MODIFICATION
A -- Ultra Light Dropsonde System
- Notice Date
- 9/14/2006
- Notice Type
- Modification
- NAICS
- 334511
— Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Mountain Region Acquisition Division, 325 Broadway - MC3, Boulder, CO, 80305-3328
- ZIP Code
- 80305-3328
- Solicitation Number
- RA133R-06-RP-0180
- Response Due
- 9/29/2006
- Archive Date
- 12/31/2006
- Description
- This is Amendment 1 to the RFP. Seven questions were asked about the Request for Proposal. Responses are being provided below to all potential offers. Question 1: The RFI for the Ultra Light Dropsonde included a goal that dropsondes weigh no more than 20 grams each. There is no mention of this goal in the RFP. Request the Government provide insight into its current goals regarding dropsonde weight. If the goal is the same, request the rationale for omitting the goal from the RFP. Response: Information gathered during market research and from responses to the RFI convinced the Government that a 20 gram dropsonde was probably beyond the current state-of-the-art. It was decided that a less risky approach to achieving the main goal of an Ultra-light Dropsonde System would be to let offerors tell what weight of dropsonde they could deliver and rate the proposals on that (among other items). Question 2: Section C 4.2.1 Performance Requirements, calls for 2-way communication from the ground station to the ORDP. What capability is envisioned for transmitting from the ground station to the ORDP? Response: The government envisions that this link might be used to issue a command to release a dropsonde or to modify the schedule for automatically releasing dropsondes, in addition to other uses. Question 3: Section C 4.1.3 Operational Environment, specifies a 12-V DC power supply requirement for the ORDP. What is the anticipated function of this requirement? Response: The anticipated function is to provide power to the various components of the ORDP including data processing, and communication equipment. It may also be used to provide heat if needed. Question 4: The amount of money budgeted for this program as detailed in the RFP seems inconsistent with the original intent in the RFI to design and develop a proof-of-concept system. Requirements for documentation, configuration management, specifications, drawings, parts list, etc. also suggest that suitable components (sondes, ORDP, and ground station) already exist and can only be incrementally changed within the anticipated budget. Is the Government seeking development of new technology or slight modification of existing technology? Response: The Government is seeking development of an Ultra-light Dropsonde System comprising both new technology and possible modifications to possibly existing technology. For example, new technology may be employed to achieve extremely light-weight packages. Suitable modifications of existing technology may be used for radio transmitters and receivers and for data processing. Suitable modifications to existing technology may be used for displays at the ground station. Question 5: Section C Articles 4.4 Documentation and 4.5 Logistics include requirements that are normally associated with programs at much later stages of technology development. Why has the Government included these requirements in an R&D development type contract? Response: The Government views the Ultra-light Dropsonde System as a possible initial step toward achieving an operational system to make direct in-situ atmospheric measurements over vast oceanic areas presently not routinely observed with in-situ techniques. For this initial step to grow and become an operational system, it must be well documented and have the start of logistic support. The Government feels that documentation and logistics are more effective when they are included at the start of a process rather than being an add-on at some later point. Question 6: Section L.2(B) Prices, indicates the Government has $200,000 budgeted for this effort. What is the likelihood that additional funds will be allocated if a proposed solution is not within the $200K budget? Response: At this point (late summer, 2006) there is $200,000 available for this effort. As things stand now, the Government would not be able to award a contract for the Ultra-light Dropsonde System effort if there are no proposed solutions within the existing budget. The many existing and ongoing factors regarding future federal government needs and associated budgets preclude any accurate estimation of possible additional funds. Question 7: Will a technically noncompliant proposal (that shows a credible pathway to a complete solution) within the $200K budget be scored higher than a fully compliant technical proposal that exceeds the budget? Response: The Government will award the contract to the highest ranked technically compliant proposal that is within the budget. If there are no technically compliant proposals within the budget, then the Government will cancel the acquisition and reevaluate the approach.
- Record
- SN01143320-W 20060916/060914220332 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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