Sole_Source_Justification_as_required_by_FAR_13_106-1-b-1-Redacted_1.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR ACQUISITION UNDER THE

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

PR: 0040670081

1. Contracting Agency and Activity. The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey, 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.

This action is for a new service contract with GeoSep Services for a base year with two option years.

3. Description of Supplies or Services.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Geology and Environmental Change Science Center (GECSC) has an ongoing requirement for combined mineral separation of rock samples and for fission track, and U-Pb geochronologic analysis of apatites and zircons as a part of the Ozark Dome-Arkoma Basin_Ouachita belt Transect (ODABOuT) project that is funded by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program.

4. Estimated Dollar Value.

Base Year is estimated in the amount of with two option years for a total of

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.

GeoSep Services contractor is unique for being the only provider in the USA using the laser-ablation inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) technique to determine fission-track ages. A byproduct of the LA-ICP-MS technique for fission-track dating is determination of UPb ages for the approximately 20 grains examined for each sample, allowing a “double dating” analysis that adds scientific value to the results and that is a requirement in the Work Performance Statement.

Use of the small-business GeoSep Services contractor will also allow continuity of techniques and results from fission-track age data that were delivered to the ODABOUT project via this contractor in December 2023.

7. Other Information.

N/A

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR ACQUISITION UNDER THE

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

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

Program Office's Market Research:

The ODABOuT project conducted internet searches for fission-track dating via the LA-ICP-MS technique. The small business GeoSep Services was the only provider found in the USA that provided this service.

Contracting Officer's Market Research:

The Contracting Officer posted a sources sought notice 140G0224Q0166 via SAM.gov (Contract Opportunities) from July 18, 2024 through July 24, 2024 for market research purposes and did not receive any responses.

9. Future Plans to Permit Competition.

As this is a one-time service contract for the ODABOuT project, no need for future competition is anticipated.

10. Recommendation and Certification from Program Office Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a sole source basis and ce1iify the above statements are hue and accurate.

11. Certifications from the Contracting Officer:

a. Price reasonableness will be based on Geosep Services LLC's ClllTent plice list and paid invoices.

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

12. Approvals

Lisa D. Williams, Conti·acting Officer/Date

Annie M. Howard, Chief of the Conti·acting Office/Date

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) considers employee signatures to be Personal Protected Information, and therefore all employee signatures have been redacted. By posting this document, the Contracting Officer attests all appropriate signatures have been obtained