MIT JSS Redacted.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR SOLE SOURCE (Simplified Acquisitions - MPT to <$250K)

Document number: N6228524RC00G2T

The supplies or services described herein are being solicited on a sole source basis and competition is precluded for reasons indicated below. There are no substitutes available for the supplies or services.

Check One:

☒ Service:

Contractor: Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT Contractor Address: MIT Haystack Observatory, 99 Millstone Road, Westford, MA 01886 Contractor POC: Melanie Straight Phone #: 617-715-5515 Email: mstraight@haystack.mit.edu Cage Code/DUNS: 80230

☐ Supply:

Restricted to the following source. If a sole source manufacturer distributes via dealers, ALSO provide dealer information.)

Original Manufacturer Name:

Manufacturer:

Manufacturer POC:

Manufacturer Phone #:

Manufacturer Address:

Dealer/Rep:

Dealer/Rep Address Phone No.

Email:

Description of the supplies or services required, the estimated price/cost, and required delivery date.

The proposed purchase order is to provide support for a 1-year period for the transportation of observational data from potentially compromised sources to support Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP) determination at United States Naval Observatory (USNO). Additionally, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Haystack will provide post-correlation software package support for the Haystack Observatory Postprocessing System (HOPS) and difx2mark4 software programs, provide consultation for special processing due to complex geodetic experiments, provide assistance with electronic-Very Long Baseline Interferometry (eVLBI) connections at USNO and Kokee Park Geophysical Observatory as well as provide Mark6 support.

Estimated Cost: $180,000.00

Delivery Date: 01 May 2024 – 30 Apr 2025

Describe in detail why only this source can furnish the requirements to the exclusion of other sources. (what specific characteristics of the supplies or services limit the availability to a sole source (e.g., unique features, function of the item, etc.)?)

MIT Haystack is a unique institution in that the standard format that all present and future International VLBI Service data uses was developed and maintained at MIT Haystack. They are uniquely placed with the expertise and infrastructure to quarantine and validate data coming from potentially compromised sources before making it available to the USNO via the National Aeronautics and Space Administration network to the Distributed Fourier Multiplication-Type Correlator (DiFX) at USNO.

☒ The supplies or services must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit and function) with existing systems presently installed/performing. Describe the equipment/function you have now and how the new item/service must coordinate, connect, or interface with the existing system.

Through international agreements with the IVS, the National Earth Orientation Service (NEOS) correlator at USNO agrees to correlate IVS sessions that contain international baselines coming from Russia and China. By buffering, inspecting and validating such data at MIT before making it available to the DiFX correlator, the vulnerability of accepting such data is mitigated, which will reduce the risk of reliance on EOP foreign data sources and has important ramifications for Department of Defense Continuity of Operations Plan.

☐ These are "direct replacement" parts/components for existing equipment.

Other information to support a sole source action:

It is found that no other institution, government or private, is capable of providing the data validation in the time required, therefore USNO must work with MIT to obtain the secure transfer services. MIT is the only source capable of supplying the required services.

Document Number: N6228524RC00G2T

I CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ABOVE IS COMPLETE AND ACCURATE TO

THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROCESSING OF THIS SOLE

SOURCE JUSTIFICATION PRECLUDES THE USE OF FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION.

Signature Date

Activity Title

I HEREBY DETERMINE THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CONTRACT ACTION DEEM

ONLY ONE SOURCE REASONABLY AVAILABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 13.106-

1(b)(1)(i).

Contracting Officer Signature Date

NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center, Norfolk Contracting Department