Notice_of_Award-_L3_Datron_Redacted.pdf

NOTICE OF AWARD

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has a requirement for the implementation of the Brushless motor upgrade to the USGS/EROS 10m antenna and spare parts package from L3 Datron. The USGS is aware of no other sources that can provide the above. Therefore, it intends to make an award to L3 Datron, unless it is contacted by any vendor who believes they can provide the same service and products. Vendors are invited to contact the Contracting Officer, Amanda Brown (akbrown@usgs.gov) no later than 11 AM ET, Tuesday, September 25, 2018 with an affirmative answer.

The USGS considers employee signatures to be Personal Protected Information, and therefore all employee signatures have been redacted. By posting this document, the Contracting Officer attests all appropriate signatures have been obtain.

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION STATES THE FOLLOWING:

The following information below is provided to demonstrate the proposed contractor’s unique qualification:

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (FAR 6.3)

1. Contracting Agency and Activity.

The Department of the Interior (DOI), U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS), Sioux Falls, SD, plans to contract by means other than full and open competition. This document sets forth the justification and approval for use of one of the exceptions to full and open competition allowed under the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) of 1984.

2. Nature of Action Being Approved.

The USGS Land Satellite Data Systems (LSDS) Mission Operations Project (LMOP) has a requirement to award a firm, fixed price contract to procure a brushless motor upgrade to the USGS/EROS10m antenna. L3 Datron is the proposed awardee.

3. Description of Supplies or Services.

The USGS operates the Landsat constellation or earth-imaging satellites, including operational status monitoring, scheduling of image acquisitions, and reception of image data. The 10m antenna at USGS/EROS is an integral part of the Landsat ground network (LGN) and is essential for maintaining health and safety of the Landsat constellation of spacecraft by providing ground communication contacts for commanding and telemetry monitoring. The antenna is also critical for downloads of Landsat science data acquired by the constellation (provides approximately one-third of the required reception capacity for daily acquisitions) and essential to support continental United States (CONUS) real-time applications such as hazards and emergency response.

The USGS LMOP has a requirement to procure a brushless motor upgrade to the motors and drive electronics for the USGS/EROS 10m antenna to replace the existing units which are obsolete and unsustainable. This procurement includes:

1. Upgrade USGS/EROS 10m antenna to brushless motors, including updates to associated control and drive electronics

2. On-site spares set to support maintenance latency requirements

5. Statutory Authority.

The proposed action may be awarded without full and open competition under 41 U.S.C.

253(c)(1) as implemented in FAR 6.302-1(a), Only One Responsible Source.

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5.

eplacement of the antenna would be of comparable cost.

The motors used to position the antenna and track satellites are the original units and have become obsolete and unsustainable, using a design with mechanical brush contacts that wear out over time. New brushless motor technology has been developed by the original antenna vendor as an upgrade/replacement path for older antennas, to allow them to operate for an extended lifetime of approximately (for upgraded mechanical and electrical components). Since this upgrade is specific to the design of the 10m antenna and requires the use of proprietary information and trade secrets, only the original antenna vendor is in a position to implement the upgrade.

Additionally, were a third-party to attempt the upgrade, it is unclear whether we could continue to get annual maintenance and support from the original vendor, or if the support costs would significantly increase.

No other resellers are known to exist for this requirement as design specifications of the original antenna is proprietary information.

7. Other Information.

dditionally, there is no expectation that the 10m antenna vendor would make this proprietary information available to other vendors, based on an inquiry with the vendor if such material could be made available to a third party.

8. The Efforts to Identify Additional Sources Including the Market Research Conducted.

Market Research indicates no other vendor has both the experience as well as the access to proprietary information and other trade secrets to successfully implement the antenna upgrade.

Market research also indicates no authorized resellers exist.

9. Future Plans to Permit Competition.

This procurement is expected to be a one-time requirement. When the infrastructure reaches end of life, the replacement will be competed to the maximum extent practical.

10. Recommendation and Certification from Program Office

Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on the basis of other than full and open competition. I certify that technical data which form a basis for this justification that are the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel are complete and accurate.