Justification and Approval for FAR 6.3 signed_Redacted.pdf

Source Selection Information See FAR Part 2.101 and 3.104 For Official Use Only

Base Year

6 mo.

The services were previously provided under Task Order HSCG44-14- J-PCC005 with a period of performance from 7/11/2014 to 7/10/2019.

A modification to extend the services was awarded for an additional 6 months from 7/11/2019 to 01/7/2020 under modification P00006.

(e) Type of funding: Operating Expense (OE) AFC – 42

(f) Year of funding: Fiscal Year 2020

(g) Solicitation number: 70Z04420R20004600

(h) RPS Group is the incumbent and has provided the services under IDIQ Contract HSCG44-14-D-PCC008 and Task Order HSCG44-14-J-PCC005.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

The contractor is required to provide EDS web services including but not limited to data source catalog, data format transformation, status reporting, web services, archiving and reliable redundant access to standardized global and regional data products under IDIQ HSCG44-14-D-PCC008. The datasets for these products are a complete integration of hind cast, observation and forecast data. The subscription provides web services to USCG Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System (SAROPS) server.

RPS Group, Inc. is the incumbent and provides the services under IDIQ contract HSCG44- 14-D-PCC008 and Task Order HSCG44-14-J-PCC005.

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

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C.

2304(c)(1) implemented by the FAR Subpart 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(B) entitled “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.”

5. Identification of Exception to the Buy American Statute.

This J&A does not include the exceptions listed under FAR 25.103(b)(2) or FAR 25.202(a)(2)) therefore this statute applies.

6. Demonstration that the Proposed Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or the Nature of the Acquisition Require Use of the Authority Cited.

This requirement is a continuation of subscription services and support for EDS that was designed by RPS Group, Inc. The EDS provides web service based homogenous access to meteorological (30 meter wind) and hydrodynamic (surface water current) data necessary to run drift simulations. The EDS web services provided by RPS Group, Inc. are uniquely able to satisfy the SAROPS functional and technical requirements. The EDS collects dozens of ocean and meteorological data products from a wide range of disparate sources. EDS then processes that data, aggregates data spatially and temporally, normalizes it and provides back out to consumers using consistent international standards and documented delivery formats. This allows geospatial applications to standardized access the EDS for met-ocean data. This ability to provide consistent, homogenous data output is unique and proprietary to RPS Group, Inc.

The EDS web services allow consumers of the data to use one interface to access any of the data sets within their catalog of data. Issues such as data gaps, quality control and data redundancy are automatically handled by the EDS infrastructure. These qualities of the EDS and its supporting web services are unique in the world as demonstrated by the market research and no other system offers integration of the above data elements in a format compatible with

SAROPS.

Unacceptable delays will occur if the Government has to solicit other vendors, evaluate their proposals, award a new contract and transition to a new contractor in the limited timeframe prior to the new contract being put in place. The Government is currently working on a competitive solicitation for these services. The loss of these services would create an unacceptable consequence limiting the Coast Guard’s ability to sustain daily operations.

Failure to raise the IDIQ ceiling to award this task order would result in a gap in service, which would significantly hinder the Coast Guard’s ability to effectively plan and conduct Search and Rescue, putting lives and property at risk.

This Task Order with the incumbent is in the best interests of the U.S. Coast Guard and will ensure continued daily operations until the contract is re-competed.

7. Description of Efforts Made to Ensure that Offers are Solicited from as Many

Potential Sources as is Practicable.

A DRAFT request for proposal announcement was posted to FedBizOpps dated 9/26/2019.

The final solicitation posting date is pending.

8. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the

Government will be Fair and Reasonable.

The contracting officer determines that the anticipated price for the 6 month Task Order will be fair and reasonable. The services for this task order will continue at the current rates, which were previously determined fair and reasonable at the time the IDIQ was awarded. Therefore, the rates for the six (6) month task order will also be determined fair and reasonable.

9. Description of Market Research.

(a) Market research results show price reasonableness based on rates pre-established under IDIQ HSCG44-14-D-PCC008. Market research was conducted on October 31, 2019.

The price is determined fair and reasonable based on current rates, which were previously determined fair and reasonable at the time the IDIQ as awarded.

10. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

The current Application Programming Interface (API) is proprietary and operated by the vendor, RPS Group. Failure to award this task order would result in a gap in service, which would significantly hinder the Coast Guard’s ability to effectively plan and conduct Search and Rescue, putting lives and property at risk.

11. A Listing of the Sources, if Any, that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition.

A DRAFT RFP was posted to FedBizOpps on 9/26/2019. A few vendors have reached out for interest and will be considered in the next contract that will be based on competition.

12. A Statement of the Actions, if Any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome Any

Barriers to Competition Before Any Subsequent Acquisition for Supplies or Services Required.

(a) The Coast Guard recognizes that use of common open standards is necessary to allow for “plug-n-play” of services within a given architecture. For this reason the SAROPS implementation will continue to employ industry standards to the maximum extent possible. Additionally the SAROPS Subject Matter Experts will continue to interact with academia, industry and other government bodies to foster the growth of solutions that could meet some or all for future environmental data needs of the USCG for Search and Rescue planning. As SAROPS use spreads internationally the expanded market may also give rise to a new set of suppliers.

(b) The Government intends to solicit a competitive five year contract in year 2020; thus, there are no barriers to future competition.

13. Contracting Officer’s Certification.

I certify that the data supporting the recommended use of other than full and open competition is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

14. Technical/Requirements Personnel Certification.

I certify that this requirement meets the Government’s minimum need and that the supporting data, which forms a basis for the justification, is accurate and complete.

APPROVAL: