B--Intent to Award - American National Standards Institute

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has a requirement for American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Membership. The USGS is aware of no other source that can provide the above. Therefore, it intends to make an award to American National Standards Institute (ANSI), unless it is contacted by any vendor who believes they obtain similar technical expertise and can provide the same service. Vendors are invited to contact the Contract Specialist, Bryan O'Shaughnessy ([email protected]) no later than 12:00 PM EST, Tuesday, April 10, 2012 with an affirmative answer. The U.S. Geological Survey (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. SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION STATES THE FOLLOWING PART: The following information is provided to demonstrate the proposed contractor's unique qualifications:Part of the mission of the USGS is to produce information that enables the US to manage its water resources and water-related infrastructure and to mediate the impacts of floods and droughts. An important aspect of that effort requires access to information from other Nations. The USGS seeks to standardize the collection of hydrologic data so that the hydrologic cycle, floods, droughts, etc. are easier to understand and assess. Better and more consistent international data also permits the USGS to better manage streamflow across borders and understand hydrologic responses to climate change. The primary standards making body in the world is the International Standards Organization (ISO) in which representatives of various countries collaborate to develop voluntary standards and data definitions. ANSI is the only American affiliate of ISO (URL:http://www.iso.org/iso/about/iso_members.htm) and it is the only ISO-chartered organization that the USGS can participate in the international standards process. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a 501(c)3 private, not-for-profit organization consisting of representatives of U.S. Federal, State, and local governmental agencies, companies, non-governmental organizations, and individuals who are organized into technical advisory groups to engage similarly organized representatives of other countries to discuss, create, and revise voluntary standards pertaining to various manufacturing, trade, or information products with the goal of promoting the widespread and easy exchange of these products. It has been determined by the program office, through market research conducted in December 2011 via internet searches, that there are no other alternative organizations or resellers of this membership. ANSI is the only American affiliate of the ISO.