JA Stratas Advisors FY24_redacted_Redacted.pdf

DDEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

ENERGY

8725 JOHN J. KINGMAN ROAD

FORT BELVOIR, VIRGINIA 22060-6222

February 15, 2024 J&A Tracking Number: 24-0010

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition

1. Summary/Introduction:

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy, a component of the DLA, is the contracting activity. This action is for the purchase of a subscription renewal of Stratas Advisors’s Global Biofuels Assessment (GBA) and Global Fuel Specifications (GFS) publications. This renewal covers a 12-month period from 04/01/2024 through 03/31/2025. Stratas Advisors LLC is the sole producer of this proprietary analysis and report data, therefore it is the sole responsible source for the publication. Pursuant to 10 U.S.C.

2304(c)(1), no other publication is able to fulfill this data requirement.

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved (FAR 6.303-2(b)(2):

DLA Energy is approving a contract for a subscription to Stratas Advisors’s GBA and GFS publications.

These publications provide a variety of reports about the global biofuels market, transportation fuel quality analysis, and fuel specification information for various fuel markets. The subscription serves to provide DLA Energy with the foresight needed to stay abreast of future fuel quality trends and developments around the world that may impact DLA Energy procurements. This action will use FY24 funding.

3. Description of supplies or services required to meet the agency’s need (including estimated value) (FAR 6.303-2(b)(3)):

Subscription to Stratas Advisors’s GBA and GFS publications allow DLA Energy to validate and research technical requirements for fuels used in conjunction with DLA Energy’s Direct Delivery fuels program in order to obtain technically acceptable products for DLA Energy customers. The GBA subscription helps forecast the impact of future regulations through its analysis of current rules and regulations that affect biofuels policies, markets and technology. DLA Energy uses the GBA to gain insight in support of procurements and customer requirements for alternative fuels. The GFS publication assists DLA Energy to better understand the global fuel market by providing quality information and concise analysis for more than 150 countries on transportation fuel quality, vehicle emissions and efficiency legislation, and fuel regulations and specifications. DLA Energy also receives Global Refining and Products analytics tools. This provides DLA Energy the ability to look at historical and forecast data regarding crude oil and refined products along with supply and demand analysis at the regional and country level (over 100 countries). Furthermore, the analytics tool allows DLA Energy to look at the refinery capacity data for all refining units and investment data. The service also forecasts product supply demand for over 100 countries using the latest market data, and the data can be customized and downloaded as needed. In addition, Stratas Advisors employs experts relative to the global regions who work together with DLA Energy to answer inquiries regarding fuel quality, the state of specific fuel industries, and global fuel trends. The estimated dollar value for the yearly subscription is $50,000.00.

4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition (FAR 6.303-2(b)(4)):

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is FAR 6.302-1(a)(2), under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 2304(c)(1) and 41 U.S.C. § 3304(a)(1). “When the . . . services required by the

Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (Cont’d) (SP0604-24-Q-0414 -Stratas Advisors LLC)

An intent-to-sole source notice was posted on SAM.gov on February 7, 2024, however, there was no expectations that the notice would yield additional sources. Therefore, it has been determined that Stratas Advisors is the only source available to meet DLA Energy’s needs at this time.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, such as (FAR 6.303- 2(b)(9):

(i) Explanation of why technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statements of work, or purchase descriptions suitable for full and open competition have not been developed or are not available.

The information provided by Stratas Advisors is proprietary. Stratas Advisors is the only source that provides the GBA and GFS publications. Therefore, we are unable to develop a specific purchase description suitable for full and open competition that would satisfy the Government’s requirements.

(ii) When 6.302-1 is cited for follow-on acquisitions as described in 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii), an estimate of the cost to the Government that would be duplicated and how the estimate was derived.

Not applicable.

(iii) When 6.302-2 is cited, estimated cost, or other rationale as to the extent and nature of the harm to the Government.

Not applicable.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition (FAR 6.303-2(b)(10):

No sources replied to the Intent-to-Sole Source Notice posted to SAM.gov.

11. Actions that may be taken to remove or overcome barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services are required (FAR 6.303-2(b)(11)):

There are no known actions that will allow DLA Energy to overcome the competition barriers for this requirement.