JustificationforOtherthanFullandOpenCompetition_NRS FIA__Redacted.pdf

Template for Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition, February 2019

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition United States Department of Agriculture

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.3

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

USDA – Forest Service Northern Research Station Forest Inventory & Analysis 1992 Folwell Ave.

St. Paul, MN 55108

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved.

Description: The USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station (NRS), Forest Inventory & Analysis (FIA) Unit intends to enter into a contract on a basis other than full and open competition, negotiated as a sole source, firm fixed-price effort with contractor Daniel Huberty of Bemidji, MN.

The intention of this contract is to collect Forest Service field research data.

This is a one field season effort that will be negotiated for a firm-fixed price for data collected in the field throughout Kansas and Nebraska. The contract will require travel across much of Kansas and Nebraska to access preselected field research sites randomly located on both public and private property. The contractor will be required to obtain permission to enter the property, navigate to the designated locations, many of which were previously established, and measure and record field data at the very high standard defined in the field protocol guide.

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

The Forest Service is conducting a pilot research project to determine the feasibility of collecting land use/land cover change data in the field along with data on Trees Outside Forest on a large scale. The data being collected will combine all inventory protocols and procedures that FIA collects in the field. In order to ensure the accuracy necessary for the pilot project, the individual/s collecting the field data must be highly experienced, highly trained, and be certified in all separate studies conducted by FIA.

Similar data was collected throughout Kansas and Nebraska in 2018. The current effort is scheduled to revisit the field locations and remeasure the data that was collected previously.

Having the two sets of data will allow the Forest Service to study change statistics and may result in future production inventories being established across the region or the nation.

The estimated cost for the services is .

4. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

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

5. A statement demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority.

Use of the proposed source is require to maintain consistency for the pilot project. The proposed contractor completed the initial establishment of the field plots and measurement of the field data in 2018. During data collection, they participated in dialog regarding issues and improvements for both the field protocols and the data collection software. The contractor was also required to provide an after action report outlining items that went well and those that didn’t go well, along with suggestions on how to improve the pilot study for future remeasurement efforts.

Having the same contractor revisiting the research plot locations and collecting the remeasurement data is a must. Introducing a different contractor into the pilot study could result in unseen biases associated with data collection. A different contractor would require a full training on the project and it would be impossible to tell if the data collected was at the same standard as the original data that was collected. It could result in the appearance of change in the processed data when physical change on the ground did not occur.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable.

Due to the nature of this research effort, there is no practicable way to incorporate new contractors at this time. This is ongoing research and follows the work of the incumbent contractor.

7. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The contracting officer will determine the price fair and reasonable based on the Independent Government Estimate, as well as efforts on relatable work.

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason Market Research was not conducted.

Describe market research conducted and the results or the reason why no market research was conducted. Include responses received from FedBizOps announcement if used. Note: FAR Part

10.001 requires agencies to conduct market research appropriate to the circumstances: (a) before developing new requirements documents for an agency acquisition; (b) before soliciting offers for acquisitions with an estimated value in excess of the Simplified Acquistion Threshold (SAT); (c) before soliciting offers for acquisitions that could lead to a bundled contract; (d) before awarding a task or delivery order under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for a noncommercial item in excess of the SAT; and (e) on an ongoing basis, take advantage of commercially available market research methods in order to effectively identify the capabilities of small businesses and new entrants into the market.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

Include information such as: a) 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; b) when follow-on action for continued development or production of highly specialized equipment is cited as the basis for other than full and open competition (6.302-1), include the estimated cost to the Government that would be duplicated, and how the estimate was derived; or c) when unusual and compelling urgency is cited as the basis for other than full and open competition (6.302-2), include the estimated cost, or other rationale for the extent and nature of the harm to the Government if normal procedures and timeframes were followed.

The pilot study the Forest Service is implementing is highly specilized and requires a wide array of skills in order to complete the measurements. There is only one contractor that currently has the combined skillset required to collect the data. The pilot study is scheduled to begin data collection in the field before any regional certifications will be hosted in order to allow other contractors to become certified to collect all of the protocols required for the study.

If the pilot is successful and we are able to intergrate the test protocols into regular production, the Forest Service will develop certification materials that will allow for more potential contractors to obtain the required skills to collect the data in future projects.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed a written interest in the acquisition.

None

11. A statement of actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated.

Generally all new research actions are competed and posted on the Governemtn Point of Entry Website (currently beta.SAM)

Certifications & Approvals

Supporting data that form the basis for and included in this justification are certified accurate and complete.

Supervisory Forester ______ Ins nical Personnel

The information contained in this Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition is certified accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Insert Name of Contracting Officer Contracting Officer