DOC; Mountain Administrative Support Center; Acquisition Management Division; 325 Broadway MC3; Boulder, CO

66 -- TETHERSONDE SYSTEM SOL MGL000901204BJ DUE 092099 POC BJ Roberts, Purchasing Agent, (303) 497-3799, Fax (303) 497-3163 E-MAIL: NOAA; MASC Acquisition Management, Barbara.Roberts@noaa.gov. The Meteorlogical Applications and Assessment Division of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Admin. Environmental Technology Laboratory (NOAA/ETL/ET7) would like to secure a tethersonde system capable of using multiple (up to six) sonde packages on the balloon tether to measure profiles of requisite meteorological variables (i.e., pressure, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction) and ozone concentration. The system should be economical, portable, and operable by a single person. In addition, the system should be transported easily and rugged enough to withstand remote site installation and operation. The transmitter/receiver unit must have sufficient bandwidth and switch-selectable frequency settings to sample sequentially multiple sonde packages. The frequency-multiplexing should be fully automated and controlled by a personal computer via user-friendly operating software. In addition to serving the requirements for the tethersonde, the receiver could have GPS capability, thereby allowing the unit to serve as the receiver for free-release GPS sondes. This multipurpose functionality is desirable, but not a requirement, as adding this capability would require additional interfacing with a GPS sonde manufacturer. It is the intent of the Government to award this procurement on a sole source basis under authority of 41 U.S.C.253(c)(1) with Vaisala, Inc., formerly A.I.R. Inc. of Boulder, Co. Vaisala, Inc. is the sole manufacturer of the Tethersonde Meteorological Tower (TMT). The TMT is a unique tethersonde system that uses a frequency synthesized, switch-selectable transmitter to select one of two hundred fifty-six frequencies in the 395-410 megahertz meteorological band. The TMT will sequentially process signals from up to six tethersonde packages on the balloon tether. This procurement is being conducted per FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures (NTE $100,000). This synopsis is issued for information only. No competitive solicitation is planned. Information submitted in response to this notice will be used solely to determine whether or not use of competitive procedures to fulfill this requirement would be in the Government's best interest and must address qualifications pertinent to this requirement. No RFQ is available. All technical questions shall be addressed to Allen White of NOAA at 303 497-5155. Posted 09/09/99 (D-SN378606). (0252)

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