U.S. Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/OFA/AGFS/AMD -- OFA51, 1305 East West Highway -- Station 7604, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

D -- DATABASE DESIGN AND OCEANOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS SERVICES AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT OF THE SEAS DATABASE SOFTWARE SOL 52-DDNC-8-90008 POC Leslie Mcdonald, Contract Specialist (301) 713-0839, x191; Aileen B. Redding, Contracting Officer (301) 713-0839, x 127 D -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA), Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), intends to negotiate on a sole source basis for the services of a Computer Information Systems Designer and Developer on a fixed-price task basis for a base period of twelve months and four twelve-month option periods. OAR has a requirement for database design enhancements, oceanographic analysis and enhancement of the Shipboard Environmental Acquisition System (SEAS) data base and the Global Volunteer Observing Ship (VOS) System it describes. This information base assists OAR in its mission to plan, collect, process and exchange oceanographic data in real-time and delayed mode. The VOS Program includes Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT) data, upper air data, sea-surface temperature data, surface salinity data and ship drift information. The Contractor shall provide technical support of the SEAS software, including software maintenance, database design, modifications and upgrades to the system; as well as the production of summaries and catalogs showing analysis of the success of various national ocean observing programs, real-time and delayed mode delivery of data and geographic distribution of observations and improvements in data delivery mechanisms. In addition, the contractor shall provide technical consulting services on the use of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) and INMARSAT satellites for the transmission of environmental measurements and Automated Mutual-assistance VEssel Rescue (AMVER) system safety data. NOAA is responsible for providing short-term weather forecasts and warnings, seasonal climate forecasts and decadal climate assessments and predictions to the public. Global measurements of marine weather and subsurface ocean variables are essential for NOAA to carry out these responsibilities. NOAA uses SEAS to collect more than 100,000 of these measurements per year from commercial seagoing vessels and relay them back via geostationary satellites for use by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and for worldwide exchange over the Global Telecommunications System (GTS) . The SEAS database is the primary tool that NOAA uses to track mission performance of the SEAS program in a highly automated and integrated manner. Technical support is needed to incorporate improvements to the present system; to enhance the capabilities of the system and to implement them with the appropriate training and technical assistance to the users. Applicants MUST MEET the following mandatory requirements: (1) Extensive working knowledge of the NOAA SEAS database including the Comsat (shipboard and ground station) interfaces, GOES address definition and monitoring routines and data tracking methods for over 70,000 seagoing vessels and their listing with the Lloyd's of London data base; (2) Experience with participating in the international scientific mechanisms for establishing the global sampling requirements for the oceanographic and weather measurements; (3) Expansive knowledge of and working experience with the Dataease software package; (4) Comprehensive knowledge of the chain of observational and data communication activities leading to the production of global marine forecasts, including the NOAA communications gateway, the satellite communications systems, and the Global Telecommunications System; and, in particular, the linkages with all of these to the SEAS database and the extensive array of real-time operations, research and defense needs. Applicants who meet the referenced mandatory requirements will be further evaluated on experience, education and training. It is required that pricing data be included as part of the response, including terms and conditions. Applicants who meet the specific requirements stated above can submit information as to their capabilities, and any other pertinent data, no later than 45 days from the date this notice is published, by 3PM, local time, to the following address: USDOC/NOAA/SSMC#4, Acquisition Mgt. Div., ADP Contracts Branch,, OFA511, 1305 East-West Highway, Fourth Floor, Station 7604, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3281, POC -- Leslie McDonald, 301-713-0839. The Government intends to make one award. The response must be sufficient to permit agency analysis to establish a bona fide capability to meet the requirements. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Telephone or facsimile responses will not be accepted. Please refer to Solicitation No. 52-DDNC-8-90008 in your response. SEE NOTES l, 22 AND 26. (0336)

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