Final Sole Source Justification - Oceans 2.0 - 1305M319CNRMA0032P20001_Redacted.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

FOR AN ACTION EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

USING SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS

(AUTHORITY: FAR 13.501(a))

NRMA0000-20-00943

1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division (WAD) Boulder and the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) Operations.

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

This is a sole source justification for a modification to existing Contract Number:

1305M319CNRMA0032, awarded to the University of Victoria’s Ocean Networks Canada Innovation Centre (ONC) located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The Government intends to add additional firm-fixed-price work to the existing contract.

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

This requirement is to add additional feature enhancements to NOAA OER’s current Oceans 2.0 SeaTubeV2 software user interface. Oceans 2.0 is a data logging software used on the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer for underwater ocean mapping and exploration.

The total estimated value of the additional work is and is to be completed during option period one of the existing contract from 30 September 2020 to 29 September 2021. As a result of the modification, the total contract value is anticipated to increase to .

4. Statutory authority permitting the sole source (including brand name) acquisition.

41 U.S.C. 1901, using SAP up to $7M as authorized by FAR 13.500(a) and implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The contracting officer has determined the following circumstances justify the use of a sole source as supported below:

Compatibility to existing systems or equipment – the required additional work must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with the existing systems or equipment, and the source is uniquely qualified to meet the requirement.

NOAA OER’s current Oceans 2.0 SeaTubeV2 software user interface was custom built based on specific technical requirements and specifications. The additional feature enhancements must be compatible and interface with the current software user interface and the other components of the Oceans 2.0 software system.

A key aspect of ONC that stands out from other systems operating today is the sophisticated