Sole Source Special Notice as Published in PDF for ESI.pdf

J&A (Part 6) Page 2 of 4 Pages

This notice is NOT a Solicitation. This is instead a Sole-Source-Special-Notice, numbered 693JK422R600005, announcing the intention of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to award a SOLE-SOURCE contract (or purchase order, or delivery order) to Emergency Services Integrators (ESI)-----which is located at 235 Peachtree Street NE Suite 2300, Atlanta, GA 30303-1406-----for that firm to provide WebEOC professional software services to DOT’s Office of

Intelligence, Security and Emergency Response (S-60), over a one-year period which would probably begin in June or July of 2022. As is specified in additional detail laid out below in this Notice, DOT’s premise supporting a sole-source award to

ESI is that ESI is the only responsible source and that no other supplies or services will satisfy DOT’s requirements.

JUSTIFICATION

1. Agency and Contracting Activity: (FAR 6.303-2(b)(1)).

U.S. Department of Transportation

OST/Office of the Intelligence, Security, and Emergency Response (S-60)

Business Services and Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, DC 20590

Contracting:

U.S. Department of Transportation

Acquisition Services (M-63)

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.

Washington, DC 20590

2. Nature/Description of Action: (FAR 6.303-2(b)(2)). The United States Department of

Transportation (DOT) Transportation Operations Center (TOC) requires development support for its existing WebEOC software and intends to award a sole source contract to ESI, the software developer of WebEOC. The estimated total dollar-value of this contemplated sole-source procurement-action seeking a one-year contract is $147,750.

3. Description of Supplies/Services(FAR 6.303-2(b)(3)). DOT has been utilizing WebEOC as an information management tool since 2010. This system is used as a repository of information related to man-made and natural disasters and is utilized by Federal, State, and local governments and Emergency Management agencies. This software also allows users to share information between agencies. This software system is web-enabled and is locally configurable to allow for the unique crisis management work performed by the Department. This system can manage multiple incidents and events, provides situation reports, provides a platform for Standard Operating Procedures and Operational Checklists and has the ability to share critical incident management information across the Operating Administrations in DOT. DOT previously contracted this general type of software through a GSA re-seller but found that not all the support services that DOT requires are available through such a third party. Accordingly, this Sole Source Special Notice justifies the awarding of a sole source contract (or purchase order, or delivery order) to ESI for that firm’s WebEOC professional services. DOT requires enhancement work, to be done through the

Page 3 of 4 Pages building of “boards”, in order to share and store incident information for the users of the Department’s Emergency Response Team.

4. Identification of Statutory Authority (FAR 6.303-2(b)(4));: Unique capability - or 41

U.S.C. 253 (c) (1), FAR 6.302-1

5. Demonstration of Contractor’s Unique Qualifications:(FAR 6.303-2(b)(5)).

In accordance with FAR 6.302-1 and 41 U.S.C. 253(c) (1), this procurement meets the requirements for unique capability. This contemplated sole source acquisition is justified because ESI is the sole developer and licensor of the WebEOC-branded software. Since that software’s initial development and release in 1999, ESI has maintained control over the source code, the WebEOC trademark and all other proprietary rights embodied in the WebEOC Professional software. As the only entity with access to the WebEOC source code, ESI is the only entity that may accurately diagnose software errors and defects, issue corrections and fully integrated enhancements, and warrant performance of the software. ESI is the only entity that provides board building services. We have researched other vendors for other emergency management systems, and we have not found any other products that offer the same or more features as this product. This software product is used by FEMA and other federal and state agencies for emergency management.

6. SAM.gov Announcement/Potential Sources: (FAR 6.303-2(b)(6)). This Sole-Source Special-

Notice is the only such announcement envisioned by DOT

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost: (FAR 6.303-2(b)(7)). The proposed costs for the effort will be analyzed in detail by DOT’s cognizant Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer’s Representative, to ensure that they are realistic, fair, and reasonable.

8. Description of Market Research: (FAR 6.303-2(b)(8)).

S-60 obtained a quote from the intended sole-source vendor. DOT’s cognizant program office also searched the World Wide Web for other products which had the same, or more features as this product, and found none.

9. Any Other Supporting Facts: (FAR 6.303-2(b)(9)).

ESI also provides a wide range of professional services. These services are specialized in nature and focused on configuration and technical support for the proprietary software technology. These services, such as board building, frequently require access to ESI proprietary information and are not available through or resold by any third parties.

10. Listing of Interested Sources: (FAR 6.303-2(b)(10)). Not applicable.

11. Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Competition: (FAR 6.303-2(b) (11)). DOT knows of no free-market-economic-forces constituting a barrier to the development, by firms OTHER than ESI, of services similar and fully equal to the ones contemplated in this Sole Source Special Notice.

But DOT’s market research has indicated that no such other firm has succeeded in any such development; and DOT has no plans to fund or to sponsor any such development by other firms.

http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/06.htm#P207_29525 http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/06.htm#P207_29525 http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/06.htm#P207_29525 http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/06.htm#P207_29525 http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/06.htm#P207_29525 http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/06.htm#P207_29525

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Any entity, other than ESI, which believes that it could now satisfy all of DOT’s needs as described above in this Notice, and that it could do so at the high level of quality indispensable to the Department, may e-mail, to james.mowery@dot.gov, and to Patricia.Freeman@dot.gov, not later than 11:00 PM Eastern

Daylight Time May 26, 2022, a Statement of Qualifications attempting to prove those points.

mailto:james.mowery@dot.gov mailto:Patricia.Freeman@dot.gov