Sole source for MES (JA form MA-880) SAM_Redacted.pdf

U.S. Department of Transportation

Maritime Administration

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL

AND

OPEN COMPETITION

(See Federal Acquisition Regulations, DOT Acquisition Regulations, and MAG Note 6-1a)

I. PROGRAM OFFICE ACTION

A. I recommend that procurement action

For (Description of Supply or Service)

Cost Estimate $ be conducted under authority checked below.

FAR 6.302-1 Only one responsible source.

(41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1))

FAR 6.302-2 Unusual and compelling urgency.

(41 U.S.C. 253(c)(2))

FAR 6.302-3 Industrial mobilization; or experimental, developmental, or research work.

(41 U.S.C. 253(c)(3))

FAR 6.302-4 International agreement.

(41 U.S.C. 253(c)(4))

FAR 6.302-5 Authorized or required by statute.

(41 U.S.C. 253(c)(5))

FAR 6.302-6 National security.

(41 U.S.C. 253(c)(6))

FAR 6.302-7 Public interest.

(41 U.S.C. 253(c)(7))

B. The narrative justification attached is submitted in support of the above recommendation action and is prepared in accordance with requirements established by the FAR, TAR, and MAG Note. I certify that it is fully and accurately documented.

Requisitioner (Name and Title) Signature Telephone No. Date

Program Manager (Name and Title) Signature Telephone No. Date

Form MA-880 (01/14) Page of

(AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION)

Si t T l a sole source procurement complete ship set of a marine evacuation system (MES) and associated link rafts for NSMV

07FEB2025

To maintain certification and compliance of the lifesaving systems on NSMVs, all equipment must be identical with the same approvals. Life Systems Australia (LSA) is the sole provider of the installed Maritime Evacuation System (MES), ensuring uniformity, safety, and regulatory compliance. Using a different supplier would require costly recertification and could compromise operational consistency. Standardization across the fleet makes LSA the only viable source.

07FEB2025

II. CONTRACTING OFFICER ACTION

Contracting Office:

COMPETITIVE SOURCES (Attach narrative explanation for each "Yes" answer.)

Market search conducted?

Is the effort a continuation of a previous effort by the proposed contractor?

Has this item or service been procured previously? If so, what prior steps were taken to make this procurement a competitive one? What steps are to be taken to insure that the next procurement (if any) will be placed on a competitive basis?)

I have reviewed the justification submitted and certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is accurate and complete and the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. I (recommend acceptance of) (approve) the proposed action for the procurement of this requirement.

Contrac Telephone No. Date

III. REVIEW BOARD ACTION

("Reasons for Disapproval Recommendations to be Attached)

Recommendations* Name Signature of Board Members Date

APPROVAL

DISAPPROVAL

APPROVAL

DISAPPROVAL

APPROVAL

DISAPPROVAL

IV. AGENCY APPROVAL

APPROVED

DISAPPROVED

$650,000 to $12,500,000

Name and Title

COMPETITION ADVOCATE

Date

APPROVED

DISAPPROVED

$12,500,000 to $62,500,000 to

Name and Title

HEAD OF CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

Date

APPROVED

DISAPPROVED

All over $62,500,000

Name and Title

SENIOR PROCUREMENT EXECUTIVE

Signature Date

Form MA-880 (01/14) Page of

6/23/2025

� Yes � No

Yes � No � Yes � No

July 3, 2025

SOLE SOURCE NARRATIVE FOR ACQUISITIONS WITHIN THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

THRESHOLD ($250K) UP TO FAR 13.5 THRESHOLD ($7 MIL)

1. Authority: This sole source is in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-

1(b)(1) – actions up to $250k or 13.501(a) – actions up to $7 million.

2. Justification: To maintain certification and compliance of the lifesaving systems on NSMVs, all equipment must be identical with the same approvals. Life Systems Australia (LSA) is the sole provider of the installed Maritime Evacuation System (MES) on all NSMVs, ensuring uniformity, safety, and regulatory compliance. Using a different supplier would require costly recertification and could compromise operational consistency. Standardization across the fleet makes LSA the only viable source. Having a rotational spare will greatly reduce out of readiness as it will only take a day or two to install a rotational unit on a ship vs the 4+ weeks needed to recertify a unit.

The MES was selected for the NSMV fleet over traditional davit-launched liferafts due to its superior capability to evacuate large numbers of people in an emergency rapidly. The NSMVs are designed to carry hundreds of cadets and crew, and the MES provides a high-capacity inflatable slide system that enables fast, simultaneous boarding of life rafts—without the need for manual launching or extensive crew involvement. This minimizes evacuation time and reduces the risk of mechanical failure or human error.

The LES MES units are SOLAS-compliant and have a proven track record in commercial passenger vessel service, making them well-suited to the NSMV’s mission as a training ship with a large embarked population.

3. Market Research: Market research was conducted by reviewing alternate MES manufacturers. No alternative vendors offer a fully compatible system with the existing fleet. Any deviation would require USCG reapproval of the lifesaving plan, retrofitting, and retraining, which is not in the interest of MARAD's mission to support the State Maritime Academies with standardized training platforms. This model of MES is what is installed on NSMV ships and this particular unit is being purchased as a spare. The purpose of this acquisition is to establish a rotational spare MES set to support the operational readiness of the NSMV fleet during scheduled annual servicing. Therefore, to maintain certification and compliance of the lifesaving systems on NSMVs, all equipment must be identical with the same approvals. LSA is the sole provider of the installed Maritime Evacuation System MES on all NSMVs, ensuring uniformity, safety, and regulatory compliance.

4. Has this item or service been procured previously? If so, what prior steps were taken to make this procurement a competitive one? What steps are to be taken to ensure that the next procurement (if any) will be placed on a competitive basis?) An MES was purchased in 2018 for the legacy Empire State but would not be suitable for the NSMV class vessels.