Notice of Intent to Sole Source - National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT, NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS

1. Contracting Agency and Activity:

The United States Coast Guard, HQ Contracting Division (CG-912), intends to award a sole source Firm-Fixed Price IDIQ contract with a one-year base ordering period and 4 (one-year) optional ordering periods to The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE BOATING LAW ADMINISTRATORS. The anticipated period of performance is September 2024, to September 2028.

2. Description:

The purpose of this acquisition is to support the Coast Guard’s only forensic C-School training program; the Digital Evidence First Responder’s (DEFR), with advanced curriculum, certification and/or competency focusing on GPS forensic aquisitions within the maritime environment. The contractor will be expected to provide approximatelyeight-hour(s) of instruction designed to provide maritime law enforcement officers the foundational knowledge, skills and ability for recovering evidence from GPS devices and preparing it for courtroom presentation. The class should take students through the history of the GPS system, describe the components of the system, and explain the basic concepts of how GPS works. Students should learn about the wide variety of devices that are on the market and the types of data the devices might hold. They should learn the best practices for securing a GPS for examination and the legal guidelines that must be followed. Finally, students should learn about the tools and software needed to conduct a basic examination of a GPS, and learn how to present the results.

3. Statutory Authority:

10 U.S.C. § 3204(a)(1) implemented by the FAR 6.302-1 entitled “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.”

4. Reasons for Authority Cited:

USCG intends to procure a brand name specification for National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) services for a period of five (05) years. Coast Guard units have been working with the NASBLA to provide nationally recognized training to state and local agencies. Coast Guard units, primarily stations, have the ability to use the NASBLA curriculum and provide no-cost training to First Responders and Law Enforcement entities within their Area of Responsibility (AOR). When Coast Guard units train their local partner agencies they are building and strengthening relationships with fellow responders within their AOR, there is an immediate and comprehensive return on the unit's investment. Those relationships built during training exponentially increase safety during those times our partner agencies are acting as force multipliers out on the water.

Based on USCG market research, NASBLA is the sole source provider for current GPS forensics within the maritime environment. This service is specific to NASBLA. Market research determined that no other service has approached the proprietary, investigative manner of GPS devices from such an educational, curriculum-based standard, and perspective wherein insists upon a forensically sound nature. In addition, no other commercial organization works within the maritime environment in such a narrow maritime scope, investigative, and forensic specialty. Forgoing this service procurement limits the subject matter expertise, investigative techniques, and safe acquisition of electronic devices by qualified first responders within the maritime environment.

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT, NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS

No solicitation is available for this requirement. However, any firm that believes it can meet the requirements can submit a capability statement, which will be considered by the agency. Responses to this notice must provide clear and convincing evidence that competition would benefit the government, would not be prohibitively expensive or time-consuming, and that interested parties would be likely to participate. If a competitive procurement is to be conducted, the information obtained will be considered. It is entirely up to the Government to decide whether to compete the proposed procurement based on responses to this notice.

The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred. Responses must be received via email at Joel.M.Gibney@uscg.mil and william.e.lewis3@uscg.mil by June 28, 2024. Responses sent via other means (i.e., via telephone call, facsimile transmission, etc.) will not be considered.

All responding vendors must be registered to the System for Award Management (SAM). Information can be found at https://www.sam.gov. Complete SAM registration means a registered Unique Entity ID and CAGE.