JA_R2Sonic2024AMD1.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, maintain productivity, support offshore projects, and increase the level of accuracy of our hydrographic surveys, the Survey Section needs to upgrade all of the hydrographic survey equipment across 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 single purchase of the R2Sonic 2024 system will be $133,000 of the total $1.7 million cabinet.

The specific brand name system being requested is:

Multibeam Sonar R2 Sonic Off the shelf purchase with minimal lead time as the vendor is in Austin, TX USA.

Require a high resolution shallow water multibeam echo sounder system with integrated IMU in the 100 500kHz range. Swath width should be 160 degrees, or greater, have 1024 soundings per ping, and have a possible ping rate of 60 Hz. Beamwidth should be 1° by 2° at 200kHz, or better, and have equidistant and equiangle modes. Equipment must be able to sustain temperature ranges up to 130 degrees and the shock and vibration associated with trailered vessels.

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.

In order to better support the mission the Corpus Christi office would like to augment the current multibeam sonar configuration on the survey vessel Vannoy to include a second multibeam sonar head. This dual head configuration would nearly double the seafloor coverage on each line and allow them to rapidly assess their area of concern.

b) JUSTIFICATION: Only another R2 Sonic Transducer would be able to interface with the current system. Also, all multibeam capable survey vessels across the district are currently set up to accept this equipment and survey crews are familiar with its operation. Each system costs $133,000 so it is less expensive to augment what we already have rather than buy 2 new transducers from another company that will require extensive training and re cabling the vessels. Due to these reasons the R2 Sonic Transducer is essential to achieving the districts mission.

c) IMPACT: Dual head sonar systems (which can increase the area of coverage by 40%) allow for extensive cost and time savings by completing jobs up to 40% faster. The tilted sonar heads allow data to be collected closer to the coastline and river edges, and along pier faces.

d) ALTERNATIVES: None. No other system will interface with the existing equipment.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION: There will be competition between firms that sell the required name brand multibeam echo sounder 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 R2 Sonic were received from R2 Sonic and SES Services.

8. OTHER FACTORS: By using equipment made in the USA and Canada 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 or calibrated.

Using companies with offices in Texas (R2 Sonic, and SES services) 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. The R2 Sonic office in Austin, TX currently services the equipment.

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: Previous mutibeam systems that were purchased were R2 Sonic 2024s under contract W912HY 11 C 0012 in 20011.

b) ACQUISITION DATA AVAILABILITY: Not applicable.

c) UNUSUAL AND COMPELLING URGENCY: Not applicable.

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: _____________________

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 contract in which these brand name items are included will be awarded based on adequate competition.

NAME: _ ___ DATE: ___________________

TITLE: _ Contract Officer ____ SIGNATURE: _____________________

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: _____________________

NICHOLS.ALDRI

CH.ANTONIA.11

14683899

Digitally signed by

NICHOLS.ALDRICH.ANTO

NIA.1114683899

Date: 2020.02.27 13:12:48 -06'00'

NICHOLS.ALD

RICH.ANTONIA

.1114683899

Digitally signed by

NICHOLS.ALDRICH.ANTO

NIA.1114683899

Date: 2020.02.27 13:13:07 -06'00'