Cellular Services, Yellowstone National Park. Posting of Sole Source Justification.

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition Date: 9/27/2010Project: Cellular Services, Yellowstone National ParkPurchase Request #: R1577111010 1. Identificationsa. Agency: National Park Serviceb. Contracting Office: Yellowstone National Park 2. Description of the action being approved:The National Park Service (NPS) shall be soliciting for cellular services on existing phones and other wireless devices. The documents included with the solicitation call for specific brand name products that are peculiar to one manufacturer. This written justification provides approval for limiting competition to the listed brand name products as authorized by the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). Description of supplies and services: Voice, Text, and Data wireless telecommunications packages. 3. Scope of Work and Government Cost Estimate: Service for 125 cell phones, 41 blackberry devices, and 11 air cards. Cost estimated is at $85,000 annually, based on estimated usage. 4. Authority: a. 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1): Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.b. FAR Part 11.105: The Brand Name products are essential to the Government's requirements, and market research indicates other companies' similar products do not meet and cannot be modified to meet the agency's needs.c. FAR 6.302-1: The use of the name brand products are essential to the Government's requirements, thereby precluding consideration of a product manufactured by another company. 5. The description of the contractor's unique qualifications or the unique nature of the acquisition:Verizon Wireless is a sole source provider for wireless communication in Yellowstone Park because they are the only wireless telecommunications provider that provides service at all existing sites in Yellowstone, Mammoth, Grant Village, Old Faithful, Canyon, and West Yellowstone. Other providers have service at a few selected sites, and contracting with these providers would limit use and decrease value to the Government. Contracting with another service provider would reduce the availability of service resulting in negative consequences for law enforcement and emergency medical service responders throughout Yellowstone Park. 6. Efforts to obtain competition:A synopsis (sources sought notice) will be posted on FedBizOpps.a. Efforts to ensure offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable: A sources sought notice was posted on FedBizOpps on 9/22/2010 with the following results: No responses were received as a result of this notice. 7. Determination that costs will be fair & reasonable:a. The contractor's proposed prices shall be prices that are offered on their GSA Contract, which have already been competed and are considered to be fair and reasonable. 8. Description of the market research conducted:a. A sources sought notice was posted on FedBizOpps on 9/22/2010 as outlined in 6 above.b. Right of way agreements and on the ground usage makes it clear that Verizon provides the widest and most reliable cellular coverage in Yellowstone. This has been consistent since 1997. 9. Other facts supporting other than full & open competition:a. Reason why documents suitable for full & open competition have not been developed:Yellowstone will consider competition with other service providers' cell phones when other service providers have equal or better representation.b. Data, estimated costs or other rationale as to the extent or harm to the Government: The contractor's prices will be compared to the prices paid for similar services in the past. The contractor's prices will also be verified to be what is provided on their GSA Contract. 10. Interested Sources:Verizon has territorial coverage areas and we are required to use this contractor in our area. 11. Actions to remove barriers to competition in the future for similar acquisitions:The Telecommunications Branch of Administration receives requests for rights of way from providers and works with the Superintendent and Regional Director to process agreements where recommended and approved under the Wireless Telecommunications Plan. Co-location is generally accepted on existing towers and in wireless telecommunications facilities where permitted by the plan, and agreed to by the owners. Yellowstone processes these requests in a timely manner in accordance with RM53 Special park uses. Yellowstone National Park will continue to look for other available sources and advertise Yellowstone's needs to initiate interest for firms to develop.