SOURCES SOUGHT
66 -- Microwave Atmospheric Profiler System
- Notice Date
- 7/30/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 334513
— Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Region Acquisition Division-KC, 601 East 12th Street, Room 1756, Kansas City, Missouri, 64106, United States
- ZIP Code
- 64106
- Solicitation Number
- NRMAC100-13-01402
- Archive Date
- 8/24/2013
- Point of Contact
- Shelley Smith, Phone: 816-426-2066
- E-Mail Address
-
shelley.smith@noaa.gov
(shelley.smith@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Region Acquisitions Division-Kansas City office intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Radiometrics Corporation to procure an a MP-3000A Microwave Atmospheric Profiler System for the NOAA Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division (ATDD) in Oak Ridge, TN. The NAICS code for this action is 334513. ATDD seeks to procure one Microwave Atmospheric Profile systems for use in a new project supported under the Hurricane Supplemental. Normally, vertical atmospheric profiles of humidity and temperature from the surface to 10 km are determined using radiosondes. These packages are lifted by balloons, measure humidity and temperature, and send the data back to a ground station. This traditional operation requires at least 3 persons for at least 2 hours to prepare, launch and process the data. The balloon packages are almost never retrieved and cost anywhere from $200 to $1000 depending on the package of sensors. The microwave radiometer profiler is designed to measure atmospheric vertical profiles of air temperature, water vapor, and cloud liquid water content on a nearly continuous basis ( every 15 minutes) with radiosonde equivalent assimilation accuracy, and can operate on a continuous basis. This data will be especially useful as it provides information to assess potential convective storm events and provides important data to numerical weather forecast models. Field performance and reliability from other users has been excellent. This turnkey system, from acquiring the raw data to a final data product, is not available from any other manufacturer. The success of the program for which this system is being procured, depends on obtaining the timely observations that the Radiometrics microwave profiler provides, which cannot be obtained from any other type of systems currently available. The system will be deployed in the Spring 2014 and will be operated in the southeastern part of the U.S. This is part of larger study in collaboration with the University of Alabama-Huntsville to study and predict convective initiation with 0-6 hour lead times. To continuously observe atmospheric profiles of temperature, water vapor, and boundary layer mixing heights in order to assess the state of the atmospheric and evaluate conditions that may trigger convective initiation and potentially severe weather. The Radiometrics microwave profiler system is used to observe the stability and state of the atmosphere on a continuous basis with the need for continuous launching radiosondes (balloon based). Conventional balloon systems require expendable resources such as the instrument packages and helium gas, as well as manpower. The Radiometrics microwave profiler can be left unattended 24/7, providing less man power, as well as minimizing environmental risks and hazards to personnel. The Radiometric system is current deployed at Department of Energy's ARM CART site (http://www.arm.gov/instruments/mwrp) where it had undergone lots of testing and development over the past 10 years. Observations of atmospheric profiles are needed on a continuous basis and cannot be reasonably accomplished with balloon based radiosondes or any other systems besides a microwave radiometer profile system. Observations will be needed at least on a hourly basis, especially during time periods that are conducive for convective initiation and potential severe weather. The Radiometrics microwave profile system is the only commercially available system to that can provide these observations on a continuous basis. This sensor must be able to operate unattended, should be portable and easy to set up in the field. This instrument is an essential part of the suite of instrumentation needed to detect the onset of convective initiation (precursor to storm development) in a continuous fashion. The funded project requires these continuous measurements. On January 29, 2013, the President signed Public Law (P.L.) 113-6, the FY2013 Disaster Assistance Supplemental, to "improve and streamline disaster assistance for Hurricane Sandy, and for other purposes". Within that law, OAR received $50M for "laboratories and cooperative institutes research activities associated with sustained observations weather research program, and ocean and coastal research". In developing a spend plan for this funding, OAR solicited input from its laboratories and cooperative institutes on topics/projects for consideration that are consistent with the goals of the P.L. 113-6. This input was reviewed by a small team created by the OAR Assistant Administrator (AA) and was used to develop a balanced portfolio of projects that addressed the goals of the law and NOAA's priorities and that were expected to demonstrate benefits in 2-3 years. The projects were expected to improve: (1) our understanding of storms (including tropical, extratropical, and local) and their impacts; (2) NOAA's capability to predict accurately future storms at longer lead times and effectively communicate that information; and (3) the Nation's ability to observe coastal and oceanic conditions associated with these storms. The spend plan has been approved by NOAA, DOC, and OMB. If this instrument is not procured, NOAA mission critical goals will not be met. Not meeting these goals will significantly impact coastal communities' ability to respond to storms in a timely and safe manner. This sources sought notice is not a request for competitive offers and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can provide the equipment submit substantiating documentation in writing within ten days of this notice. Responses can be faxed to Shelley Smith at 757-664-3633 or sent via e-mail to shelley.smith@noaa.gov. Documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon response to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. DOC, Eastern Region Acquisitions Division-Kansas City requires that all contractors doing business with this office be registered with the System for Awards Management (SAM). No award can be made to a company not registered in SAM. For additional information and to register, please access the following web site: http://www.sam.gov. In order to register, all contractors must have a Dun and Bradstreet number. A Dun and Bradstreet number may be acquired free of charge by contacting Dun and Bradstreet on-line at http://www.dnb.com/eupdate or by telephone at (800)333-0505.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/CASC/NRMAC100-13-01402/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division, P.O. Box 2456, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37831, United States
- Zip Code: 37831
- Zip Code: 37831
- Record
- SN03130785-W 20130801/130730235007-86a7ecb136d1f9d2ffe076a243f08848 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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