Sole_Source__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, 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. A new order for a Century Geophysical LLC winch, controller box, and sampler.

3. Description of Supplies or Services. A new deep well sampling system is needed for a well on the island of Maui. The existing sampler winch and sampler are over 40 years old and has failed. The new system will be purchased and maintained by the USGS Pacific Islands Water Science Center. This type of sampler is needed to get repeatable samples from a schedule of depths in a deep well on Maui. The winch and controller box needs to be compatible with other tools used for borehole geophysics.

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.

The winch and sampling system will be primarily used for sampling of a deep monitor well on Maui. However, the winch will also be used for other borehole geophysics projects within our science center. In order to be compatible with other borehole geophysical tools currently owned by the USGS PIWSC, and by other USGS water science centers and researchers, the winch and controller box needs to be of the same brand and model as our existing borehole geophysics winch. The new winch will have a longer cable (700 meters) that is required for the sampling of the deep well relative to the existing winch which is not long enough (300 meters).

There are three main components to borehole geophysical logging equipment: the winch (or draw works), the 'tools' which look like pipes, and are specific to the type of data that needs to be collected, and an electronic controller box that, together with a computer, controls the tools and collects the data. For tool examples, there are flow meters, a caliper tool that measures hole diameter, acoustic and optical 'televiewers' which image the wall of the borehole, a tool that measures straightness and plumbness of the hole, a Geiger counter that measures the natural radioactivity of the rock, and other electric logs that measure the electrical properties of the fluid or the rock. The sampler can be considered as another type of tool.

Tools and winches are not compatible between brands, unless custom, and expensive, adapters are created, and full functionality is not always guaranteed. The tools are very expensive. A useful suite of tools for borehole logging costs in excess of $100k. Having a wide selection of tools within the USGS water science offices, it is best to have a winch that will work with the tools already owned by the USGS.

In addition, in order to troubleshoot problems in the field, it would be of great benefit to utilize the expertise of other USGS workers that utilize the Century Geophysical logging equipment.

The current winch used for sampling is about 40 years old, and the sampler failed in December 2021. Samples are collected quarterly. In order for future samples to be comparable to past samples, the same type of calibrated equipment is required for data continuity.

7. Other Information. N/A

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

The proposed vendor is the only known source for this type of winch that is directly compatible with the PIWSC’s and USGS’s existing Century downhole logging tools.

There are a few other companies that manufacture winches and tools for borehole geophysical but none will provide continuity of data or compatibility with existing Government inventory.

9. Future Plans to Permit Competition. Future requirements for same/similar equipment will undergo market research and 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 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. The Government anticipates receiving a fair and reasonable price by basing it on one or more of the allowable options indicated in FAR 13.106(a)(2).

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

12. Approvals