KO Determination_REDACTED.pdf

This is a Contracting Officer's Determination justifying a sole source acquisition for marine forensic investigation services for the M/V Jackie Lee Anderson vessel sinking.

The requirement is for a detailed forensic investigation service to determine the root cause of the M/V Jackie Lee Anderson's sinking on July 1, 2025. The contract vehicle is a Purchase Order with Fixed Price pricing, funded through Army Operations & Maintenance (OMA) with a 120-day period of performance from award. The primary deliverable is a comprehensive forensic report due within 56 days of award. The scope includes physical inspection of the vessel's generator fuel oil supply system, pneumatic pressure testing of fuel lines, and creation of a detailed three-dimensional model of fuel tanks and piping to simulate operating conditions and identify failure circumstances. The statutory authority for sole source acquisition is 41 U.S.C. § 1901(e)(2) under Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) 12.102(b).

The justification establishes that only one reasonably available source exists due to the contractor's pre-existing, non-transferable institutional knowledge from preliminary investigation work following the sinking. No brand name buy is involved. The contracting officer determined that awarding to another contractor would introduce substantial and unacceptable delays due to the learning curve required to reconstruct foundational knowledge. Time is critical as the vessel is currently in a shipyard incurring daily costs; the forensic findings are essential to completing repairs and returning the critical asset to operational status on the Ohio River. Market research conducted in March 2026 confirmed multiple firms offer general marine forensic services, but only the intended contractor possesses the vessel-specific expertise necessary to meet the government's timeline requirements without causing significant mission and financial injury.