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(f) Year of funding: Fiscal Year 2023

(g)Solicitation number: 70Z04423RC2PL2307

(h)Background information about the requirement: This requirement provides corrective and adaptive maintenance for the BCG proprietary maritime simulators installed at USCG training facilities and in USCG lab environments supporting testing and integration of USCG sensors, C2 and navigation systems.

The USCG has an incumbent contract for this requirement with BCG which expires on September 28, 2023 and the USCG has a need to continue these services beyond the current period of performance.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

Sustainment support is required for Coast Guard owned BCG maritime simulators which are used for testing and integration of Coast Guard Sensor, C2 and navigation systems in the laboratory environment and at Coast Guard training centers. These simulators are critical to minimizing operational risk to USCG surface assets by providing robust simulation of complex data standards (CG-specific and industry standard) to support system integration, testing and troubleshooting.

The maintenance services required include:

General corrective maintenance and support related to resolving any emergent simulator hardware, software, or interfacing issues.

Information Assurance adaptive maintenance and support to ensure simulators meet system security requirements for connection to the Coast Guard operational and test networks/systems.

Adaptive maintenance to maintain compliance of simulators with the Coast Guard Encrypted Automatic Identification System (EAIS) data interface standard.

Adaptive maintenance to maintain compliance of simulators to the current Navigation Network International Maritime Organization (NavNetIMO) data interface standard.

Adaptive maintenance to maintain compliance of simulators to the current SeaWatch (including COMRIC) data interface standard.

Adaptive maintenance to maintain compliance of simulators with the current Scalable Integrated Navigation System – Generation 2 (SINS-2) data interface standard.

Adaptive maintenance to maintain compliance of simulators with current Radar (AN/SPS-50, AN/SPS-78 and AN/SPS-79) data interface standards.

Adaptive maintenance to maintain compliance of simulators with current NMEA- 0183, NMEA-2000, NMEA OneNET, IEC 61162-450 and ASTERIX LAN- Based Radar data interface standards.

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

Competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition for this requirement is 10 U.S.C. § 3204(a) as implemented by FAR Subpart 6.302-1 entitled “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.”. Per 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(A) that awarding to any other source would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition.

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

The USCG procured the BCG maritime simulators, a proprietary system over a decade ago.

BCG is the sole owner of their maritime simulators as well as the accompanying software.

There are no other companies authorized by BCG who can perform the maintenance or provide the software licenses. Thus, only BCG can provide the adaptive maintenance and support to be performed on the existing Coast Guard owned BCG maritime simulators.

BCG’s formal license agreement grants Limited Data Rights to the Coast Guard for use of their simulator software. BCG owns and has exclusive access to data necessary for adaptive maintenance and does not license or sell such data making BCG the sole source to perform adaptive maintenance support services.

The adaptive maintenance cost is estimated at over five (5) years and is a fraction of the cost to replace all BCG simulators in use throughout the Coast Guard. It is estimated to cost approximately $5M of non-recurring funding and take 2 additional years to reach full operational capabilities that the Coast Guard has today if all simulators and associated equipment were replaced and integrated into laboratory testing and integration baselines. During the transition period the current support costs for BCG simulator maintenance would continue to be required and there is no reasonable expectation that a replacement system would result in lower future maintenance costs.

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

Potential Sources as is Practicable.

Acquisition Planning Forecast System (APFS) Record F2023061482 for this requirement was published on the DHS APFS website on 06 March 2023. A SAM.gov notice will be publicized as required by FAR 5.2. In accordance with FAR 6.305(a), the justification will be publicly available within 14 days after contract award at the Government-wide Point of Entry (www.sam.gov).

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable.

The Contracting Officer will determine the anticipated prices fair and reasonable based on comparison with historical prices paid by the Government, average labor rates associated with the EAGLE II contract, and comparison with the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE). The Contracting Officer will request other than certified cost and pricing data as necessary and in accordance with FAR 15.403-4 to ensure that all prices are deemed fair and reasonable.

8. Description of Market Research.

As required by FAR 10, market research was conducted by the Contracting Office and Product Line team members which included the review of acquisition history, web searches, interviews with knowledgeable individuals within the industry, Government databases such as GSA 8(a) STARS II and EAGLE II, OEM materials and catalogs, and DHS-wide strategic sources. No additional sources were identified because of the market research. Upon publicizing this requirement on the APFS website there were no other companies that identified themselves as being able to fulfill this requirement.

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

None.

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

Other than the incumbent, BCG, no other sources have expressed an interest in the proposed acquisition in response to the efforts made while conducting market research.

11. 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.

Since no other vendors produce maritime simulators that meet the Coast Guard’s specific EAIS and Radar Interface requirements, BCG will remain the only source capable to provide the required adaptive maintenance and support. The Coast Guard will undertake proactive efforts including the publication of sources sought notices on www.sam.gov and development of a solicitation with the goal of providing full and open competition for the follow-on contract to meet USCG maritime simulation requirements.

12. 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.

James D. Findlay Date Contracting Officer

13. 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.

James Jeanlouis Date Technical Representative/COR

APPROVAL:

Frederick Steward Date Command Procuring Activity Competition Advocate (CPACA)