INTENT TO AWARD NOTICE: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Mission Areas require Advisory and Assistance Services in an array of disciplines that include but are not limited to: models, observations, computational resources, data services, and education and outreach. The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) doing business as The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) which is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) will provide the advisory and assistance services in order to help the USGS continue fulfilling our mission by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life. NCAR will do this by providing in-house scientists that collaborate with their peers in academia, government, and the private sector to build, refine, and expand NCAR's community resources in order to provide the assistance and advisory services. Under the authority of FAR 6.302-3(a)(2)(ii), Industrial mobilization; engineering, development, or research capability; or expert services the USGS intends to make a direct award to UCAR/NCAR for the Advisory and Assistance Services as specified in the Justification and Approval (J&A) information listed below. This is not a request for competitive proposals and is solely an intent to award notice of a non-competitive procurement under the authority identified above. Questions or concerns related to this notice may be submitted to the Contracting Officer, Nicole Demby via e-mail at
[email protected] no later than 2:00PM EST, Wednesday April 3, 2019. SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION STATES THE FOLLOWING PART: The following information is provided to demonstrate the proposed contractor's unique qualifications: UCAR/NCAR, a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), will provide advisory and assistance services to help the USGS continue fulfilling its mission by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life. UCAR/NCAR will do this by providing in-house scientists that collaborate with their peers in academia, government, and the private sector to build, refine, and expand UCAR/NCAR's community resources to provide the assistance and advisory services. The USGS provides earth science research and scientific products to other Department of the Interior (DOI) bureaus, other Federal, state, and local agencies, tribes, non-governmental organizations, and the public. To fulfill its mission the USGS must employ a scientific workforce that is trained and prepared to communicate and collaborate across multiple disciplines. As the USGS moves forward into new areas of science and technology to address its goals and mission, it becomes even more important to connect with external scientists that are on the cutting edge of these new areas, including undergraduate- and graduate-level students and early-career post-graduate and post-doctoral scientists, who possess expertise in the earth sciences. The Government intends to contract with UCAR/NCAR to fulfill this need. UCAR/NCAR is also expected to assist USGS with external communication needs as effective science must be well communicated to achieve maximum impact. They will support associated workshops that will serve to further enhance collaborative science. As observations and research yield better understanding, prediction, and innovative techniques, decision-makers and the public must be made aware of these advances in a clear and understandable way to ensure that human well-being, ecosystem health, and a prosperous economy can be maintained and grown while sustaining our natural resources. UCAR/NCAR will continue and expand research that improves the effectively delivery of its scientific data and information, improves understanding and quantification of the societal impact of USGS-related science, and determines methods for better communication of scientific results and findings. The proposed action may be awarded without full and open competition under 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as implemented in FAR 6.302-3(a)(2)(ii), Industrial mobilization; engineering, development, or research capability; or expert services. The USGS requires independent, unbiased earth science support to fulfill the USGS mission related to natural hazards, water resources, energy and minerals, ecosystems, and core science systems. The vendor providing this support must be able to act in a "trusted agent" role and provide expert scientific analysis and support in the best interest of the Federal Government to ensure the integrity of USGS research studies, monitoring, assessments, and operations. The specific tasks included in the scope of work that require this level of specialized expertise include studies, analysis, research and data information collection in support of USGS project and program planning, development, and execution efforts. The scientific and/or engineering analyses and recommendations provided by the vendor will have a major impact on the success of USGS science, programs, and operations. Specialized, unbiased support of this type can only be obtained through a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). Of the thirty-seven designated FFRDC organizations currently reported as required at FAR 35.017-6, UCAR/NCAR is the FFRDC for earth system science. FAR 37.017 defines a FFRDC as an organization established to meet a special long-term research or development need which cannot be met as effectively by existing in-house or contractor resources. An FFRDC enables an agency to use private sector resources to accomplish tasks that are integral to the agency mission and operation. An FFRDC has access, beyond that which is common to the normal contractual relationship, to Government and supplier data, including sensitive and propriety data, and to employees and installations equipment and real property. The FFRDC is required to conduct its business in a manner befitting its special relationship with the Government, to operate in the public interest with objectivity and independence, to be free from organizational conflicts of interest, and to have full disclosure of its affairs to the sponsoring agency. Of the thirty-seven designated FFRDC organizations currently reported as required at FAR 35.017-6, the National Science Foundation has established UCAR/NCAR as the FFRDC for earth system science. No other FFRDCs have the expertise needed to support the USGS mission.