Sole_Source_Justification_DPAA_Mission_Redacted.pdf

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity.

a. Federal agency and contracting activity:

United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Omaha District Contracting Division (CENWO-CT-E) 1616 Capitol Ave Omaha NE 68102-4901

b. Sponsoring organization.

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency 200 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-2000

c. Project Officer information:

• Project Officer name:

• Mailing address: USACE/CENWO-PM-HA 1616 Capitol Ave Omaha NE 68102-4901

• E-mail address:

• Telephone number:

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

a. Acquisition purpose and objectives.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has a requirement for underwater archaeological field investigation to locate plane crashed in the Ems-Dollard Estuary, near the northernmost point of the Dutch-German border.

b. Project background.

DPAA’s mission is to search for, recover and identify remains of missing personnel from World War II (WWII), the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars, and other recent conflicts. DPAA’s cases are based on information received from families, archival and historical research, findings from local residents in the area where these wars were fought, and field investigations.

On 25 June 1943, ten crewmembers of B-17F #42-30049 departed from Grafton Underwood, England, on a mission to bomb the industrial areas and submarine slips of Hamburg, Germany. The plane was attacked by enemy aircraft over Hamburg and severely crippled.

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

A remote sensing capability will be required that can be fielded in the environment of the Ems-Dollard Estuary--which fluctuates from water-covered to muddy with the tidal period, roughly every six hours. The remote sensing capability must also be able to penetrate several feet of mud due to the likelihood that the plane’s wreckage has been buried and continually re-covered in sediment since its crash over seventy years ago.

The investigative team must be qualified to operate the remote sensing equipment in the unique environment of the Ems-Dollard Estuary and interpret the sensors’ findings. Information interpreted from remote sensing will be used to identify potential magnetic anomalies and acoustic reflectors representative of wreckage, which in turn will guide hydro‐probing investigation of select targets. Identification and correlation of wreckage is not expected to occur; however, test excavation(s) atop the mud flat will be made in order to determine the feasibility of future excavation and recovery efforts.

c. Project title.

DPAA Mission 17-1NL: Archaeological Survey and Investigation Work for aircraft crash

d. Project description.

1.1 Contracted professional services are required for archaeological investigation to conduct and report on survey operations in search of a U.S. World War II military aircraft loss in the Ems-Dollard Estuary, Netherlands.

This contract is strictly for remote sensing investigation, phase 1 work, and limited test excavation.

1.2 The Contractor shall conduct archaeological investigation work in an effort to locate the aircraft crash site(s). The period of performance will not extend beyond 240 days following award of contract, unless mutually agreed to by USACE and DPAA. The Contractor will deploy a survey team, review and process all data, and provide USACE/DPAA POCs with a report of the anomalies most likely to be missing United States military assets. A final Site Survey Form for each site found, and all raw data and notes gathered during the contract, will be required at the close of this contract in hard copy and electronic media on CD or DVD.

1.3 In addition to the other requirements set forth in this PWS regarding safety, permits, etc., the Contractor will utilize best practices of standard archaeological investigation methods, to specifically include Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation (originally published in 48 FR 44716, 29 Sep 1983, and published in the Code of Federal Regulations, 36 CFR Part 61, Appendix A - Professional Qualifications Standards (hereinafter “DoI Standards”) in fulfillment of this contract.

• Requirement type: Support services (non-R&D)

• Type of action: New requirement

• Proposed contract/order type: Firm-fixed-price

• Acquisition identification number: W9128F-16-R-0111

e. Total estimated dollar value and performance/delivery period.

IGCE:

Period of Performance: Commencing 15 days from the date of award. The period of performance will not extend beyond 240 days following award of contract, unless mutually agreed to by USACE and DPAA.

4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition. This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 United States Code (U.S.C.) 253(c) as set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-5(b)(7), Authorized or Required by Statute, Sole Source Award under the Woman Owned Small Business Program.

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor(s) unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

a. Name and address of the proposed contractor(s).

SEARCH

315 NW 138 Terrace Newberry FL 32669

b. Nature of the acquisition and proposed unique qualifications of the contractor(s).

As certified in the System Award Management System, SEARCH is a Women-Owned Small Business under NAICS 541990, Size Standard $15,000,000.

Pursuant to this acquisition, SEARCH will conduct archaeological survey and investigation operations to locate a 17F bomber. The plane was attacked by enemy aircraft over Hamburg and severely crippled. The aircraft was able to make it as far as the Dutch-German border but crashed into the Ems-Dollard Estuary, which fluctuates from water-covered to muddy roughly every six hours.

SEARCH personnel include trained underwater archaeologists, divers, and other subject matter experts who have specific and extensive experience in underwater remote sensing investigations. The ability to operate and quickly interpret inputs from several different sensors (magnetometer, sub-bottom profiler, hydro probe) is crucial for this operation, which is an unusual underwater case that also involves burial of the potential wreckage in several feet of mud. The ability to field this capability immediately is also required so planning and coordination can begin

SEARCH possesses an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) that is capable of operating in extremely shallow water. Due to the tidal variation of the Ems-Dollard Estuary, the draft required to safely operate a small boat would prohibit operation outside of a 1-2 hours peak period. The USV can remain in the shallow water for a significantly longer time before it has to retreat to an area with greater depth. The USV payload will include all the same remote sensing equipment that a manned survey would. Considering the terrain restraints of this region, the USV will be able to survey the greatest area possible.

As an archaeological firm, SEARCH is uniquely equipped to provide the full spectrum of capabilities required for this unusual investigation. Other commercial geotechnical exploration firms (for example oil and gas exploration) would lack the nuanced understanding of the archaeological methods to remotely identify candidate aircraft wreckage, and smaller firms or individuals would lack the resources to field the specialized sensors and platforms the terrain calls for.

The work under this contract must be performed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation (originally published in 48 FR 44716, 29 Sep 1983, and published in the Code of Federal Regulations, 36 CFR Part 61, Appendix A - Professional Qualifications Standards). SEARCH has personnel with the needed education and experience to ensure these requirements are satisfied.

6. Description of the efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable. Pre-solicitation notice was published 31 August 2016 and will be posted for 15 days IAW FAR Subpart 5.2.

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost/price to the Government will be fair and reasonable. Based on historical contract actions for similar work in different locations, the USACE developed an Independent Government Estimate, which will be used during negotiations to establish objectives to ensure a fair and reasonable price for all contracting parties.

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

Market research was conducted IAW FAR 10.002(b)(2)(i) as well as through the Small Business Dynamic Search database.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

SEARCH

has a demonstrated capability and recent track record with DPAA for performing archaeological investigation and recovery missions on time and in a professional manner despite challenges such as those presented at this particular site.

10. Listing of sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition. None.

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 required supplies or services. N/A

12. Contracting Officer Certification.

This is to certify that the justification for the proposed acquisition has been reviewed and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information and/or data provided to support the rationale and recommendation for approval is accurate and complete.

Official Name & Title Signature Date

Contracting Officer

Jeffrey W. Wyant, Contracting Officer

31 Aug 16

13. Office of Council Review

Official Name & Title Signature Date

Office of Council 1 Sep 16