Sphagnum SSJ signed.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

(Simplified Acquisition Procedures under FAR Part 13 Not Exceeding $250K)

1. Agency/Contracting Activity: Southern Research Station (SRS)

2. Description of Action:

Nature: New Requirement Follow-On Requirement

Mod to Existing Purchase Order/Contract Number

Pricing: Firm-Fixed Price Other: __________

3. Description of Supplies/Services:

a. The total estimated dollar value of the proposed action (including options)$75,000.00

The contractor will provide support to IITFs State & Private Forestry- Forest Health Program to assist with on-the-ground technical assistance and support to develop materials for digital field guides for identification of Sphagnum, as part of forest health surveys, including selecting images and brief forest health, botanical, geographical, and/or ecological narratives. The contractor will determine the historical distribution of Sphagnum using herbarium specimens, and then identify and visit historical and potential locations of Sphagnum to assess presence and condition. The contractor will evaluate threats to existing Sphagnum populations.

The contractor will create a database for selected Sphagnum populations that includes georeferenced information, date, and plant and patch size measurements. This database will be used to monitor short- and long-term experimental plots to record Sphagnum growth over time.

The contractor will write a technical forest health report of the observations on the biology and status of Sphagnum populations in Puerto Rico. The contractor will identify potential management practices to support sustainability of Sphagnum populations. The contractor will write a technical forest health report that explores recommendations to protect and preserve Sphagnum populations located along trails and roads impacted by human activities. The contractor will develop a Sphagnum identification workshop for volunteers and field staff. The contractor will provide prepared digital format content and layout following available templates of a digital field guide to identify Sphagnum species. The contractor will conduct two workshops and present field guide content at an education and outreach event in El Yunque National Forest and at an education and outreach event in a S&PF partnership forest site location.

4. Authority:

Action using Simplified Acquisition Procedures

FAR 13.106-1(b) (1): For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g.

urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization).

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

The contractor has specialized knowledge, qualifications and experience to complete the required tasks. The contractor possesses unique knowledge on bryophyte field work techniques and sampling, with a focus on Sphagnum. The contractor possess experience as a specialist in herbarium curation of bryophyte collections, including identification and morphology of Sphagnum in Puerto Rico, is a specialist in scientific instrumentation (confocal microscope image acquisition), developing botanical databases, and scanning of plant specimens for digital access to botanical collections. The contractor has experience with the needed research techniques to describe anatomy, morphology and taxonomy of Sphagnum as an important but distinct member of the bryophyte groups. The contractor's experience has been evidenced by development of new species checklists of Commonwealth State Forest Reserves, novel insights on structure and composition of pseudostomata (structure) of Sphagnum. Dr. Merced is the most qualified contractor to conduct this work. Dr. Merced is located in PR and has more than 15 years of experience working with Bryophytes, with focus on Sphagnum. She has collaborated with IITFs activities for 1.5 years. All of IITFs work follows USDA FS guidelines and regulations, of which Dr. Merced is familiar with. Dr. Merced has a DUNS number and is registered in SAMS as a Small business, minority, women-owned.

6. Actions to Increase Competition:

As one of the leading research organizations in Puerto Rico, we are acutely aware of the scientific expertise, available data, and history of published work in our area of work. We receive solicited and unsolicited inquiries for providing a variety of services within the research community. This has given us an understanding of the capacity and expertise available. This project is a highly interdisciplinary, requiring unique experience and skill sets to translate scientific products for multiple audiences. The skills and experience required for the contract action are unique and rarely available in the market.

7. Market Research:

(1) The level of knowledge and experience needed to fulfill this contract is scarce. A market survey was not conducted since there are no comparable contractors available with the Bryophyte knowledge, Sphagnum focus, and required experience.

8. Procurement History:

Previous Purchase Orders(s) or Contract(s): X Yes __ No Purchase order or contract number:_ 12-F430-18-C-0018

Was action competed? ___ Yes _X_ No

If action was not competed, state the cited authority, summarize rationale: IAW FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Needs as stated in #5 above

9. Additional information to support the justification:

The level of knowledge and experience needed to fulfill this contract is scarce. Services such as those being contracted have not been conducted in twenty years by anyone other than Dr. Merced.

IITF S&PF Forest Health needs assistance from this contractor that has previous experience with US Government rules and regulations and with the technical skills needed by this project. The contractor must have more than 10 years of experience implementing projects on bryophytes, with a focus on Sphagnum. In addition, the contractor must have a DUNS number and a banking system to accept US Government electronic payments. Dr. Merced meets all these requirements.

10. Technical/Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which is included in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Submitted By: Tamara Heartsill Scalley Position Title: Research Ecologist Email Address: Tamara.heartsill@usda.gov Signature:

Date: 13 April 2020

11. Fair and Reasonable Price Determination: As Contracting Officer, I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

Basis for the determination: price analysis techniques.

12. Contracting Officer’s Approval:

I hereby certify that this Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Based on the foregoing, I approve this sole source justification subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition

Signature:

Typed Name: Amelia Davila Title: Contracting Officer Date: 15 Jun 2020