Ottawa_NWR_fiber_internet_Single_Source_Justification_3-0034__1.pdf
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- Attached to
- OH-OTTAWA NWR-FIBER OPTIC INTERNET
- Solicitation number
- 0044037207
About this file
This is a Single Source Justification form (FWS Form 3-0034) submitted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a sole source acquisition under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT).
The acquisition involves upgrading internet service to the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge offices and visitor center. The Fish and Wildlife Service requires cost-efficient, high-speed fiber internet service to support its transition to an online, web-based environment and cloud-based operations with Microsoft Teams capabilities. The proposed vendor is Amplex, the only fiber internet provider available at the location. Market research obtained from Amplex indicates a proposed one-time installation cost of $27,950.82 and a new monthly service rate of $210, resulting in cost savings of approximately $2,155 monthly compared to current combined costs from Starlink ($2,108/month), Verizon CradlePoint ($35/month), Frontier 4 line POTS ($222/month), with break-even within approximately 13 months. Other internet providers examined during market research—including T1 connections through Verizon/Frontier, hard wire connections, Amplex wireless service, and Verizon CradlePoint—were determined to lack sufficient reliability, speed, or adequate upload capacity for the agency's operational requirements. The justification identifies inherent barriers to competition within the telecommunications industry, as fiber infrastructure installation is economically unviable for multiple providers in the same geographic area. The acquisition was certified and approved by Contracting Officer Rachel Williams on April 7, 2026.
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Text version
FWS Form 3-0034 (Rev. 10/2020) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1. Description of Need
3. Other Capable Sources
2. Market Research Conducted
Pursuant to FAR subpart 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) and (ii), for purchases not exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT), Contracting Officers may solicit from only one source if the circumstances deem only one source is reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization).
Instructions: The information in the text boxes are provided as sample language or to indicate a needed fill-in. Sample language should be removed from the final document. All text boxes require information and shall not be left blank.
SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION
(UNDER SAT)
JOINT ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS
Acquisitions Operations
4. Barriers to Competition
5. Contractor's Qualifications
6. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost
7. Recommendation and Certification by Program Office
Based on the above justification, I recommend this acquisition to be conducted using sole source acquisition procedures. I hereby certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Program / Project Officer
8. Contracting Officer Certification and Approval: Under SAT
Based on the above justification, I hereby certify and approve the use of sole source acquisition procedures under FAR Part 13 for this purchase.
Contracting Officer
| Text3: While other internet provider sources exist, they currently do not meet the reliability and speed needs required as FWS moves towards an online cloud based environment with Teams internet calling. Other internet options that have been used at this location include 1) T1 connection through Verizon/Frontier. Speed was insufficient for site needs, reliability was extremely poor, and Frontier notified us that they would no longer maintain copper based lines, 2) Other hard wire connections were researched by IRTM and special construction costs exceed $440,000 due to the need to run a dedicated line ~10 miles; these were rejected by IRTM as cost prohibitive, 3) Amplex wireless internet provided reliable service, but upload speeds were insufficient to operate Microsoft Teams calling and visitor center phone service, 4) Verizon CradlePoint was installed at this site but IRTM was unable to get the internet service to work properly within the FWS IT environment, with 90% degradation of service speed rendering the service unusable, 5) Current service Starlink imposed a data cap within 1 year after installation. When data cap is hit, service becomes unusable for internet calling or to conduct basic day to day business operations (including email), and EIS costs have increased since installation to $2108/month. | |
| Text2: Quote from sole source fiber vendor Amplex has been obtained. Proposed price appears to be reasonable (see government market research document), with FWS break even point based upon installation costs and monthly service savings in ~13 months. Proposed 1 time installation $27, 950.82, new monthly service $210/month. FWS cost savings through elimination of current costs $2155/month (Starlink $2108/month, Verizon Cradlepoint $35/month, Frontier 4 line POTS $222/month: Total $2365-$210 fiber service=$2155 monthly FWS savings). | |
| Text1: Upgrade of internet service to Ottawa NWR offices and visitor center. Cost efficient, high speed fiber internet service is finally available through a local internet provider. As the FWS moves to an all online, web based environment, reliable high speed internet is required to support this business model. Numerous other internet services have been tried at this location (see 3 below), and all suffer from some combination of issues for poor reliability, poor customer service, insufficient internet speed, and high service costs. The proposed upgrade has a reasonable one-time installation cost and monthly service; will allow the elimination of 3 other monthly services (current office internet Starlink, Verizon Cradlepoint for public Habitat WIFI, and 4 POTS lines for Ottawa NWR visitor center fire, security, and elevator; and have a break even point within 13.2 months at which point the FWS will see a monthly savings of more than $2000/month. IRTM supports switch of service, ITPA approval has been received, and existing site Cradlepoint and Starlink infrastructure will be re-purposed to other FWS facilities that don't have other internet options. | |
| Text4: Inherent barriers exist within the telecommunication and internet provider industries when hard line products are required, as it is generally considered uneconomical by the industry for more than one company to run the required infrastructure to provide the same service. Because Amplex is the first fiber company to install infrastructure in the local area, no other fiber offerings would be anticipated in the future. | |
| Text6: (Include a statement by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost will be considered fair and reasonable and provide the basis used for this determination. Examples may include the results of the restricted competition, comparison of proposed costs/prices with costs/prices for similar supplies or services, commercial price lists, prior acquisition history, etc.) | |
| 2026-04-07T10:45:55-0600 | |
| RACHEL WILLIAMS |
Text5: Amplex is currently the only vendor that has a fiber option for the site location. The Ottawa NWR visitor center for years used a wireless internet solution from Amplex. Almost no internet disruptions were experienced with this service, and the handful that occurred were very short duration. Amplex is a small local company with local support service, and provides top tier customer and IT support service, with highly competitive pricing structures. Amplex wireless internet service was only dropped because wireless upload speeds were insufficient to support internet and Teams calling.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .