SSJ Signed.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

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

1. Agency/Contracting Activity: International Institute of Tropical Forestry (IITF)

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): $23,000.00

The contractor will evaluate and reconstruct stage (water level) data at Bisley 1, 2, and 3 stream gages as a basis for assessing hurricane damage. The contactor will advise on new infrastructure needed to replace instrumentation and control structures damaged by the hurricanes and will provide instructional materials (webinars, on-site demonstrations, etc.)

and written best practice protocols for operating the three gages going forward.

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:

As a USGS Volunteer for Science, the offeror has access to state-of-the-art software used by USGS for assessing and editing hydrologic time series, and so is uniquely qualified to continue and complete this work.

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 in this arena. This has given us an understanding of the capacity and expertise available. For this task, we are interested in examining field notes, discharge measurements, assemble edited and corrected data, advising on infrastructure needs after the hurricanes and on best practices for gaging under the renewed operation. The experience of the contractor both in his area study and in the workplace make him the perfect asset for this job. Based on our awareness of this available capacity, no other source is practical.

7. Market Research:

The applicable market research includes a contactor with the capacity and experience to analyze and offer advising on infrastructure needs after the hurricanes and on best practices for gaging under the renewed operation. In addition, the scientist would need to have access to state-of-the-art software used by USGS for assessing and editing hydrologic time series. The source offered a reasonable proposal at a fair price and has the unique qualifications required.

8. Procurement History:

Previous Purchase Orders(s) or Contract(s): Yes No

Purchase order or contract number:_______________

Was action competed? Yes No

If action was not competed, state the cited authority, summarize rationale:______________________________________________________________________

9. Additional information to support the justification:

The anticipated costs are equal to comparable work by a contractor involving information gathering, analysis and advising. The costs are considerably less than bringing in a person without the contractor's specialized knowledge in examining field notes, discharge measurements, assemble edited and corrected data and advising on infrastructure needs. The contractor will work closely with USGS and IITF to apply my skills at assessing the data and any compromising of the data from the hurricanes. As a USGS Volunteer for Science, the contractor has access to state-of-the-art software used by USGS for assessing and editing hydrologic time series. The contractor will edit the long-term stream stage record by checking electronic data against site visit manual readings. The contractor will apply drift corrections, remove spikes, adjust for baseline shifts, and gapfill missing record. Rating curves to convert stage to discharge will be constructed from discharge measurement and theoretical considerations from the geometry of the control structures.

Intercomparison of the three adjacent gages will help evaluate the record – e.g., a storm should cause a similar magnitude response at all three sites, and to evaluate whether the hurricanes have damaged infrastructure. The contractor will examine field notes and discharge measurements, applying gage height corrections including adjustment for uncompensated atmospheric pressure, and stage-discharge rating shifts as needed. In addition to using the three gages to compare to each other, the nearby USGS stream gage at Río Mameyes near Sabana, Puerto Rico (streamgage

50065500) will be used as a benchmark. The contractor will work with USGS and IITF to assemble edited and corrected data. Data gaps longer than three days will be filled with daily average discharge values. For shorter gaps, data will be restored at the original timestep. The contractor will be advising IITF on infrastructure needs after the hurricanes and on best practices for gaging under the renewed operation. Streamflow data will be quality assured by constraining internal consistency among the three adjacent small streams, as well as the larger stream that they flow into

(Río Mameyes), and careful checking of the field notes from the weekly visits.

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: Dr. Grizelle González

Position Title: Ecologist

Email Address: grizelle.gonzalez@usda.gov

Signature:

Date:

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 Dávila

Title: Contracting Specialist/Officer

Date: