition is FAR 13.106-1(b) - Only one responsible source reasonably available.

Forest Service staff had researched and identified nine private companies and non-profit organizations that provide forest produce market data, but only Forest 2 Market collects and provides subscription access to necessary data for delivered wood products, as built from truck scale-level fiber transactions (i.e., consumption volume and sale prices from commercial forest industry transactions) for regions such as the southern US, at a level of data detail that other Forest Services sources do not currently cover.

The data provided by Forest 2 Market is necessary for preparing national-scale market intelligence reports characterizing the product price and cost factors affecting demand for forest products on a quarterly basis. The market data will be accessed through Forest 2 Market’s proprietary SilvaStat360 subscription database, specific to the following dashboards: Delivered wood fiber; delivered logs, and stumpage.

5. A determination by the ordering activity Contracting Officer (CO) that the order represents the best value consistent with FAR 13.106-2(4).

The Contracting Officer will ensure the proposed cost to the Government for the supplies or services covered by this justification are evaluated for price reasonableness and the contemplated order represents the best value to the Government. A best value determination will be based on a Government technical evaluation and price analysis of the contractor’s quote, which will include a comparison of the contractor’s quote to the Independent Government Cost Estimate, or other published price lists.

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.

See response to 4(2); no additional market research has been conducted.

7. Any facts supporting the justification.

The subscription provided by this contract provides the agency with access to data that the Forest Service does not have the ability to collect on its own through existing information collection permissions or capabilities. Access to this data allows the Forest Service to continue to explore, develop, and establish the most relevant information metrics for characterizing markets and demand for forest products provided by National Forest system lands.

The performance of the incumbent contractor for the project has been deemed acceptable by program staff for the work requirement deliverables.

8. A statement of actions the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated.

Describe actions that may or can be taken to remove any barriers to competition if subsequent acquisition/orders are anticipated, including challenges to restrictive data markings, data rights, preparation of a performance-based work statement, etc.

Certifications & Approval

Supporting data which form the basis for and included in this justification are certified accurate and complete.

Christopher Miller Economist USDA Forest Service National Forest System Washington Office, Policy Office, Social Science and Economics Branch

The information contained in this Limited Sources Justification is certified accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer USDA Forest Service Procurement and Property Services SPOC East Branch