Sole_Source_Justification_(McIDAS)_Final.pdf

Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

FOR AN ACTION EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

USING SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS

(AUTHORITY: FAR 13.501(a), 41 U.S.C. 1901)

Requisition: NEEG1000-19-00009

1. Agency and contracting activity

Department of Commerce, NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Satellite and Information Acquisition Division (SIAD) and the Office of Satellite Ground Services (OSGS).

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

NOAA seeks to award a firm fixed price contract to the Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) at the University of Wisconsin – Madison for Man computer Interactive Data Access System (McIDAS) license renewals on a sole source basis.

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

This proposed license renewal will provide CLASS with continued access to McIDAS which is SSEC's sophisticated package used for visualization and manipulation of geophysical data in a vast variety of formats. The McIDAS package is designed to work in both real-time operational and in research environments. The total estimated value is $250,008 which represents the base plus four (4) option years.

Base Period 12 months $46,000

Option Period 1 12 months $48,000

Option Period 2 12 months $49,000

Option Period 3 12 months $53,000

Option Period 4 12 months $54,008

4. Statutory authority permitting the sole source (including brand name) acquisition

□ 41 U.S.C. 1901, using SAP up to $7M as authorized by FAR 13.500(a) and implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

□ 41 U.S.C. 1903, using SAP up to $13M for contingency operations as authorized by FAR 13.500(c) and implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited

NEEG1000-19-00009

The contracting officer has determined the following circumstances justify the use of McIDAS as supported below:

Only one source – Only one source (SSEC) is essential for this requirement in providing the services required at the level of quality because the services are unique and highly specialized.

McIDAS is a sophisticated package used for visualization and manipulation of geophysical data in a wide variety of formats (e.g., geostationary and polar orbiting meteorological satellites, NEXRAD radar, surface and upper-air observations, gridded numerical forecasts, NOAAPORT text products, and data from special observing networks). The McIDAS package is designed to work in both real-time operational and in research environments. Currently no other software suite(s) offers the same feature set that is compatible with existing systems that generate NOAA's satellite data.

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

None of the exceptions under FAR 5.202 apply to this procurement. This contract action will be synopsized on FBO.gov at least 15 days prior to soliciting the sole source. The sole source justification will be made publicly available on FBO.gov within 14 days after contract award, in accordance with FAR 13.501(a)(1)(iii). The government has not receive any inquiries from interested vendors.

7. Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable

The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated price will be fair and reasonable based on the following:

- The software licenses are commercially available products with a published price list.

- The prices will be compared to prices NOAA currently pays for other sophisticated and highly specialized software.

8. 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 conducted by subject matter experts in the CLASS program office, and prime contractor consisted of a survey the marketplace (included online search) and have not found any other source or product that meets the requirement.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of a sole source

All supporting facts have been documented herein.

10. List of the sources that expressed a written interest in the acquisition

No other sources have expressed a written interest in this acquisition.

NEEG1000-19-00009

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

Future requirements for visualization and manipulation of geophysical data for CLASS will be forecast and publicized in accordance with agency procedures. If other software becomes available, a competition will be considered.

12. Technical/Requirements Representative Certification

I certify that this requirement constitutes the Government’s minimum needs and the supporting data provided herein is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

James Goudouros Date CLASS Contracting Officer Representative

13. Contracting Officer’s Certification and Approval

I certify this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Sarah McKim Date Contracting Officer

14. Office of General Counsel Review

Reviewed by:

Jeremiah Kline Date Attorney, Contract Law Division Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Administration and Transactions Office of the General Counsel U.S. Department of Commerce