Sole_Source_0040607974_Redacted_1.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR ACQUISITION UNDER THE

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

1. Contracting Agency and Activity. The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey (USGS), plans to contract on a sole source basis. This document sets forth the justification and approval as required by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1).

2. Nature of Action Being Approved. New firm fixed price type contract to Innovasea Marine Systems Canada Inc., DBA VEMCO (IMS-Vemco) for VEMCO VR2Tx-69kHz Coded Acoustic Receiver with Transponder.

3. Description of Supplies or Services. The USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC) in Columbia, MO requires 20 VR2tx receivers (Innovasea Systems Inc.) to support cooperative telemetry studies involving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 5 State agencies to conduct telemetry studies with the critically endangered pallid sturgeon in the Lower Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.

4. Estimated Dollar Value.

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) only one source reasonably available.

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5. Effective telemetry systems are required to monitor habitat use, migration, and reproductive success of pallid sturgeon in response to high priority management actions identified in the Missouri River Science and Adaptive Management Plan. Telemetry systems are standardized across multiple participating agencies, and include manual tracking receivers with directional hydrophones, passive receivers for detection of fish passage, and high-power acoustic transmitters for the unique identification of juvenile and adult sturgeon. Pallid sturgeon in the Lower Missouri River move freely into the Mississippi River and therefore systems employed on the Lower Missouri River will provide for the detection of tagged sturgeon and monitoring of movement through the Mississippi River corridor using existing telemetry arrays.

An existing array of IMS-Vemco VR2 acoustic receivers exists maintained by various cooperating State and Federal agencies within the Lower Missouri River and adjacent rivers to detect and monitor migration and to assist in estimating emigration and immigration parameters for population viability models. IMS-minimum needs for an acoustic positioning system. Data collection technology will differ between com data over time is to continue to collect data using the same equipment used previously.

IMS-Vemco technology and coding techniques are not based on an open standard. This means that IMS-Vemco is the only manufacturer of coded acoustic receivers that are supported for use with IMS-Vemco transmitters which are already owned by the USGS and partners. The coding architecture of these transmitters in use in the Missouri River (InnovaSea code map 115, code space A69-1602, A69-1604) are proprietary and current code sets cannot be reproduced by other manufacturers. It is required that all participating State and Federal agencies acquire and use the identical equipment to achieve scientifically defensible population metrics and measurable responses to the critical management actions as identified in the Missouri River Science and Adaptive Management Plan.

7. Other Information. N/A

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

Market research indicates there are no authorized resellers for IMS-Vemco equipment. IMS- Vemco states they are the sole developer, manufacturer and supplier of Vemco line of acoustic telemetry receivers, transmitters, receiver upgrades and receiver accessories and all associated inventory as noted above.

Previous USGS procurements for the same items, 140G0123P0066, 140G0122P0099, 140G0220P0140 and 140G0120P0075, indicate that either an intent to sole source notice or a sources sought notice were posted for market research and did not result in any additional vendors that were capable of this requirement.

In an FPDS search, the most recent DOI awards for the same or similar items to Innovasea are documented as Sole Source or competed with only one quote received from Innovasea (i.e.

140F0722P0003, 140F0721P0075, 140F0721P0074).

9. Future Plans to Permit Competition.

Future requirements for the same or similar items 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 a sole source basis and certify the above statements are true and accurate.

11. Certifications from the Contracting Officer:

a. The anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable based on previous procurement history.

b. This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

12. Approvals