PreSol_Announcement_JOFOC.pdf

U.S.D.I Bureau of Land Management, California State Office Vya Sage-Grouse Habitat Use and Fitness

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a "Justification for other than full and open competition."

The Bureau of Land Management, California (BLM-CA), Applegate Field Office is seeking a service contract to conduct research of pre-treatment and post-treatment habitat use by greater sage-grouse and effects on population dynamics. This document is a justification for other than full and open competition for reasons identified below.

2. Nature and/or description of the action.

BLM Applegate Field Office (FO) has funding available to join an on-going research project being led by Oregon State University (OSU) and the Lakeview, OR BLM Office (BLM-OR).

Funds would be used to expand the project within the Applegate Field Office and utilize pre-treatment data collected by the originating research project. BLM-CA previously attempted to set-up a Financial Assistance Agreement (FA) for this project as was done with the BLM- OR (L17AC00287), however, the Grant was denied by the BLM Washington Office.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs (including the estimated value).

The contractor will provide all personnel, labor, materials, supplies, equipment (except for identified Government furnished equipment) and supervision necessary to extend their research project into the Vya Population Management Unit. Provided full funding, the project will be a base year plus four one-year option year periods. Funding is available for the first year of operation, estimated at $65,000. Total 5 year estimated at $250,000.

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

FAR Part 6.302-3(a)(2)(ii) To establish or maintain an essential engineering, research, or development capability to be provided by an educational or other nonprofit institution or a federally funded research and development center.

The originating project at BLM-OR (L17AC00287) collected data that is required to provide information on before and after impacts of sage grouse habitat restoration projects. Several of the datasets required for model development and pre-treatment comparisons are held exclusively by OSU and are not available publicly.

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

OSU’s previous experience within the project area as well as the proprietary data collected for this requirement provides unique qualifications and expertise that no other vendor can provide.

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

An announcement will be posted for 15 days on FedBizOpps.

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

The anticipated cost to the Government is fair and reasonable based on the information/documentation provided by the Program Office. The Government would have to pay a substantial amount of money to solicit/award this requirement in order for the contractor to collect the data that is proprietary to OSU. Essentially, the Government would be starting the research over which is not a fiscally responsible option.

8. A 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 was not conducted as there are no other contractors qualified to continue the research that OSU has completed. No other sources have the direct experience nor access to previously collected data for the project area. In addition, the contractor’s overhead rate is consistent with what has was negotiated through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Network. Their budget is also consistent with project costs incurred by BLM- OR for their originating project, and represents a reasonable cost.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, such as:

N/A

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

None.

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.

The project is of fixed duration and the contractor’s unique qualifications are specific to this project. There are no related barriers to subsequent acquisitions for wildlife services.

12. Contracting officer certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer's knowledge and belief.

By my signature (physical or electronic), I certify that any information or data submitted as a part of this justification is complete and accurate.

Signature of Requestor Date

By my signature (physical or electronic), I certify that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief; and that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Signature of Contracting Officer Date