Redacted_FINAL_Sole_Source_VEMCO_JOFOC_Signed.pdf

Version 1.0

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)

PR NFFP7300-19-00140

1. Agency and contracting activity.

Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division (WAD – Seattle, WA), and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), Fisheries Ecology Division (FE).

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

This is a sole source justification for a new requirement to InnovaSea Marine Systems Canada, Inc., doing business as VEMCO (hereafter referenced as “VEMCO”). The Government intends to negotiate a firm-fixed-price, single award contract. This requirement includes telemetry equipment necessary for tracking the movements of salmonids in the coastal Pacific Ocean. The FE Division requires VEMCO acoustic tags, stationary receivers, replacement pin kits, a mobile receiver, hydrophones, bluetooth communication interface and test tags and dummy tags.

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

NOAA’s FE’s Salmon Ocean Behavior and Distribution Project (SOBad) study is to examine the distribution and behavior of salmonids in the Pacific Ocean. VEMCO tags are required for implanting in fish, VR2AR receivers to detect tags and download information, VR100 deck box to receive real time information on deployed receivers, transponding hydrophone to be used with the VR100 deck box, bluetooth communication to retrieve data from receivers, test tags, and dummy tags. The period of performance for this requirement is date of award through February 21, 2019.

The total estimated cost for this requirement is .

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

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

The contracting officer has determined the following circumstances justify the use of a sole source as supported below:

Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104

Only one source- VEMCO is the only one source capable of providing underwater acoustic telemetry equipment that provides tracking and monitoring of behavior and migration of animals in lakes, rivers, and oceans, required at the level of quality because the supplies are unique or highly specialized. VEMCO’s products and services have been utilized by the Government for various study requirements within NMFS. VEMCO is the only source for its proprietary acoustic research telemetry equipment needed to fulfill NMFS/NWFSC missions.

VEMCO is the only company that provides acoustic release receivers, which are necessary for deployment on the ocean floor. There are currently no other manufacturers of equivalent equipment. No other product offers technology that allows for the efficient tracking of fish via acoustic technology within the ocean environment.

In addition to being the only source, VEMCO’s telemetry equipment is electronically compatible with existing systems or equipment maintained and operated by NMFS/NWFSC. In order to maintain electrical compatibility with the currently designed and purchases NMFS/NWFSC system components, VEMCO telemetry equipment, such as receivers, must be built in accordance with said components in order to coordinate, connect, and interface with the existing system of equipment.

The SObad project is a collaboration with University of Washington (UW). Collaborators at UW are providing additional VEMCO equipment to enhance the study. If another product was purchased that was not compatible with VEMCO equipment that would eliminate the collaboration with UW and reduce the feasibility of the study. The use of another company’s product would result in incompatible and unusable data.

VEMCO does not have authorized dealers or servicing companies who can provide their specialized equipment and services required by NMFS/NWFSC.

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.

In accordance with the posting requirements in FAR 5.2, a synopsis of proposed contract action will be posted at the Government-wide point of entry at the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website prior to release of the solicitation. Any responses to this notice will be considered by the Government. Upon award, an award notice will be transmitted to the FBO. A redacted JOFOC will be included with this notice.

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

In accordance with FAR 13.106-3, the Contracting Officer determined that the anticipated price(s) will be fair and reasonable based on market research and comparison to prior Government purchases.

Prior to award of the proposed contract, pricing information will be obtained from the contractor and a price analysis will be performed and documented to sufficiently determine that the cost to the Government of the proposed acquisition will be fair and reasonable. Award will not be made if pricing cannot be determined fair and reasonable.