Sole source intention

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Columbia Cascades Area Office,intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with GeoEngineers in accordance with FAR 6.302, the proposed contractual action is pursuant to the statutory authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)( 1_ ) (ii) Supplies may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment, including major components thereof, when it is likely that award to any other source would result in- (A) Substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition; or (B) Unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's requirements. (See 10 U.S.C. 2304(d)(1)(B) or 41 U.S.C. 253 (d)(1)(B).) In 2011 Reclamation entered into a contract with the Talent Irrigation District (TID) to develop a PHABSIM/HEC-RAS habitat model to estimate the habitat uplift that was possible through the placement of Large Woody Material (LWM) in streams that were affected by the operation and maintenance activities of the Rogue River Basin Project in Southwest, Oregon. This LWM modeling report would be used to document how Reclamation could calculate the amount of habitat benefit of LWM placement during the Rogue Project Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). TID authorized GeoEngineers Inc. to conduct this habitat uplift analysis in one particular reach of Emigrant Creek. On February 28, 2012 GeoEngineers Inc. delivered a final report to Reclamation entitled "Emigrant Creek Habitat Uplift Analysis: A Synthesis of Two Models (PHABSIM and HEC-RAS) to Quantify LWD Habitat Value". This report was then subsequently delivered to NMFS as part of Reclamation's habitat analysis for the ESA consultation process for the Rogue Project. On April 2, 2012 Reclamation received a final Biological Opinion (BiOp) from NMFS for the continued operation of the Rogue Project. As part of this BiOp, NMFS directed Reclamation to conduct LWM habitat modeling in additional reaches of both Bear and Little Butte Creeks that are affected by Rogue Project operations. Using the Reclamation Workflow Management Process (Reclamation's Business Model), the Columbia-Cascades Area Office (CCAO) offerred the LWM habitat analysis project for these additional stream reaches to the Regional Office in Boise, ID. The River Systems Analysis Group (RSAG) in the Regional Office elected to conduct the habitat modeling for these other reaches and as a result, the CCAO entered into a Service Agreement with the RSAG to complete the habitat modeling in May of 2012. The RSAG conducted their LWM modeling analysis between June through September 2012. During this process, however, the RSAG was not able to accurately reproduce the results that were obtained from the February 28, 2012 GeoEngineers Report for the Emigrant Creek reach. After several meetings between the CCAO, RSAG, and staff from GeoEngineers Inc., it was determined that the various modeling approaches used by the RSAG and GeoEngineers Inc. were essentially the same and were both accurate. However, the GeoEngineers Inc. modeling report was presented in different values (habitat uplift in ft2 per 1000 ft of stream channel) rather than as a habitat value of ft2 per individual LWM structure as was reported by the RSAG. Because different approaches were used to report the habitat uplift results, the reports appear to be inconsistent with one another, when in fact, they are essentially the same. Because the reports should represent habitat uplift in a similar manner, Reclamation has requested that GeoEngineers Inc. re-analyze their habitat model to represent the habitat uplift in ft2 per structure rather than ft2 per 1000 ft of stream channel. GeoEngineers was also asked to provide a memorandum and new results table that explains why the habitat model was changed and why the results were altered from the original report from February 28, 2012. The government believes that only one responsible source can provide the services listed above that will satisfy the agency needs. Any firm or individual that believes it can furnish the items described are encouraged to give written notification to the Contracting Officer. Supporting evidence must be furnished, insufficient detail to demonstrate the ability to comply with the above requirements. All responses received by close of business December 12, 2012, will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Goverment not to compete this proposed action based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Goverment. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Inquiries will only be accepted by electronic mail at [email protected].