Sole Source Justification.pdf

SOLE SOURCE - SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

RECOMMENDATION AND DETERMINATION TO SOLICIT FROM ONE SOURCE

I recommend that NSF negotiate with Knowinnovation only for the NSF Workshop to Explore Novel Ideas for Future Activities with the Arecibo Observatory.

I have reviewed other products/services to identify other vendors which might meet NSF’s requirements through one of the following methods:

GSA Schedule Open Market Price Lists Previous requirements X Other: Market Research

FAR 19.502-2 requires award to Small Business for supplies or services with an anticipated dollar value exceeding $3,000. If applicable specify why award is being recommended to other than a Small Business.

X No other Small Company can supply the equipment or service The Company does not have a small business distributor that can supply the equipment or service GSA schedule does not provide the equipment or service from small business Other:

The total estimated cost, including shipping and handling (if applicable), of this effort is $118,800.

This recommendation is made pursuant to FAR 6.302, for circumstances involving unusual and compelling urgency, and FAR 13.106, for the acquisition of supplies or services determined to be reasonably available from only one source. Competition is impractical for the following reasons:

Justification The Arecibo Observatory is an NSF Major Facility that was completed in 1963 and upgraded in the early 1990s to provide scientific data to a broad user community including programs in astronomy, atmospheric and geospace sciences, space weather and planetary radar. Over the course of the last several decades, the 305-meter telescope at the Arecibo Observatory has made invaluable contributions to many important scientific discoveries, including the demonstration of gravitational waves from a binary pulsar, the first discovery of an extrasolar planet, the composition of the ionosphere, and the characterization of the properties and orbits of a number of potentially hazardous asteroids. In addition to being an important scientific tool, the telescope is considered an iconic landmark on the island, both for its high-profile appearance, which has attracted visitors to the area from Puerto Rico and abroad, and for its role in encouraging students from underrepresented groups across the Caribbean to pursue careers in science and engineering. On December 1, 2020, the instrument platform above the 305-meter radio telescope collapsed, resulting in the loss of an important resource for all of these communities.

In response to the sudden unexpected nature of the platform collapse, and the overwhelming sense of loss felt by scientists and people of Puerto Rican descent alike, there is intense public and Congressional interest in developing a plan to restore, and possibly enhance, the operations at Arecibo Observatory. Congress has required NSF to provide a report prior to February 27, 2021, detailing among other things plans for “the preservation of the associated AO facilities and surrounding areas, and the process for determining whether to establish comparable technology at the site, along with any associated cost estimates.”

This deadline demonstrates the urgency Congress has attached to our efforts to develop recovery and renewal plans for the Observatory. To address the need to respond to the urgent Congressional interest, as well as other inquiries on future science and educational capabilities, in a timely manner, NSF must involve the broad range of stakeholders in a planning workshop promptly to explore novel ideas for future scientific, educational and cultural activities with the Arecibo Observatory. This workshop is vital for our ongoing response to Congress, specifically for soliciting input about the needs of the community, both local to Puerto Rico and US astronomy and atmospheric science more broadly, regarding capabilities that can be restored or built at the Arecibo site, as well as the resources required to carry out this work (e.g., to respond to the Congressional request “along with any associated cost estimates”). Many people were devastated at the collapse of the 305-meter telescope, and there will be strong feelings presented at the workshop which will require experienced professional facilitation to channel the potentially emotional community discussions into scientifically motivated actionable plans. Failure to act quickly, or to provide the required level of trained facilitation, will significantly damage NSF’s reputation in the region, in addition to adversely impacting the US ability to carry out world class science in these areas.

Under normal pre-pandemic operating conditions, traditional face-to-face interactive methods could possibly be employed to achieve the objectives of this workshop. However, the pandemic has limited large gatherings and eliminated the possibility of in-person workshops. Alternate strategies which have been previously demonstrated are even more important given the short period available to execute and meet the overarching timeline. Knowinnovation (KI) has been the exclusive provider of development and support services for the facilitation of NSF’s past IdeasLabs. KI have developed a software package that provides a uniquely configurable virtual venue which facilitates the exchange of ideas in a safe and collaborative environment, allowing participants to share their knowledge, their goals and their experience with one another in a manner that encourages a diversity of ideas and leads to productive outcomes.

The need to catalyze novel ideas and new productive relationships amongst researchers in a variety of fields from physics to education to cultural heritage and curation is a great challenge and requires careful social engagement management which is far beyond the scope of a normal workshop. This is a key element of what KI does before and during events with NSF, and this capability is specifically the expertise of KI.

The following excerpt from a report by California State University on an Ideas Lab activity facilitated by KI explains: “An Ideas Lab is an intensive, interactive, and free-thinking environment, where a diverse group of […] participants from a range of disciplines and backgrounds gather for 3 days - away from their everyday work worlds. Ideas Labs are effective when there is a highly interdisciplinary mix of participants to drive lateral thinking and radical approaches to address research challenges.” No other comparable contractor has been identified through market research that is able to provide the unique combination of pre-activity planning, engaging virtual platform, and professional facilitation of the activity that we require for this workshop.

In addition to the Division of Astronomy, other NSF organizations have been involved with the proposed vendor in other very successful interactive workshops. The lead time for the logistics preparation and customization is short, thanks to the expertise and the proprietary online software platform developed by KI. This workshop will play an integral role in NSF’s approach to helping scope and develop the best ideas for restoring Arecibo to its pride of place as an iconic site for science, education and tourism, and it must be coordinated promptly.

The design of this workshop will borrow from the highly successful NSF IdeasLabs that have previously been used to develop new and novel solutions to challenging research problems in advance of other NSF funding opportunities (see, e.g., https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505229).

Pursuant to FAR 5.201, this proposed contract action will be synopsized in FedBizOps. The results received in writing will be added to this document by addendum.

____________________________ February 17, 2021___________ (Name) Date https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505229

(Title) – Division Director (Office) – MPS/AST

(Added by Contracting Officer after synopsis)

(Insert the following if over $25K)

Pursuant to FAR 5.201, the proposed contract action was synopsized. No other firms requested consideration under this procurement.

[ OR ]

(Contracting Officer explain other results of synopsis)

I hereby accept the above stated recommendation and determine that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available.

Contracting Officer Date

02/22/2021