Intent to Sole Source

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) intends to award, on a sole-source basis, a fixed price purchase order to Airline Reporting Corporation, Inc. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Division of International Prices (IPP), publishes Import and Export Air Passenger Fares indexes on a monthly basis. Due to cooperation issues with the airlines, IPP determined the only way to publish these indexes on a monthly basis is to purchase respondent-level data from a third-party. This requirement is mission critical and requires most accurate and detailed data set. The data ARC provides has key components of the airline market which impacts the quality and accuracy of the published indexes. ARC is the only company that can provide the specific international routes and associated price data at a level of detail that is required to produce import air passenger indexes. Also, ARC is the only data provider that can provide the data on a monthly basis in a timeframe that enables BLS to publish the monthly indexes on time. Traffic and Fare Analysis data requirement is mission critical and requires most accurate and detailed data set. ARC is the only source for consolidated airline ticketing data for 220+ airlines ticketed in the United States. Industry sources were examined and were not capable of meeting these needs of this requirement. In addition, ARC is the only source capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized. The data ARC provides has key components of the airline market which impacts the quality and accuracy of the published indexes. ARC is the only company that can provide the specific international routes and associated price data at a level of detail that is required to produce import and export air passenger indexes. Also, ARC is the only data provider that can provide the data on a monthly basis in a timeframe that enables BLS to publish the monthly indexes on time. Market research efforts have established that Airline Reporting Corporation, Inc. is the only vendor that is capable of meeting the requirement. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition for this simplified acquisition is FAR 13.106-1(b) (1). This is not a request for competitive quotes; however, all interested sources who believe they can meet the requirements may submit a capability statement no later than January 19, 2018 @ 12:00 AM ET to Ms. Teresa Clower, clower@teresa@bls.gov or Lasondia Chaney at chaney.lasondia@bls.gov. Information received as a result of this notice will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement and will be at the sole discretion of the Contracting Officer.