Intent to Award Sole Source - Access to Genscape Databases

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) intends to award a contract to Genscape on a sole source basis for access to three oil databases: Cushing Storage, MidCon Pipeline and the Forties Pipeline. The contract will be for one (1) year of access with three, one (1) year options to extend the period of performance. The Genscape databases provide data on the amount of oil in specific pipelines and storage tanks. CFTC knows of no other resource with pipeline information as detailed as that offered by Genscape. The CFTC has oversight over listed and OTC contracts that settle at market or reference prices that are driven by the inventory and flows in these facilities. It is necessary to have timely access to physical information which affects the market prices of the "underlying" that affect prices for the jurisdictional listed and OTC contracts. Cushing Storage and MidCon Pipeline would inform the NYMEX WTI market, while the Forties Pipeline would inform the Brent market. Note that CME=NYMEX, which falls under CFTC's jurisdiction, lists WTI and Brent contracts. Without the information from Genscape's databases, CFTC's economists would be forced to rely on reports and stories from the news media for non-detailed reports of events and opinions, with no visibility into specific flows, storage inventory, etc. Not having detailed information on physical conditions would limit the connections CFTC's economists can make between physical conditions to position and transaction data CFTC gets daily from large traders, the exchanges and others. This procurement action is being conducted under FAR 6.302-1 with the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), as the information required by CFTC is available from only one responsible source and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy CFTC's requirements. This notice does not constitute a solicitation for offers and, as such, no solicitation is available. However, the Government will consider responses from all responsible sources received by the response date and time identified in this synopsis. Written responses must include sufficient information to establish capability to fulfill the requirement. Any responses received will only be considered for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in lieu of the sole source contract described in this notice, and such determination shall be made at the sole discretion of CFTC.