D--Intent to Award Notice Internet2

Intent to Award Notice DOIGFBO200031 The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, Sioux Falls, SD, has a requirement for the renewal of its annual Intemet2 access to provide network routing capabilities support the ability of the USGS to capture, process, monitor, report, and distribute scientific data in a timely manner. This is essential in the support of the LSDS, LPDAAC and Sentinel-2 missions. The Intemet2 Network is the sole provider. The USGS is aware of no other source that can provide the above. Therefore, it intends to make an award to Internet2 unless it is contacted by any vendor who believes they have similar technical expertise and can provide the same product and services. Vendors are invited to contact the Contract Specialist, Tara Hough [email protected] no later than 12:00 PM EDT, Monday, April 27, 2020 with an affirmative answer. SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION STATES THE FOLLOWING PART: The following information is provided to demonstrate the proposed contractor¿s unique qualifications: USGS/EROS has unique requirements for the capture, processing, monitoring, reporting, and distribution of scientific data in a timely manner. As previously mentioned, the lnternet2 Network currently provides routing for approximately 75% of the USGS/EROS Wide Area Network traffic, supporting numerous USGS/EROS projects in meeting their missions, including Sentinel-2. lnternet2 is a dedicated Network that connects to the academic and scientific organizations that USGS/EROS uses - connecting to the satellite receiving stations and distributing large amounts of data. The dedicated bandwidth of lnternet2 transmits this data that cannot be processed through normal Internet routes. As a 501c3 non-profit, participant criteria organization, lnternet2 is the only provider of lnternet2 Access to these critical unimpeded routes. This is a closed network infrastructure only provided to select academic and scientific communities. Internet 2 is the network that USGS/EROS must connect to in order to establish the required connections for upcoming satellite feeds from both U.S. and European Space Agencies (ESA). The impact of not using the Inertnet2 is that USGS EROS would not be able to support data and information handling that a DOI IT Center must do. These ground stations, NASA and ESA each use lnternet2 as their high bandwidth distribution network. Because these facilities use Internet 2 for their high-speed connections, the only way to access these high- speed connections is Internet 2. Internet 2 is a private network and therefore does not operate the same as the normal Internet.