JOTFOC_CADSWES_-_Redacted_1.pdf

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WBR 1406.303-1 Template 1 (04/2021)

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION

In accordance with FAR 6.302 or FAR 13.501(a), the proposed contractual action is pursuant to the statutory authority identified in paragraph 4. This template is required for actions over the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (unless the procurement is acquired as a limited source IAW FAR 8.405-6 or is an Exception to Fair Opportunity IAW FAR 16.505(b)(2)).

1. Agency and Contracting Activity (FAR 6.303-2(b)(1)). U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Interior Region 7 – Upper Colorado Basin.

2. Nature/Description of Action (FAR 6.303-2(b)(2)).

This effort is to procure shared space, equipment, and administrative and technical support for Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) employees working at the University of Colorado’s Center for Advanced Decision Support for Water and Environmental Systems (CADSWES). This contract is to be awarded as a base year with four option years. This contract will be Firm-Fixed-Price and utilize no year funds.

3. Description of Supplies/Services (FAR 6.303-2(b)(3)).

The BOR shall have 13 employees stationed at CADSWES. CADSWES provides support to BOR by providing office space, furniture, meeting rooms and equipment for meetings, telephones and internet, computer file servers and backup systems, office supplies, printers and copiers, desktop computer support and IT supplies, shipping and mailing, administrative assistant services to facilitate meetings and other assistance directly to BOR employees. This contract allows for BOR employees to have direct, onsite access to the software modeling tool at CADSWES, the software development team, as well as university research professors and students. The period of performance (inclusive of all options) is September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2027. The estimated value of this procurement, with all options exercised, is .

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition (FAR 6.303- 2(b)(4)). (Check one)

Authority FAR Coverage Application 41 U.S.C. 1901 FAR 13.501 Only one responsible source using Simplified

Acquisition Procedures (above SAT but below $7M) 41 U.S.C. 1903 FAR 13.501 Special emergency procurement authority

41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) FAR 6.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements

41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) FAR 6.302-1(c) Application for brand-name descriptions

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41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(2) FAR 6.302-2 Unusual and compelling urgency

41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) FAR 6.302-3 Industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental or research capability; or expert services

41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(4) FAR 6.302-4 International Agreement 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(5) FAR 6.302-5 Authorized or required by statute 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(6) FAR 6.302-6 National Security 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(7) FAR 6.302-7 Public Interest

5. Demonstration of Contractor’s Unique Qualifications (FAR 6.303-2(b)(5)).

The Colorado River supplies water to over 40 million people; irrigates nearly 5½ million acres of farmland; and supports a wide array of resources, including environmental, recreational, and hydropower uses. BOR has worked collaboratively with the University of Colorado since the 1980s to develop the primary modeling tool (RiverWare) for the Colorado River Basin. The tools, including BOR’s mid-term operations model, termed the 24 Month Study, and longer-term planning model, termed the Colorado River Simulation Systems, both of which are part of the RiverWare software, were originally built and continue to evolve in collaboration with the CADSWES team. The models simulate the operation of the major reservoirs on the Colorado River system and provide information regarding the projected future state of the system. Output variables include the volume of water in storage, reservoir elevations, releases from the dams, energy generation, streamflow, and diversions to and return flows from water users throughout the system. The Colorado River Simulation Systems projects basin-wide conditions over a period of years to decades into the future and is typically used for long-term studies, policy exploration, scenario comparisons, and supplementary resource analyses. These models are especially crucial as the Upper Basin has reached drought status and is in need of analyzing and estimating water projections accurately and consistently.

RiverWare and its associated decision support tools are successful in benefitting BOR to a large extent because of the close collaboration of the two agencies. RiverWare continues to be maintained and enhanced at the University of Colorado’s CADSWES.

Stationing BOR employees onsite provides BOR personnel direct contact with the software and the software’s development team. The onsite collaboration allows us to evolve and address new concerns such as climate change, extreme drought issues, and hydrologic uncertainty with the team of university-based software engineers. These new concerns can be worked on together to improve the RiverWare software and ensures we have leading edge scientific modeling to assist us with our water related issues, input into how the software functions, and in-person support while using the software.

Additionally, BOR is also able to collaborate with research professors located at the University of Colorado. The professors have valuable technical expertise and provide

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(04/2021) support and assistance on numerous projects, providing BOR with the newest science and research available. The professors are available to help analyze and interpret RiverWare results and work on research projects together as a team, the results of which significantly benefit BOR and assists us in making water management and operational decisions.

Furthermore, by being onsite, BOR has access to the students at the university and can develop research projects together, of which the results also benefit BOR. Many of the students trained by Reclamation are then recruited and hired throughout BOR, with some staying at the CADSWES facility. The ability to easily build and maintain these relationships is fostered by the on-campus location and is a unique relationship that has benefited BOR for decades.

The partnership with CADSWES and our use of the tools developed there is instrumental to fulfilling BOR’s mission. Access to RiverWare, the developers, and research professors and students all contribute to having the best information available to make short- and long-term operational decisions. By procuring these supplies and services from the University of Colorado’s CADSWES, it ensures BOR continues to meet its mission to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. No other space could provide these collaborative connections and access to the RiverWare system and university personnel.

6. Description of efforts made to maximize competition (FAR 6.303-2(b)(6)).

A notice of intent to award a sole source contract was posted to SAM.gov on July 20, 2022. The intent stated that all responsible sources that feel they should be qualified to provide the work may submit a bid, proposal, or capability statement to the notice by July 27, 2022. No responses were received.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost (FAR 6.303-2(b)(7)).

The anticipated cost will be determined fair and reasonable based upon comparison of proposed costs/prices with costs/prices for similar supplies and services/historical prices paid, technical evaluations, and comparison of proposed costs/prices with prices obtained through market research for the same or similar items.

8. Description of Market Research Conducted (FAR 6.303-2(b)(8)).

As stated above, a notice of intent to award a sole source contract was posted and did not receive any responses. Additionally, market research was performed via internet searches to locate office space within the same geographic area of the University of Colorado.

GSA was reviewed to determine office equipment and supplies costs. Labor was compared to opm.gov for wages paid for the support positions required. After reviewing the results of the market research, the determination was made that only the University of