The US Geological Survey (USGS) has a requirement for GSI3D, a methodology and associated software tool for 3D geological modeling and visualization for constructing 3D solid models of the subsurface for a wide range of applications. The USGS is aware of no other source that can provide the above. Therefore, it intends to make an award to British Geological Survey, unless it is contacted by any vendor who believes they can provide the required GSI3D. Vendors are invited to contact the Contracting Specialist,
[email protected] no later than 12:00 PM EST, Tuesday, August 7, 2012 with an affirmative answer. SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION STATES THE FOLLOWING PART: The following information is provided to demonstrate the proposed contractors unique qualifications: No other organizations provide the methodology and software developed jointly by the British Geological Survey (BGS) and INSIGHT GmbH. The USGS has identified a growing need to acquire the latest software in three- and four-dimensional modeling and visualization for applications in all Mission Areas. Because this is an emerging technology field, many state-of-the-art software programs are unique, designed for specific purposes, and available from only one source. Background: Starting in January 2010, USGS scientists led by Linda Jacobsen and Pierre Glynn started a cross-disciplinary cross-mission area effort to examine the types of 3D/4D visualization and modeling software available from a variety of sources and used in Geological Surveys and other organizations around the world. This effort has led to a USGS community involvement in determining USGS needs and currently available software to meet those needs. Multiple meetings, technical sessions, workshops and conference calls have been held each year with this USGS community since 2010 to assess the state of the art in 3D/4D visualization and modeling software. Two defining articles were published lead-authored by Linda Jacobsen and Pierre Glynn, and a third one is anticipated for 2012 following a technical USGS session (August 9, 2012, USGS National Groundwater Meeting ) on 3D/4D visualization software and applications to groundwater studies. The two publications so far are: Glynn P.D., L. Jacobsen, G. Phelps, G. Bawden, V. Grauch, R. Orndorff, R. Winston, M. Fienen, V. Cross and J. Bratton, 2011, 3D/4D Modeling, Visualization and Information Frameworks: Current US Geological Survey Practice and Needs, p 33-38, in Russell, H.A.J., Berg, R.C., and Thorleifson, L.H. (compilers): Three-Dimensional Geological Mapping; Workshop Extended Abstracts, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 8 2011, Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 6998, 80 p. doi:10.4095/289609,http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/research/3DWorkshop/2011/workshop.shtml Jacobsen, L.J., Glynn, P.D., Phelps, G.A., Orndorff, R.C., Bawden, G.W., and Grauch, V.J.S., 2011, U.S. Geological Survey: a synopsis of three-dimensional modeling, in Berg, R.C. , Mathers, S. J., Kessler, H., and D.A. Keefer (eds.): Synopsis of Current Three-dimensional Modeling in Geological Survey Organizations, Illinois State Geological Survey Circular 578, p. 69-79. http://library.isgs.uiuc.edu/Pubs/pdfs/circulars/c578.pdf Based on these meetings/conference calls (more than 4 per year) and the associated market research, Linda Jacobsen and Pierre Glynn in collaboration with many other USGS scientists, with expertise in this emerging technology, analyzed and determined that GSI3D has unique applications for field geologists, geologic mapping, and hydrologic analyses that are critically needed by the USGS, and that no other software package could meet on its own. GSI3D is unique in how it enables geoscientists to capture conceptual knowledge in a simple and intuitive manner to quickly and dynamically construct and maintain scientifically robust 3D geological maps (or models) of the subsurface, using all available subsurface and surface geological data. Additionally, GSI3D has a high degree of customizability and functionality enhancement for its users. The British Geological Survey and the GSI3D Research Consortium (which includes many other Geological Surveys from around the world) has been extremely diligent about helping evolve GSI3D to meet new needs and functionalities as they occur. In summary, there is no other software currently available that has the intuitive geological framework construction features of GSI3D and the specific capabilities that the USGS (and other Geological surveys) needs. Another major reason for the USGS to acquire this particular software is to enable international scientific collaboration and data sharing and to enhance our ability to fulfill our national survey mandate to promote data standards. With the Research Consortium, the British Geological Survey (BGS) is leading the world in forming a collaborative platform for advanced three-dimensional geologic mapping, and for this reason, it is incumbent on the USGS to partner with BGS and other nations by using common technological and software tools, in particular GSI3D. Since the BGS developed GSI3D to be the primary geologic mapping software used by their geologic mappers and scientists, it is the only software that can make the claim to be the BGS software of choice. Specific essential features of the GSI3D visualization and modeling software are the following: 1) scale independence with no maximum project area; 2) unlimited number of cross sections and of structural units; 3) enabling of user-defined stratigraphy; 4) representation of lenses within units; 5) connections to Zoom3D groundwater modeling software; 6) a wide diversity of import/export formats (XML, Ascii grids, georegistered JPEGs, ESRI shapefiles, Excel spreadsheets for borehole imports. Continuing use of the GSI3D software and participation in the consortium will increase the USGS capability in three-dimensional (3D) geologic mapping, data integration, science integration, and building communities of use around this technology. GSI3D also will benefit USGS research, public outreach, and US- and international-partner collaboration. In 2010 USGS invested in a GSI3D bureau-wide enterprise license and became member of the GSI3D Research Consortium (USGS requisition order G10PX02302). Since then, a growing number of USGS researchers and technical experts have come to depend on this software. Also, USGS has also since invested in companion software called GeoVisionary. The size of the USGS scientist salary investment in learning, using and developing GSI3D models of geologic and groundwater frameworks is on the order of at least $200,000 so far. This amount dwarfs the annual license cost for the software. Switching to another software package would result in the loss of the USGS scientist salary investment thats been made in constructing GSI3D models. Impact if award not issued: About 2 dozen USGS scientists from multiple Mission Areas have started using GSI3D in their modeling and analysis since USGS obtained the GSI3D software in 2010. If the award is not issued, numerous ongoing USGS research studies will be derailed, and the considerable investment in time and money to date will be lost. The GSI3D consortium is an open consortium, based on corporate or individual memberships, that enables GSI3D to be used by geological surveys, government agencies, universities, not-for-profit organizations, commercial companies, individuals, and students.