SSJ_RFO_12_Redacted_1.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

SOLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR

CERTAIN COMMERICAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

REVOLUTIONARY FAR OVERHAUL (RFO)

Reference: PR No. 0044050210, Title: Ohmsett Water Quality Monitoring Integration (Panel, Tapping/Piping, SCADA Integration)

1. Agency and Contracting Activity

The Department of the Interior, Office of Acquisition and Property Management, on behalf of the

Marine Minerals Administration (MMA), formerly the Bureau of Safety and Environmental

Enforcement (BSEE) and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), proposes to restrict competition for this commercial acquisition as authorized by RFO 12.102(a).

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This action is a new sole‑source commercial acquisition conducted in accordance with RFO

12.102(a). The Government intends to issue a Firm‑Fixed‑Price contract to NIC Systems for delivery of a turnkey water quality monitoring system, including mechanical installation, analyzers, SCADA/HMI development, and commissioning.

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs, including the estimated value.

The requirement is for NIC Systems to provide a turnkey, panel-mounted water quality monitoring system, including:

• Industrial-grade sensors for real-time monitoring of chlorine, pH, ORP, temperature, salinity/conductivity, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen.

• Mechanical tapping and piping from the Filter Room Building to the monitoring panel, using corrosion-resistant materials, valves, fittings, and proper drainage.

• Full SCADA/HMI integration, including communication protocols, register maps, scaling factors, and comprehensive loop-testing.

• Commissioning, O&M manuals, as-built drawings, and a complete SCADA points list.

Place of Performance: Ohmsett, Naval Weapons Station Earle Waterfront, Leonardo, NJ 07737.

Period of Performance: 180 days after award (ARO).

Estimated Value:

4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

This sole‑source acquisition is authorized under RFO 12.102(a), which implements 41 U.S.C. 1901 simplified acquisition procedures for commercial products and services at or below the Simplified

Acquisition Threshold (SAT). Under RFO 12.102(a), the Government may award to only one responsible source when documented market research demonstrates that no other supplies or services will satisfy the agency’s requirements.

5. Demonstration that the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or nature of the acquisition requires using the authority cited.

NIC Systems is uniquely qualified to meet all requirements because:

• NIC Systems is the incumbent SCADA/HMI integrator for Ohmsett and maintains all SCADA functionality, safety interlocks, alarms, trending systems, and HMI configurations.

• This action requires direct collaboration with NIC to develop the HMI for water quality output, provide communication protocols, register maps, scaling factors, and perform end‑to‑end loop‑testing. Only NIC possesses the unique system knowledge and access required to perform these tasks.

• Proper SCADA integration is safety‑critical at Ohmsett; mis‑integration could jeopardize facility operations. NIC is the only vendor with validated experience integrating with Ohmsett’s SCADA environment.

Because SCADA/HMI development, protocol alignment, and loop‑testing are vendor‑unique tasks tied directly to the incumbent integrator, only NIC Systems can deliver the full requirement with operational and safety assurance.

6. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers were solicited from as many potential sources as practicable, including whether a notice will be publicized as required by RFO 5 and, if not, which exception applies.

The Government conducted extensive market research in accordance with FAR Part 10 and DOI’s

RFO framework to identify all potential sources capable of delivering the required turnkey water quality monitoring system. A Sources Sought notice was posted on SAM.gov, and responses from interested vendors— were reviewed. Neither vendor demonstrated the validated SCADA/HMI integration capability required for the Ohmsett environment.

In addition to public postings, the Government contacted multiple technical vendors identified through market research to assess their ability to meet the full mechanical, analytical, and SCADA integration requirements. These discussions confirmed that while several vendors could provide instrumentation, none possessed the combined ability to perform turnkey SCADA integration, provide communication protocols and register maps, or conduct end‑to‑end loop‑testing as required.

Based on technical input from NIC Systems—the incumbent SCADA integrator for the Ohmsett facility—the Government also evaluated the feasibility of awarding the requirement to a GSA

Schedule vendor offering water quality monitoring units. An RFQ was issued to the GSA vendor recommended by NIC Systems, but the vendor declined to submit a quotation. Further market research and technical evaluation showed that GSA MAS vendors did not have the capability to deliver the SCADA/HMI integration required for safe, uninterrupted operations at Ohmsett.

These combined efforts demonstrate that the Government solicited interest from as many potential sources as practicable, and that no other vendors were capable of meeting the complete performance‑based requirements of the acquisition.

7. Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The anticipated price is expected to be fair and reasonable based on:

• The IGCE amount of , developed from market research and MAS catalog pricing for similar analytical systems and installation/integration efforts.

• Historical pricing for instrumentation, mechanical installation, and SCADA integration.

• The specialized nature of SCADA/HMI development performed by the incumbent integrator.

• Any other price analysis techniques authorized under the RFO FAR that may be utilized prior to award.

8. Description of the market research conducted (see part 10) and the results, or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research included:

• Sources Sought and RFI postings.

• Review of MAS vendors and environmental instrumentation suppliers.

• Technical discussions with multiple vendors.

Results:

• Only NIC Systems demonstrated capability to meet all performance‑based requirements, including mechanical work, analyzers, SCADA/HMI development, protocol integration, and commissioning.

• No vendor demonstrated validated SCADA integration experience for the Ohmsett environment.

9. Any other facts supporting using other than full and open competition.

The Ohmsett facility operates within a highly controlled and continuously active research environment where SCADA‑connected systems interact directly with safety‑critical alarms, interlocks, and operational controls. Reliable integration of any new monitoring equipment into this environment requires a contractor with demonstrated familiarity with the facility’s existing automation architecture and operational practices. NIC Systems possesses established operational understanding of Ohmsett’s SCADA environment and its continuous performance requirements, supporting safe and uninterrupted operations at the facility.

Additionally, NIC Systems has experience working at the Naval Weapons Station Earle Waterfront, where Ohmsett is located, and understands the associated access, security, and identity‑verification requirements. Work at this location requires advance approval, on‑site badging, and compliance with

DOI and Navy security procedures for physical access and network authorization. These requirements include identity‑proofing, background checks, on‑site escort rules, and adherence to facility incident‑reporting protocols, all of which NIC Systems is already familiar with.

Given these operational and security considerations, NIC Systems remains the only responsible source capable of performing the required work in a manner that ensures both technical reliability and compliance with the federal security requirements governing the Ohmsett site.

10. Listing of the sources that expressed an interest in the acquisition.

• — Submitted capability statement; did not meet SCADA/HMI integration requirements.

• — Participated in technical discussions; did not demonstrate required SCADA integration capability.

11. Statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

• Conduct annual market research to identify advancements in water quality monitoring and

SCADA‑integrated instrumentation.

• Continue documenting SCADA integration requirements and lessons learned to broaden future competitive participation.

CERTIFICATIONS

Technical and requirements personnel must certify that supporting data under their cognizance is complete and accurate. The Contracting Officer must certify that the facts and statements in this justification are accurate and complete.

Acquisition Initiator Certification