Sol_DOIFFBO210103.pdf

FWS Form 3-0034 (Rev. 12/2019) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

JOINT ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS

Acquisitions Operations

A. Description The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office (AFWO), 1655 Heindon Road, Arcata, CA 95521-4573, is requesting highly-specialized technical services from Reid, Stewart, DUNS # 198341534 to assist in the development, documentation, and dissemination of Pacific Lamprey Conservation Measures associated with the Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative and implementation plans. This project will incorporate lampreys into an assessment of dredging impacts, improve our understanding of their passage capabilities, develop a distribution layer for River Lamprey and conduct other outreach and monitoring activities. This project is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2025 upon the finalization and dissemination of technical reports detailing the project results.

This is a high priority study as specified in the Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative - California Regional Implementation Plan. This study is also listed as a required information need in the Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) Assessment and Template for Conservation Measures in California and by the Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative. A multiple year duration is required for this biological study to account for annual variability.

Funding for this study was provided in 2021 as a single-year line item addition to the AFWO budget, and was intended to complete this task in its entirety.

B. Justification

a. Circumstances The contractor must be an expert in evaluating lamprey biology in California, and highly knowledgeable of the history, development, and content of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative and related California Conservation Plan and Implementation Plan.

Further this analysis relies on information and data owned by the Dr. Reid and is not available to any other potential contractors. Other required qualifications include being a leading expert on lamprey biology, life histories, behavior, and physical capabilities, with direct experience and knowledge on Pacific Lamprey biology and passage issues in California.

b. Other Capable Sources No other sources are available. Dr. Reid is one of the nation's leading experts on l amprey and is the only contractor that has hands-on working knowledge of the Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative - California Regional Implementation Plan, the Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) Assessment and Template for Conservation Measures in California, and the Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative, as a co-author to all three documents. He is the leading expert on Pacific Lamprey in California and along with staff from AFWO, is the only individual with experience and knowledge of these conservation issues.

Dr. Reid has been a co-developer of the California USFWS Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative - Status Assessment and Implementation Plan, which serves as the foundation for the work requested under this contract. He has helped the Service to develop standardized plans and protocols for lamprey assessments in California that are critical to successfully accomplish the tasks required under this contract. Dr. Reid's past experience with the Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative, his high-specialized lamprey expertise, and information and data owned by Dr. Reid is required for this project.

c. Barriers to Competition Continual outreach is being conducted to encourage additional efforts to conserve lampreys in California. It is our intention this will lead to stakeholders developing expertise for lamprey conservation efforts into the future.

C. Recommendation and Certification by Program Office

Based on the above justification, I recommend this acquisition to be conducted using sole source acquisition procedures as specified in FAR Part 13. I hereby certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

D. Contracting Officer Certification and Approval

Based on the above justification, I hereby certify that the circumstances of this contract action deem only one source reasonably available and approve the use of sole source acquisition procedures for this purchase.