Intent to Sole Source for eWell Pilot

Notice of Intent to Issue a Sole Source Action for an eWell Pilot & Proof of Concept This notice is issued in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 5.2, Synopses of Proposed Contract Actions. The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), Acquisition Operations Branch, is the contracting office for this procurement.

The purpose of this notice is to announce the intent to award a firm fixed-price action on a sole source basis to NUAXIS LLC, 1919 Gallows RD STE 610, Vienna, Virginia, 22182-4055, United States, in accordance FAR Subpart 6.302-1. This requirement is for an eWell Pilot/Proof of Concept (PoC) on the existing BSEE ServiceNow platform from NuAxis. This requirement would take one of the TIMS public facing modules and redeveloping it to run on BSEE's existing ServiceNow platform as a proof of concept (PoC).

The module could then be tested by internal and external users of the TIMS system for form, fit and accuracy. This is anticipated to be a sole source 8-month firm fixed price effort. The eWell Permitting and Reporting System (eWell) provides oil companies with an Internet-based tool to obtain permits to conduct well operations. In conjunction with eWell, BSEE implemented a system called the Technical Information Management System (TIMS Web) to provide additional planning, permitting, and reporting functions.

The eWell Permitting system and TIMS system are separate systems with separate functions. Users must have a username and password to access each of these platforms, although the forms and workflows for securing user accounts are the same. BSEE's goal is to consolidate the user account workflow of these separate systems into a single platform (ServiceNow) that will provide the ability to grant accounts in both systems when you request an account. This eWell Pilot/PoC would be tested as a module to TIMS.

BSEE is undertaking a major modernization of the TIMS infrastructure and an issue is moving the entirety of TIMS to a cloud hosting environment. This includes recoding TIMS in modern and efficient base code. ServiceNow is one of the "public facing modules" and success for this module would lead to full redevelopment of the entire TIMS infrastructure that will be simplified, modernized, and standardized for the future and available from a cloud environment. The vendor is uniquely qualified based on the following:

The use of the existing BSEE ServiceNow platform would eliminate the need of procuring a new platform and licensing. NuAxis employees are also the sole Administrators of the BSEE ServiceNow instance. If another company tried to accomplish this task, they would need to have the same level of access to ServiceNow as NuAxis which could result in conflict between the new companies and interruption of services to BSEE, BOEM and ONRR. It is also not a recognized Best Practice to allow this type of access to any system.

NuAxis also has in-depth knowledge of the entire BSEENet infrastructure and TIMS architecture which would make completing the PoC in the targeted eight (8) month timeline feasible and at a lower cost. To have another vendor compete on the eWill Pilot/Proof of Concept would be a substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition. The applicable NAICS Code is 541519 (Other Computer Related Services). THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.

However, any firm believing itself capable of performing the work stated above may submit technical documentation to establish their capability. Such documentation must be submitted to the Contracting Office by 11:00AM, Eastern Time on March 14, 2023. A determination not to compete the proposed requirement based upon responses received lies solely within the discretion of the Government.

Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement or to proceed on a sole source basis. Documentation shall be submitted in writing to William Rilee via email at William.Rilee@bsee.gov, with the email SUBJECT LINE "DOIEFBO240001". Telephone responses will not be honored.

A redacted justification for other than full and open competition is attached for situational awareness and also with the intent of meeting FAR 6.305 Availability of the justification.