Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Satellite Air Time

Background
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) intends to issue a firm fixed price sole source award to NAL Research located in Manassas, Virginia. The purpose of this contract is to provide an uninterrupted internet connection that facilitates the transmission of information from Iridium GPS satellite tracking devices to the Air and Marine Operations Center.

The GPS information is critical for operations and is dependent on NAL Research's infrastructure. The sole source determination is based on the fact that the tracking devices previously selected and installed by CBP are only functional with NAL Research's services, making it necessary to continue this partnership to avoid operational disruptions that could impact national security.

Work Details
The contract involves the procurement of satellite tracking airtime and data delivery services from NAL Research. The anticipated annual cost for these services has not been explicitly stated but is justified based on several factors:
- Only one source reasonably available due to exclusive licensing agreements.
- Changing the vendor would necessitate replacing all existing tracking devices, which would involve new aircraft engineering analysis, FAA certifications, compatibility checks with network and software infrastructure, and acquisition of new devices. This process would interrupt operations significantly.

Period of Performance
Base Year - October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026

Place of Performance
Air and Marine Operations Center