Justification for sole source Ice Roads1.pdf

Date: July 1, 2020

To: Angy Liljedahl Contracting Officer

From: Amit Armstrong Contracting Officers Representative

Subject: Justification for other than full and open competition.

(1) Identification of the agency and the contracting activity

Federal Highway Administration Western Federal Lands Highway Division 610 East Fifth Street Vancouver, WA 98661

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

Justification for other than full and open competition under 6.302-3 Industrial mobilization;

engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert services for Ice Road Establishment and Management.

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

The Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration

(FHWA) is contracting to perform a research study to develop A Design Guide for Ice Road Establishment and Management. The estimated value of this procurement is $400,000.

The scope of work (SOW) includes eight tasks with well-defined deliverables for performing this work. These tasks include:

Task 1: Project Administration and Coordination Task 2: Work Plan Development Task 3: Literature Review for Ice Road Establishment and Management Task 4: Peer Exchange Meeting in Bethel, Alaska Task 5: Develop Design Framework for Ice Roads Establishment Task 6: Develop Maintenance Framework for Ice Roads Task 7: Develop Tools and Techniques for Maintenance Task 8: Final Design Guide and Pocket Guide

(4) An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

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

(5) A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The Alaska University Transportation Center (AUTC) at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks (UAF) is a federally funded research center to perform arctic engineering research in Alaska.

The AUTC seeks to improve transportation in cold regions through research, education and outreach. The AUTC also prepares students by offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Arctic Engineering, which includes studying ice and ice roads. The State of Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, lists the Arctic Engineering courses at University of Alaska Fairbanks as a requirement to obtain a professional license in Civil Engineering in Alaska.

The research staff at AUTC has been conducting ice road research in Alaska for many years in conjunction state and local transportation agencies. The AUTC staff has developed close working relationships with owners and operators of ice roads in Alaska. These relationships will be critical to the effectiveness of the research team for this study. The capability of the research staff at AUTC and UAF cannot be matched at any other entity with in the United States.

(6) A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

A notice will be publicized as required by subpart 5.2

(7) A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Anticipated cost to the Government will be evaluated for fair and reasonable. Contract will be negotiated if applicable until we arrive at fair and reasonable costs.

(8) A description of the market research conducted (see part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research was not conducted. It was identified by the Government no other team of experts in academia or consulting can do this project but the Alaska University Transportation Center, University of Alaska at Fairbanks.

(9) Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition:

Typical A&E firms are generally geared toward using technical guidance to design projects with their engineering expertise but are not good source for developing technical guidance because they typically lack research expertise. Since this research project is ideally suited for university researchers conducting cold region engineering research, a web-based search did not provide any other university conducting research in ice roads in United States. The AUTC-UAF is already working on several research projects that can provide the basis for performing this proposed research study.

(10) A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

None

(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 the supplies or services required.

After tasks in this contract are complete and standards are established, future Ice Road requirements will be competed as applicable.

Submitted by – This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Amit Armstrong Contracting Officers Representative

Contracting Officers Certification - This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Angy Liljedahl Contracting Officer, WFLHD

AMIT

ARMSTRONG

Digitally signed by AMIT

ARMSTRONG

Date: 2020.07.01 13:08:14 -07'00'

ANGY LEE

LILJEDAHL

Digitally signed by

ANGY LEE LILJEDAHL

Date: 2020.07.01 13:23:17 -07'00'