USM JA.PDF

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. CONTRACTING AGENCY: U.S. Army Engineer District, Galveston, Contracting Division 2000 Fort Point Road, Galveston Texas 77550

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION: In an effort to meet industry standards, increase productivity, support offshore projects, and increase the level of accuracy of our hydrographic surveys, the Survey Section needs to increase the survey capabilities of the Galveston District.

A new fixed price competitive RPF contract will be issued for FAR 12 Commercial Items. The extent of the sources sought request went out as and and The purpose of the sources sought announcement was to gain knowledge of interested, capable, and all qualified small businesses including but not limited to Small Business, 8(a) Small Business Development Program, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, and Hubzone firms. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541370; Size Standard $2 million.

3. DESCRIPTION OF PRODUCT, SUPPLIES, & SERVICES:

Funding for the contract will be provided through a combination of Construction General and O&M navigation project funds. Our total GPS budget for FY20 will be 2.1 million. This specific cabinet action will look to utilize 1.7 million of the overall budget. The bulk purchase of USM sonar mounts will be $80,000 of the total $1.7 million cabinet.

The specific brand name system being requested is:

Sonar Mount Universal Sonar Mount (USM) Off the shelf purchase with minimal lead time as they are based in the USA.

The over the side sonar mount should have a 7ft minimum pole length and a hinge plate that allows the pole and sonar to be recovered inboard of the gunnel and stowed when not in use while maintaining calibration. The pole should be able to be locked into place in a way that is reproducible so that offsets only ever need to be measured once. The pole mount system would ideally have a shear block for breakaway action should the sonar make contact with the seafloor. There should be a mechanical drive or mechanism that allows the pole to be rotated out of the water with minimal effort.

The District should have an additional kit that allows the pole mount system to be deployed on a Vessel of Opportunity (VOOP). This kit should work with the other pole mount systems in the district. The pole should be able to be locked into place in a way that is reproducible so that offset only ever need to be measured once. The mount base should be able to be clamped onto the side of a vessel and have the flexibility to adjust to a variety of sizes. The kit should fit into Pelican cases making it possible to ship, and it should include an IMU/motion sensor plate, and a pole bar bar) to place GPS antennas.

The OTS standard kit is $18,150 and the VOOP Expeditionary kit is $23,100 (quotes directly from USM). Some employees are already familiar with the use of the system and would be able to train the others.

4. AUTHORITY CITED: 10 U.S.C.2304(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302 1 Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

5. DEMONSTRATION OF PROPOSED UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS:

a) BACKGROUND: The Hydrographic Survey Section performs hydrographic surveys of the harbors and waterways throughout the Galveston District. These surveys are performed to assess the general conditions of the federal channels for safe navigation through the harbor and for payment on maintenance dredging for the Galveston multibillion dollar channel maintenance and deepening programs. If the depths are not accurately recorded the dredge volumes are incorrect leading to over or underpaying contractors and soft groundings from deep draft vessels that could result in marine accidents.

There are 4 small vessels in the district that need to have multibeam and sidescan capabilities to preform condition surveys and support the mission during emergency responses. The vessels are too small to allow for a moon pool, and the conditions are not favorable for hull mounting, so the transducer needs to be installed in another way. The pole mount system gives the flexibility to install any transducer on each vessel, keep the transducer out of the water to prevent damage and marine growth, and allow the transducer to be stored safely on deck to prevent damage during trailering using a hinge plate. Pole mounting the sonar also allows for easy visual inspections and removal of the transducer head for easy storage when it is not in use. This will prevent costly repairs. For example, two separate multibeam systems failed in the district this year due to UV and thermal damage resulting in a $164,000 out of cycle monetary request for repairs.

b) JUSTIFICATION: There are no other kits on the market for deploying a multibeam sonar on a vessel of opportunity without hard mounting a plate to the vessel. The USM brand of pole mount systems are unique in that they are powder coated to avoid rust and corrosion and they are measured and designed to be 100% reproducible each time the arm is deployed guaranteeing that the data is accurate and eliminating human error. They can also come with a hinge plate that allows the entire system to be rotated 90 degrees onto the vessel for protection during highway transit, or driving through narrow areas. The system would be the base of a Vessel of Opportunity Fly Away Kit to support survey efforts across the District and the Nation.

The USM company was started by two hydrographers who are very familiar with the challenges of working in the field and the USM systems were designed from their experience.

c) IMPACT: Increased multibeam and sidescan capabilities are critical to the District. In 2019 Corpus Christi had 3 dangers to navigation reported by contractors. The USACE then had to rent a multibeam system to confirm their findings because 2 of the 3 systems in the district were broken. In the future the District needs to complete their own multibeam investigations so that there are no surprises.

Also in 2019 there was a marine accident involving 2 barges and a tanker. The USACE needed an emergency multibeam survey but there were no resources available. Now there is a question as to who should take responsibility for the incident. Having more vessels with multibeam capabilities means that the Survey Section will be able to simultaneously support dredging, construction, planning, and emergency efforts.

Without the USM pole mount system there is not a mechanism in place to deploy the sonars on the existing fleet and any vessels of opportunity that are available during emergency responses.

d) ALTERNATIVES: None. The unique requirements of the district, the extreme environmental conditions the systems will be exposed to, and the current configurations on the boats eliminate all other options on the market.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION: There will be competition between firms that sell the required name brand automated building management system. Based on market research there is more than one distributor/vendor for this system. The requirement will be advertised on Federal Business Opportunities (www.fbo.gov) with the brand name only requirement in the solicitation.

7. MARKET RESEARCH: Market research was conducted in March 2019. Various vendor were contacted and quotes were obtained for equipment, installation services, and training costs. This information was used to develop and IGE and a Sources Sought solicitation went out August 15th, 2019. After reviewing the Sources Sought responses, the contracting recommendation was to set aside the contract for small business. Quotes for the USM Equipment were received from USM and SES Services.

8. OTHER FACTORS: By using equipment made in the USA the USACE can expect to see decreased lead times without hassles getting equipment thorough customs, increased customer support in the same time zone without having to place international calls to ask technical questions, and decreased shipping costs associated with needing to ship equipment internationally when the systems need repaired. Using companies with offices in the USA increases shipping cost savings and customer support. Service technicians can go on site to fix problems without having to book flights and hotels.

The hydrographic survey mission will not suffer lengthy delays.

9. INTERESTED SOURCES: In accordance with FAR 5.102(a)(6), this Justification and Approval (J&A) will be posted with the solicitation when the solicitation is made available through the Government Point of Entry (www.fbo.gov), and remain posted for the entire time the solicitation is posted. Any sources that indicate interest as a result of the publication will be evaluated.

10. STATEMENT OF ACTIONS TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO COMPETITION IN THE FUTURE:

a) PROCUREMENT HISTORY: Not applicable.

b) ACQUISITION DATA AVAILABILITY: Not applicable.

c) UNUSUAL AND COMPELLING URGENCY: There is $200,000 worth of equipment that has already been purchased that does not have a way to be deployed and utilized. One pole mount would solve this problem and would almost double our current capabilities.

d) SUBCONTRACTING COMPETITION: Subcontracting opportunities exist for suppliers, distributors, and/or installers. This is a restrictive specification that only precludes consideration of a product manufactured by another company. Subcontracting competition will be the responsibility of the offerors or the prime contractor awarded the contract.

11. TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION: "I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the J&A are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief."

NAME: _Erin Diurba__________ DATE: __________________

TITLE: Chief, Hydrographic Survey Section SIGNATURE: _____________________

12. REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION: "I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the J&A are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief."

NAME: _Erin Diurba__________ DATE: __________________

TITLE: Chief, Hydrographic Survey Section SIGNATURE: _____________________

13. FAIR AND REASONABLE COST DETERMINATION: "I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based on competition of the overall solicitation." Certified cost or pricing data will not be required as the construction contract in which these brand name items are included will be awarded based on adequate competition.

NAME: _ Aldrich Nichols___ DATE: ___________________

TITLE: _Contract Officer____ SIGNATURE: _____________________

14. CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION/APPROVAL: "I certify that this Justification and Approval is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief."

NAME: DATE: ___________________

TITLE: _Contract Officer______ SIGNATURE: _____________________

Aldrich Nichols