R--Notice of Intent to Sole Source

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has a requirement to participate within the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) ocean research program at The University of Rhode Island (URI). Benefits include use of UNOLS research vessels and equipment, use of URI, Graduate School of Oceanography facilities, a forum for collaboration between academia and science-based Federal agencies, and advice, planning, facilitation and resultant reports from UNOLS. The USGS is aware of no other source that can provide the above. Therefore, it intends to make an award to URI unless it is contacted by any vendor that believes it possesses similar technical expertise and can provide the same service. Vendors are invited to contact the Contract Specialist, Frank J. Argenziano (contact@example.gov) no later than 12 p.m. ET, May 21, 2012 with an affirmative answer. The USGS considers employee signatures to be personal protected information, and therefore all employee signatures have been redacted. By posting this document, the Contract Specialist attests all appropriate signatures have been obtained. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (FAR 13.1) The following information is provided to demonstrate the proposed contractors unique qualifications: UNOLS is the only organization that coordinates the use of federally supported oceanographic facilities with academic oceanographic institutions, and it is the only organization where the ocean research and education community, research facility operators, and supporting Federal agencies work cooperatively to improve access, scheduling, operation, and capabilities of current and future academic oceanographic facilities. The UNOLS fleet will greatly aid in the research necessary to meet our mission. As stated in the Program Strategy, the USGS is developing an integrated coastal program that effectively applies the breadth of USGS expertise towards the objective of providing national and regional capabilities to characterize coastal systems and to measure, analyze, understand, and forecast coastal changes (natural and anthropogenic) that affect coastal economies, resource availability, recreational quality, and the integrity and sustainability of the Nations coastal ecosystems. Market research was conducted via the internet in early April, 2012. Other organizations found . . . did not provide the same diversity and scope as UNOLS, nor the specific areas of research necessary to meet USGS minimum scientific needs, such as microbial oceanography, biogeochemical processes and national sea level monitoring. Moreover, UNOLS has experience working with Federal agencies that these other organizations do not, as doing so is expressly included within UNOLS mission statement. Also, no other organization has a fleet of research vessels that can compare to UNOLS. The UNOLS fleet is the largest and most capable fleet of oceanographic research vessels in the world. It was determined that no other U.S. organization or consortium can provide the scope of oceanographic vessels, research, and support capabilities necessary to satisfy USGS objectives.