Single.Source.Determination_Redacted.pdf

SINGLE SOURCE DETERMINATION USING

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES (SAP)

FOR AN ACTION NOT EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

(AUTHORITY: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1))

143040-24-0007

1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce, NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Fisheries OMB Field Delegates and NMFS, West Coast Region.

2. Description of supplies or services required to meet agency needs (including the estimated value).

This request is for a Firm-Fixed-Price order to provide scientific review as an appointed member of the Scientific Review Group (SRG) at a total cost of $14,008.00 for the base period of 02/28/2024 - 02/27/2025; $12,800.00 for option period 1 of 02/28/2025 - 02/27/2026; $14,330.00 for option period 2 of 02/28/2026 - 02/27/2027; and $12,800.00 for option period 3 of 02/28/2027 - 12/21/2027.

The U.S. and Canada implement the U.S.-Canada Agreement on Pacific Whiting (Treaty) on an annual basis. The Treaty formalizes past scientific and stock assessment collaboration through the creation of two scientific bodies: a Joint Technical Committee (JTC), charged with producing an annual stock assessment, and a Scientific Review Group (SRG), to whiting surveys.

Under the terms and implementing regulations of the Treaty, Dr. Allan C. Hicks was appointed as an independent member to the SRG on December 22, 2023, by Janet Coit, Assistant Administrator for NOAA NMFS. As such, he is the only possible individual capable of fulfilling this requirement at the SRG review meetings from 2023-2027.

3. Identification of the single source or the brand name to be solicited.

Allan C. Hicks Fisheries Analysis With Integrity 8720 228th St SW, Edmonds, WA 98026

(425) 341-3240 allan@fisheriesAnalysis.com Unique Entity ID: FXV7WNLQK4W5

4. Supporting rationale. Only one source or brand name is reasonably available as detailed below:

Other - Only one source is capable - Dr. Hicks is the sole individual capable of filling this position to serve as a scientific reviewer on the Pacific Hake/Whiting Scientific Review Group, as he was selected by representatives of this U.S. Government, as called for under the Agreement between the United States of America and the Government of Canada on Pacific Hake/Whiting. The appointment letter is attached. Dr. Hicks is well-qualified to

143040-24-0007 serve in this capacity.

Fisheries Analysis With Integrity (FAWI) is a business created by Dr. Allan Hicks to conduct a wide range of fisheries analysis, review, and consulting. Allan received a Ph.D. from Fisheries at the School of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences at the University of Washington in 2013 and has a wide range of experience in the quantitative analysis of fish stocks and review of fisheries stock assessments. He is currently a quantitative scientist at the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and is also a member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) Plan Team which is tasked with reviewing fisheries analyses and stock assessments that inform the NPFMC. In the past Allan worked for NOAA fisheries at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) and completed more than five stock assessments that were used by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) when determining management measures. Five stock assessments for Pacific hake were done as a member of the Joint Technical Committee (JTC) for Pacific hake/whiting. Dr. Hicks has served previously on the SRG from December 2019 - December 2023

Urgency The nature of the requirement has been deemed urgent due to unusual and compelling circumstances. Following competitive procedures would result in unacceptable delays resulting in serious injury to the Government. - The Scientific Review Group to which Dr. Hicks has been appointed is scheduled to convene on February 06-09, 2024 to perform its duties as stipulated by the Pacific Whiting Treaty. These duties cannot be delayed, as they are integral to the setting of the 2024 Pacific Whiting Total Allowable Catch for the US and Canada by the Joint Management Committee no later than March 02, 2024.

Due to staff shortages and personnel turnover in key roles in both the WCR-Sustainable Fisheries Division, under which the Pacific Whiting Treaty is executed, and in the Operations, Management, & Information (OMI) Division, Dr. Hicks order were greatly delayed. Completing the purchase order for Dr. Hicks 05, 2024 as possible is of great urgency.

5. Market Research.

No Market Research was conducted as this candidate was jointly selected by the U.S. and Canadian governments as called for by the Treaty and implementing legislation. The Treaty with Canada defines a specific process for selecting independent reviewers for the SRG.

The Treaty process, which does not include competitive bidding, was followed in the selection of Dr. Hicks. Other appointed members of this committee receive the same

Prior to award of the proposed contract/modification/order, cost or price information shall be obtained from the contractor and a price/cost analysis will be performed and documented to sufficiently determine that the cost to the Government of the proposed acquisition will be fair and reasonable.

6. Technical/Requirements Representative Certification supporting data provided herein is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.