The US Geological Survey (USGS) has a requirement for the publication of the Geological Society of American (GSA) Memoir 209 title "Hydrology and Geochemistry of Yucca Mountain and Vicinity, Southern Nevada and California". The USGS is aware of no other source that can provide the above. Therefore, it intends to make an award to the Geological Society of America, unless it is contacted by any vendor who believes they can provide the required Memoir 209. Vendors are invited to contact the Contracting Officer,
[email protected] no later than 1:00 PM EDT, Thursday, July 26, 2012 with an affirmative answer. SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION STATES THE FOLLOWING PART: The following information is provided to demonstrate the proposed contractor's unique qualifications: This procurement is intended as a companion document to GSA Memoir 199 previously published and first distributed by GSA in 2007. Significant confusion of the general earth science community and public would result should a subsequent organization and/or publication now be utilized for publication of this information. Additionally, fracturing of information would likely result in the event a different venue/ publication was now to be utilized. The Geologic Society of America has, in over one hundred years, deemed 208 other scientific works worthy of publication as a memoir and speaks to the high standards that are reserved for this form of publication. The individual chapters of the two companion volumes contain the level of information that specialists would want to see, having the diverse subjects matters published together will demonstrate that all possible areas have been studied. Publication by the Geologic Society of America will insure that both volumes will have the same distribution and address all subject matter. There is no other source that is issuing a publication that addresses the required diverse subject matter all in one publication. GSA's standing in the earth science disciplines, as well as broad recognition as producing authoritative publications throughout the scientific community both nationally and internationally, is critical to publication and distribution of the USGS' scientific record and analysis for the Yucca Mountain, NV site. GSA is viewed as an independent unbiased and objective professional society regarding nuclear waste disposal alternatives. Publication of USGS scientific data, information and analysis for the Nation's first proposed deep geologic repository for disposal of highly radioactive materials as a GSA memoir is paramount to ensuring USGS's reputation as a preeminent government research agency. No other publication service or professional society is known to have the recognition or acceptance in the earth science community with regard to integrated scientific disciplines covered by the USGS manuscript. Statements have been made by many anti-nuclear opponents of the Yucca Mountain Project as well as some politicians that scientific investigations at Yucca Mountain, and funded by DOE, did not receive adequate external program peer review. This has resulted in a reluctance of some within the earth science community and public to fully embrace the full suite of scientific works performed and its interpretation. Publication by GSA will give the USGS work being published a higher credibility and wider circulation (by virtue of standing orders and large membership) than the USGS publishing in more traditional approaches (i.e. USGS agency publication). The GSA publication is part of a unique product which contributes valuable information to addressing the problem of high-level radioactive waste disposal. Making the findings available in the most respected publication possible and to the broadest range of fields of Earth Science possible, will be of great advantage to the USGS, DOE, and the U.S. Government in response to the criticism that the work did not have the maximum openness and transparency.