U--Intent to Award - OGC Strategic Membership

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has a requirement for a strategic membership which allows the USGS the ability to collaborate in extensive research and development on geospatial standards. This membership is known to be available only from the Open GIS Consortium as the only provider of the service because they are the only voluntary consensus industry standardization organization which covers the geospatial domain. The USGS is aware of no other source that can provide the above. Therefore, it intends to make an award to the Open GIS Consortium, unless it is contacted by any vendor who believes they can provide the same membership. Vendors are invited to contact the Contract Specialist at [email protected] no later than 11:00 AM EST, Monday, August 29, 2011 with an affirmative answer. SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION STATES THE FOLLOWING PART: Membership renewal with the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) is sought for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS is the lead agency designated by the Department of the Interior for the development and adoption of geospatial standards. OMB circular A-119 required federal agencies to participate in such voluntary consensus standard groups to contribute federal requirements to the standardization process. Participation in the standards development process is limited to member organizations. Under this membership, all disciplines within the USGS are eligible to participate, covering geospatial standardization issues in water resources, geology, biology, and geography. No organization other than the OGC provides a forum for voluntary-consensus industry standards development. Participation in the OGC allows members the ability to collaborate in extensive research and development on geospatial standards that would be many times more costly than if work were conducted independently. Members can collaborate on Interoperability Program initiatives, including testbeds and pilot projects as collaboration events. As a result of this process, all standards that are developed become freely available to anyone over the internet, increasing the outreach and adoption of the standards. Membership in the OGC allows the USGS to fulfill its obligations under OMB Circular A-119, maintain leadership in geospatial standards development, and promotes the open exchange of geospatial data between USGS and hundreds of other organizations. Failure by USGS to maintain membership in OGC would jeopardize the status of the Bureau as a designated lead agency.