00265_RFP Sects. A-M_Base.pdf

Solicitation Identification Number: NEED30002100265

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM SCIENCE SUPPORT

SERVICES SUPPORTING DOC/NOAA’S CENTER FOR SATELLITE APPLICATIONS AND

RESEARCH (STAR), COASTWATCH/OCEANWATCH/POLARWATCH (A.K.A. COASTWATCH)

PROGRAM

SECTION A

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with (IAW) the format in FAR subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

The solicitation number for this announcement is “NEED30002100265” and is issued as a request for proposal (RFP) for a time-and-materials contract amongst eligible certified 8(a) firms using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541715 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees pursuant to Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 637(a)), and the current Partnership Agreement between Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of Commerce (DOC). The RFP and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular Number: 2021-05, effective 3/10/2021.

You are requested to submit a technical and a separate full price proposal for the effort as described in Section L.

Responses are due via email by 2:00pm, Eastern Time on May 28, 2021 to Todd Blose (Contracting Officer, todd.blose@noaa.gov). When responding, please include “CoastWatch/OceanWatch” on the subject line. To verify receipt of your response, please contact the aforementioned by e-mail.

Proposals must be valid for at least 90 days from date of submission.

Any questions related to this notice shall be submitted via email by 2:00pm Eastern Time on May 14, 2021 to Todd Blose (Contracting Officer, todd.blose@noaa.gov). Answers will be provided as soon as practicable. The Contracting Officer (CO) reserves the right to make no award under this RFP.

We thank you for your continued support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for your consideration of submitting a response to this request.

TODD BLOSE

Contracting Officer Satellite and Information Acquisition Division National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

SECTION B

SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

1. Table 1 below is a list of contract line item number(s) and items, quantities, and units of measure applicable to this solicitation.

CLIN ITEM QTY U/M AMOUNT

Base Year Professional Program Science Support Labor PoP: 8/1/2021 – 7/31/2022

1 EA TBD @ Award

Base Year Travel/ODC PoP: 8/1/2021 – 7/31/2022

1 EA $6,000.00

OP1 Professional Program Science Support Labor PoP: 8/1/2022 – 7/31/2023

1 EA TBD @ Award

OP1 Travel/ODC PoP: 8/1/2022 – 7/31/2023

1 EA $22,000.00

OP2 Professional Program Science Support Labor PoP: 8/1/2023 – 7/31/2024

1 EA TBD @ Award

OP2 Travel/ODC PoP: 8/1/2023 – 7/31/2024

1 EA $6,000.00

OP3 Professional Program Science Support Labor PoP: 8/1/2024 – 7/31/2025

1 EA TBD @ Award

OP3 Travel/ODC PoP: 8/1/2024 – 7/31/2025

1 EA $22,000.00

OP4 Professional Program Science Support Labor PoP: 8/1/2025 – 7/31/2026

1 EA TBD @ Award

OP4 Travel/ODC PoP: 8/1/2025 – 7/31/2026

1 EA $6,000.00

2. CAR Clauses in Full Text

CAR 1352.216-77 Ceiling Price (APR 2010)

The ceiling price of this contract is $[TBD @ Award]. The Contractor shall not make expenditures nor incur obligations in the performance of this contract which exceed the ceiling price specified herein, except at the Contractor's own risk.

(End of clause)

(End of Section B)

SECTION C

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

1 Introduction

The Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR), an Office within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), provides and enables oceanographic, meteorological and terrestrial satellite data, products, and applications for diverse organizations and users world-wide. STAR is the part of NESDIS that provides scientific-based guidance for development and evolution of satellite missions, sensors and other Earth observing capabilities as well as the development, distribution and assurance of high quality, fit-for-purpose multi-sensor satellite data products from both NOAA and non-NOAA missions.

STAR scientists are leaders in algorithm development, implementation and ongoing refinements;

calibration and validation; scientific monitoring and quality assurance; product development and distribution; application demonstrations; transitions from research into operations; and user support and engagement. STAR plans, coordinates, and conducts research and science development activities with other parts of NESDIS and NOAA, as well as other Government agencies, academic institutions, and international groups. Through scientists residing in its three technical Divisions, STAR conducts atmospheric, terrestrial, and oceanographic research on the best development and uses of satellite data for monitoring environmental status and change, as well as actively works with users internal and external to NOAA to provide them with optimal quality, fit-for-purpose environmental data and derived products.

2 Background

Within STAR, the Satellite Oceanography and Climatology Division (SOCD) provides the primary research and science development support for oceanic remote sensing within NOAA.

Within SOCD, work is executed under the auspices of nine science teams (see Figure 1).

Figure 1 - SOCD

The work of these science teams is supported by the various funding within NOAA STAR SOCD, along with other internal and external (e.g., Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS)) program funding. SOCD supports the ocean observation, product and information needs of users and facilitates and enables various cross-cutting activities and functions in support of these ocean and coastal users domestically and internationally, frequently executed in partnership with diverse agency and other partner organizations and entities. In this broader context, Contractor workforce is required to provide program science support for CoastWatch.

The NOAA CoastWatch/OceanWatch/PolarWatch Program (hereafter “CoastWatch”) provides easy access to global and regional satellite data products for use in understanding, managing and protecting ocean and coastal resources and for assessing impacts of environmental change in ecosystems, weather, and climate. CoastWatch facilitates the use of satellite data in ocean, coastal and inland water applications through increasing levels of service and assistance from providing data access through data portals to hands-on training to collaboration in the development of downstream products using satellite data as input. Its primary users include Federal, State, and local agency scientists and decision-makers, coastal and ocean resource managers, academic researchers, commercial entities and the general public, including both domestic and international users.

The CoastWatch program is structured as a “hub and spokes” residing within STAR/SOCD. The “hub” is composed of program functions, research and development, and the core CoastWatch Central Science Team; the “spokes” are (currently) six CoastWatch Regional Nodes and are housed geographically across the country and within other NOAA Line Offices (see Figure 2).

Figure 2 – CoastWatch Program

The Regional Nodes establish, enable, and fulfill NOAA mission requirements on behalf of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the National Ocean Service (NOS), and the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR). CoastWatch is primarily funded through the Ocean Remote Sensing (ORS) program managed internally at SOCD and leverages federal employees as program manager and as the principal investigators and managers of the Regional Nodes.

The CoastWatch Central science team (hereafter, “CoastWatch Central”) is the primary focus of this contract. This statement of work (SOW) covers the contributions of CoastWatch Central to the CoastWatch program as a whole (including interactions with the (currently) six Regional Nodes) to support the broad range of CoastWatch user needs for ocean remote sensing data, products, and services.

3 Objective

The Government's objective is to continue providing professional program science support to CoastWatch Central in order to maintain and enhance present capabilities with respect to ongoing improvements in the scientific development and utilization of improved new and emerging data products (satellite et al.) and services, as well as engage in the evolution of operational satellite oceanography. This includes developing and maintaining quality assurance practices, science maintenance capabilities that underpin the validity of products and services, and supporting the transition from research, to broader routine user uptake and sustained utilization of ocean remote sensing data products and applications.

4 Scope

The scope of work described herein will largely consist of:

● Supporting the transition of Visible Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) ocean color operational processing from NOAA’s Okeanos system to the Cloud;

● Validating S-NPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS value-added ocean color and sea surface temperature products, transitioning NOAA-20 VIIRS ocean products to operations, and supporting the reprocessing of S-NPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS data;

● Developing and testing high resolution Sentinel 1, 2, and 3 products for coastal and inland ocean applications and forecasting;

● Monitoring of product health across CoastWatch Central’s catalog of products;

● Supporting Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY) science activities;

● Facilitating ingest of science outputs from the other SOCD science teams;

● Supporting regional collaboration efforts with peer entities, to include but not limited to, CoastWatch Regional Nodes, Sea Grant, the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), and US and international partner agencies (e.g., National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), European Space Agency (ESA), etc.).

● Addition of relevant GOES and Himawari products; and

● Supporting the evolution of operational satellite oceanography standards and concepts.

Throughout the contract’s period of performance CoastWatch Central support activities will continue across the full scope of work, including but not limited to –

● New Satellite Products and Applications Development (~30%), involving the following kinds of expertise and tasks:

o Knowledge of current civilian research, experimental, and operational environmental satellite systems (domestic and foreign);

o Embedded/non-severable scientific programming;

o Data visualization techniques;

o Science data management;

o Manipulation and integration of satellite data;

o Geographic Information System (GIS) applications for science products and data distribution;

o Metadata creation and documentation;

o Familiarity with the JPSS and GOES programs, as well as non-NOAA ocean remote sensing satellite systems, e.g., the European Sentinel and Canadian RADARSAT Constellation (RCM) Mission series.

● Calibration/Validation Support and Research to Operational Applications Data Product

Transition and Science Maintenance Support (~30%), consisting of but not limited to – o Supporting the associated efforts of the NESDIS STAR Science Teams as well as other NESDIS entities to transition products from research into operations according to the guidelines of the NESDIS Satellite Products and Services Review Board (SPSRB) or subsequent process as instituted at STAR and/or NESDIS;

o Supporting calibration, validation, science maintenance, and moderate assurance product generation activities within NESDIS STAR.

o The areas of emphasis during the duration of the contract include –

▪ Ocean Color Radiometry;

▪ Sea Surface Temperature;

▪ Satellite Altimetry;

▪ Sea Ice and Polar Dynamics;

▪ Ocean Surface Vector Winds; and

▪ Synthetic Aperture Radar product suites

● CoastWatch User Support, Training, and Outreach (~25%); involving – o Providing current operational, experimental, and developmental product(s) support;

o Developing new capabilities and support for users within NOAA Line

Offices, State, and local resource management areas;

o Outreach to, and training for, academic, professional, commercial, and educational groups; and o Staffing the CoastWatch helpdesk and moderating the CoastWatch User Forum.

● Scientific Program Support (~15%), consisting of – o Multi-project management support and facilitating broader program management, coordination, integration, and execution within STAR/SOCD;

o Coordinating various aspects of tasks;

o Assuring adherence to delivery schedules and science quality standards;

o Maintaining reporting standards and timeliness;

o Maintaining effective interfaces with Government sponsor(s);

o Supporting STAR/SOCD and its three branches (i.e. Laboratory for Satellite

Altimetry, Ocean Sensors Branch, and Marine Ecosystems and Climate Branch);

o Supporting property, travel, and meeting management, as well as coordinating communication support to include internal and external correspondences, weekly reporting, and responses to program actions.

5 Work Description

The work described below falls into four general areas in support of SOCD/CoastWatch:

1. New Satellite Products and Applications Development;

2. Calibration/Validation support and Research to Operational Applications Data

Product Transition and Science Maintenance Support;

3. CoastWatch Central User Support, Training, and Outreach; and

4. Scientific Program Support.

Personnel working in each of these areas will be expected to support ongoing scientific requirements of SOCD/CoastWatch as well as supporting the scientific development and utilization of NOAA and non-NOAA environmental satellites involved in experimental and operational satellite ocean remote sensing, and the development of new program elements and outreach to both internal and external stakeholders and communities. Within any of these categories of tasks and support, meeting participation by Contractor staff may be required for the purpose of facilitating the interests of the CoastWatch program within and outside of NOAA.

5.1 New Satellite Products, Services, and Applications Development

The Contractor shall provide support to SOCD/CoastWatch in the following task areas for new satellite products and applications development:

5.1.1 JPSS-VIIRS Ocean and Coastal Proving Ground Initiative

NOAA-20, the first operational satellite of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) was launched in November 2017. JPSS-2 is expected to launch in 2022. NOAA is responsible for processing and distributing JPSS data, particularly the Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor and attendant ocean color, sea surface temperature (SST), and other ocean product data. The overarching goal of the JPSS-VIIRS Ocean and Coastal Proving Ground Initiative is to ensure that JPSS satellite data are available for, and can be used effectively in, the diverse ocean-related monitoring, applications, forecasts and decision making processes and activities for which NOAA is directly responsible or indirectly supports and facilitates. The CoastWatch Central tasks will include (but are not limited to): scientific collaboration with academic, NOAA CoastWatch, and/or other principal investigators on projects granted through Proving Ground and other awards; supporting algorithm development and implementation for high quality NOAA global and coastal ocean products; conducting reprocessing of VIIRS data products; developing integrated common grid and other value-added VIIRS ocean color/SST products along with complementary satellite, model or in situ data, and implementing efficient data distribution mechanisms from on premises or commercial cloud platforms including data portals and user access to ensure routine, sustained and easy access to the best quality ocean satellite data by users.

5.1.2 GOES and Himawari Satellite Data Product

The NOAA GOES R series of Geostationary Satellites (GOES 16, launched in Nov 2016, and GOES-17, launched in March 2018) provide critical weather and ocean observations to forecasting, navigators, and modelers. NOAA GOES Program is expected to replace these instruments as the primary GOES East and GOES West with GOES 18 and 19 in 2021 and 2024 respectively. The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) onboard GOES-R series provides near real-time observations and products that are provided through CoastWatch.

STAR also provides access to products from the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) onboard Himawari-8 (H8; launched in October 2014) and -9 (H9; launched in November 2016). The goal is to continue to support the promotion of new platforms and products from ABI/AHI data and Blended Geo-Polar products (such as SST analysis) onto CoastWatch, The CoastWatch tasks may include (but are not limited to): supporting algorithm development and implementation for high quality NOAA global and coastal ocean products; processing of GOES-East and West and Himawari ACSPO enterprise SST L2C/L3C products and distribute via STAR/SCDR PDA landing zone and STAR ftp server for users including NWS; conducting reprocessing of ABI/AHI data products; and developing efficient data distribution mechanisms including data portals and user access to ensure routine, sustained and easy access to the best quality ocean satellite data by users.

5.1.3 Non-NOAA Satellite Data Product Development

Data from missions not flown or managed by NOAA (including other US or foreign missions) provide information critical to NOAA's missions of understanding and predicting changes in climate, weather, oceans and coasts as well as assistance in conserving and managing coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. This task supplies the expertise required to enable NOAA to leverage these non-NOAA missions for its research and applied/operational user requirements. In some cases, expertise will be required in calibration/validation and quality monitoring of foreign sensors and their data products. Demonstrated familiarity with a variety of foreign satellite systems is important. A portion of the work will include acquiring, processing and/or distributing global reduced resolution and full-resolution data streams from Copernicus Sentinel 1, Sentinel 2, and Sentinel 3, RADARSAT Constellation Mission, and JAXA’s S-GLI on GCOM-C in support of CoastWatch users. Future missions shared or from NASA like Jason Program and NASA/ISRO SAR (NISAR) will also be launching during the next five years and will require CoastWatch integration to support current products from these new platforms. Non-NOAA satellite data are key sources for SST, altimetry, salinity, synthetic aperture radar, ocean surface winds and sea ice. CoastWatch supports and distributes products for these parameters from Non-NOAA satellites.

5.1.4 Exploiting Emerging Technologies and New Satellite Series

Emerging technologies are expected to be considered, investigated, and exploited when beneficial in the development of CoastWatch products and services. Some familiarity with NOAA’s commercial Cloud activities and working in Cloud environments is required. Artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques are finding applications in earth science and satellite observations. CoastWatch scientists and engineers should have an interest in developing skills and evolving CoastWatch applications to benefit from these new tools. In addition to the improved technologies, new NOAA satellites are currently in exploratory phase for future missions such as JPSS-4 and the NOAA Geostationary and Extended Orbits (GEO-XO). CoastWatch Central may participate in the architecture or prelaunch design studies and Contractor support might be needed.

5.1.5 Anticipated Support Activities & Deliverables

1) Generating integrated science quality NOAA ocean color/SST products in common grids, distributed via CoastWatch data portal and other data services;

2) Generating Life of Mission science quality global NOAA ocean color products, distributed via CoastWatch data portal and other data services;

3) Generating and distributing new products and/or services developed in collaboration with JPSS Proving Ground Ocean and Coast Initiative awarded grants, as proposed.

4) Generating near real time reduced resolution and full resolution Sentinel 3 OLCI and

GCOM-C SGLI ocean color products, distributed via CoastWatch data portal and other data services;

5) Work with STAR science teams (WSC, SSH, OSVW, SIPD, SSS, and CRW) to develop and implement new and improved STAR ocean satellite data processing algorithm(s) from domestic and foreign satellites as assigned and distribute; and

6) All new CoastWatch satellite products and applications development activities shall be summarized in monthly progress reports.

5.2 Calibration/Validation support and Research to Operational Applications Data

Product Transition and Science Maintenance Support

The Contractor shall provide services to the SOCD/CoastWatch in the following task areas for experimental and operational products support:

5.2.1 Support Transition of Operational Ocean Color Processing from On Premise to Commercial Cloud

The Contractor will provide support for the completion of the transition of JPSS VIIRS ocean color NOAA Unique Products (NUPs) to the NESDIS Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO) operational system as OSPO moves from their current on premise processing system to commercial cloud processing. CoastWatch must collaborate effectively with several NESDIS organizations including OSPO, the NOAA/STAR Algorithm Scientific Software Integration and System Transition Team (ASSISTT) team, the SOCD Ocean Color EDR team and the JPSS management team.

This includes providing support for the NOAA Satellite Products and Services Review Board (SPSRB) (or subsequent) process, including suitable documentation.

5.2.2 Experimental & Operational Applications Ocean Remote Sensing Product Development Support

The Contractor will provide support to the Government in the science maintenance and enhancement of experimental and operational satellite ocean remote sensing platforms and capabilities, particularly supporting and facilitating the transition of experimental products from research into operations as part of the SPSRB (or subsequent) process, executing STAR moderate assurance delivery for ocean products, and working in concert with other NESDIS offices. Specific tasks include collaborating with NESDIS operations on algorithm upgrades;

and providing support for the SPSRB or subsequent process, including suitable documentation.

5.2.3 Maintain and Enhance Current Product Algorithms and Product Validation Support

New and improved algorithms will be required and existing algorithms will need maintenance for the experimental, moderate assurance and/or operational production and distribution of CoastWatch products. Calibration and validation support for experimental and operational satellite data products will include satellite products and in-situ data comparison; inter-satellite products comparison; and generating and monitoring time series data. In many cases close working relationships will be required with other STAR and NESDIS offices, i.e., those who generate operational products.

5.2.4 Quality Assurance/Quality Control and Cal/Val Support

Quality assurance for all CoastWatch products is required. A Point of Contact (POC) is required for all quality issues and questions that arise with respect to NOAA CoastWatch products and services. Quality assurance for NOAA’s ocean products and associated calibration/validation support is the component of this task. As such appropriate quality assurance applications must be designed, developed and maintained. The Contractor will also work with Moss Landing Marine Lab to serve near real time Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY) data for satellite ocean color radiometry sensor calibration and data validation.

5.2.5 Software, Tools and Utilities Maintenance and Development

Software, tools and utilities, including CoastWatch Utilities Software, CoastWatch Data Analysis Tool and Vertigo are used by CoastWatch scientists as well as external users.

Maintenance and improvements to such existing tools to keep up with new products and new technologies and the potential for creation and development of new tools for needs not yet identified is required.

5.2.6 Anticipated Support Activities & Deliverables

1) NOAA MSL12 ocean color algorithm updates for VIIRS NOAA-20 and VIIRS SNPP delivered to OSPO, including required SPSRB documents.

2) CoastWatch satellite ocean products validation web site including statistic and time series plots and satellite in-situ data comparison results, timely updated.

3) Quality Assurance (QA) metrics of CoastWatch products provided in monthly progress reports.

4) CoastWatch satellite ocean products validation reports as assigned.

5) CoastWatch in-situ database including NOAA and non-NOAA cruise and buoy data.

6) Support Cal/Val and distribution of current products for lifecycle replacement satellite missions like JPSS-2 and GOES East and West.

7) All CoastWatch/OceanWatch support and research activities shall be summarized in monthly progress reports.

5.3 CoastWatch/OceanWatch Data Distribution, User Support, Training, and Outreach

The Contractor shall provide services to SOCD/CoastWatch in the following task areas for data distribution, user support, training, and outreach.

5.3.1 User Support, Data Portals and Outreach Development and Operations

The CoastWatch user data portals must be maintained, updated and enhanced with new and improved functionalities and capabilities, including the expansion of user application scenarios and online image gallery. The CoastWatch user support functions must be supported including staffing and maintaining the CoastWatch help desk, monitoring and responding to incoming user emails, updating and moderating the user forum, updating product content and announcements on the CoastWatch website, generation of FAQs, and other similar tasks related to user engagement. Refinements of user support functions are ongoing and the creation and development of new user support functions not yet identified is required. Priorities for user support will be identified for development at the beginning of each contract renewal year. Contractor involvement in program outreach and training will include participation (local, domestic and international) in CoastWatch training courses, community science, technical and user meetings, workshops and similar events.

5.3.2 User engagement, Scientific Coordination and Regional/Global Support

As opportunities for new remote sensing and related science and applications for CoastWatch stakeholders are identified, the Contractor will support exploration, coordination and collaboration with downstream users within and external to NOAA. Efforts are likewise needed for CoastWatch Central Operations to collaborate with the CoastWatch Regional Nodes. CoastWatch Central supports the needs of the Nodes for operational (including near real time and blended long time series applications) ocean remote sensing in the coastal and global ocean, high-latitude waters, the US Great Lakes and to include inland waters as user needs are identified and capabilities evolve. A long term effort will be required to identify, curate, satisfy, and explain appropriate ocean remote sensing requirements with the associated build out of technical products and capabilities.

5.3.3 Anticipated Support Activities & Deliverables

1) An evolving CoastWatch data portal with advanced data distribution functions

(dynamic image rendering, geolocation searching, subsetting, etc.).

2) Posters, publications and meeting presentations on CoastWatch products, applications, tools and services, including training and data distribution.

3) Bi-monthly CoastWatch Nodes operational manager meeting reports and minutes.

4) Support user activities in assigned CoastWatch regions; create a cooperative environment for sharing scientific developments among the different CoastWatch Nodes. Provide examples of cooperation when they occur in progress report.

5) CoastWatch help desk responses M-F during working hours, and monthly help desk activity reports. (working days/hours are defined in Section 9)

6) CoastWatch portal ensuring a 90% availability rate annually for products. Report on availability rate with progress reports.

7) Email monitoring and maintain automated daily check for daily products; follow up when products missing. Ensure a 98% response rate to emails and check for product availability.

8) Updated and enhanced CoastWatch data and application portals, adding new functionality and user support capabilities and report the impact of update.

9) Online image gallery on CoastWatch portal that is updated with significant events.

10) All CoastWatch/OceanWatch user support, training, and outreach activities shall be summarized in monthly progress reports.

5.4 Program Support

The Contractor shall provide services to SOCD/CoastWatch in the following task areas for program support:

5.4.1 Project Management, Task Coordination, and Milestone Tracking Support

Project management will be required to coordinate the various aspects of the tasks, assure adherence to delivery schedules, and to maintain reporting standards and timeliness, including periodic reporting of milestones to STAR and NESDIS management as well as program sponsors. Coordination between Contractor and government will also be supported as required.

5.4.2 Property Management

Support property management for the Program Management Office (PMO), directly supporting the SOCD Federal Property Custodian/s (PC) and indirectly the STAR Property Accountability Officer (PAO).

5.4.3 Travel and Meeting Management, Coordination, and Communication Support

Support CoastWatch and SOCD scientific and programmatic travel and meeting planning and arrangements; preparing program reports and correspondence; managing program action items, and program coordination, communication and execution et al.

5.4.4 Anticipated Support Activities & Deliverables

1) Annual Contractor work-plan and milestones submitted by the first Friday in September.

2) Monthly task reports and invoices

3) Support property, travel, action items, meetings, scheduling, reports and communications as requested and approved by the Government.

4) Meeting briefings, task planning, staffing updates, progress tracking and action items.

5) Progress Reports shall be provided monthly to the Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), and the CoastWatch Program Manager (PM) via electronic mail or subsequent process if instituted at NOAA. This report shall include a summary of all Contractor work performed, including a breakdown of labor hours by labor category, all direct costs by line item, by CoastWatch Central task, an assessment of technical progress, schedule status, any travel conducted and any Contractor concerns or recommendations for the previous reporting period. A sample or template Monthly Progress Report should be presented at the Post-Award Conference for Government feedback and approval.

6) Contractor shall use a NOAA provided web-based contracting portal and/or follow all formats within the NOAA web-based Contractor Progress report submission system.

7) Post Award Conference within five business days after award. Further explanation of post award conference requirements are outlined in Section 11.5.

6 Expected Support Level

The Contractor shall provide qualified personnel to perform all requirements specified in this SOW and as detailed in Section 11, Special Requirements. In order to achieve an optimal workforce for the scope of work while within budget constraints, NOAA anticipates maintaining a minimum of six Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) during the Base Period of the contract, subject to funding availability and hiring requirements. Contractor staffing shall be maintained at the following levels.

● One FTE Senior Scientist (highest-level; with team management responsibilities)

● Approximately four FTE Senior Support Scientist(s) (high-level)

● Approximately one-half to three FTE Support Scientist(s) (junior/mid-level)

● One FTE Program Support Specialist (junior/mid-level)

The number and skill-level of FTE support may be modified pursuant to government funding availability and as limited by the overall contract ceiling. Occasional re-evaluations of levels of personnel support should be expected based on user needs and available funds allocated to the program. For reference, in recent years, historical contracts employed in the range of six to seven FTE. Key personnel levels are required to be 6.5 FTE. Gaps in staffing levels will be less than six months from the time of staff leaving the position to the time that the security process is submitted to the NOAA security office for approval. NOAA expects staffing for CoastWatch Central to be predominantly full time/dedicated personnel with some part-time personnel acceptable.

7 Continuity of Support

7.1 Staffing Levels

The Contractor shall ensure that the required level of support for this requirement is maintained at all times. The Contractor shall ensure that all contract support personnel are present and available for all hours of the workday – either on-site or off-site as agreed upon between the Contractor and the Government on a task basis. If for any reason the Contractor staffing levels are not maintained due to vacation, leave, appointments, etc., and replacement personnel cannot be provided as needed, the Contractor shall provide e-mail notification to the COR and the PM seven business days prior to employee absence, except in the case of unforeseen illness or personal emergency where notification should be made as soon as possible.

7.2 Transition Plan

Support under this contract must continue without interruption and is a vital concern during the transition of activities from an incumbent Contractor to a successor. The Contractor shall transition services in the most effective manner, free of any potential conflicts of interest, and shall ensure there is no lapse or reduction in service during contract transition between the Contractor and incumbent or successor Contractor(s) IAW FAR Clause 52.237-3, Continuity of Services. The transition period will run from 1 August 2021 through 23 August 2021. No support services set forth in Section 5 of this SOW shall be performed during the transition period unless otherwise directed by the CO. The Contractor shall provide a Transition Plan with its proposal submission (i.e. submitted with Vol.2, Technical) for transitioning services from an incumbent Contractor to a successor Contractor.

7.2.1 Phase-In

The Transition Plan shall address the following “Phase-In” elements describing how the Contractor will assume immediate contractual responsibility.

1) Ensuring an efficient transition that maintains continuity and consistency of services, minimizes any decreases in productivity, and prevents possible negative impacts on additional services during the transition period of this contract.

2) Ensuring sufficient resources are on hand and available to begin work under this contract, coordinating personnel records/retention as appropriate, ensuring proposed personnel are available, trained, and qualified to perform under this effort, and acquiring/onboarding proposed personnel.

3) Developing administrative reporting and invoicing procedures tailored to this contract.

4) Learning the CoastWatch mission, meeting government and non-government personnel involved in the CoastWatch program and developing a familiarity with CoastWatch products, services, and IT processes.

5) Identifying risks and proposing appropriate mitigation strategies.

6) Proposing a realistic, achievable, and reasonable transition schedule.

7.2.2 Phase-Out

The Transition Plan shall address the following “Phase-Out” elements describing how the Contractor will transition support services to a successor Contractor.

1) Ensuring continuity of services, minimizing any decreases in productivity, and preventing possible negative impacts on additional services during the transition period of this contract.

2) Demonstrating its ability to enable a seamless transition to replacement services when the contract period of performance ends.

3) Providing phase-out support IAW FAR 52.237-3 to the/a selected Contractor if the Government does not select the incumbent Contractor.

4) Providing all documentation and deliverables developed under the task order to the Government.

8 Payment Schedules

Deliverables per the above tasks and work categories will be reviewed, agreed upon, and finalized by the Government and Contractor at the start of each performance period, with mutually agreed upon periodic adjustments or additions to the milestones, schedule, and/or deliverables as needed based on new or evolving project requirements.

CoastWatch team meetings involving Government and Contractor personnel shall take place monthly in which technical progress on tasks for the previous month will be reviewed, to be accompanied by written monthly progress reports which will provide details of work performed, open issues, and planned work for the next month including an estimate of hours to be expended.

These meetings shall take place preferably at the NOAA NCWCP in College Park, MD but may be conducted virtually (i.e. using online meeting platform) if an in-person meeting is substantially impractical (e.g., if the NCWCP building is closed). Each task will be identified uniquely and will include financial information for each active task. Financial data shall include:

● Identification of direct labor hours of prime Contractor and Subcontractor(s) and/or consultants, if applicable;

● Total project-to-date expenditures; and

● Amount of remaining funds

The COR and/or Technical Monitor and Contractor project lead/coordinator will also meet weekly (or on an as needed basis) to review the previous week’s activities and discuss the upcoming week’s work and present or potential future tasks. Reported information shall include a summary of user/client contacts, issues, problems, and scheduled vendor services. Finally, the PMO will give the Contractor access to the PMO-managed contract monitoring web portal, and the Contractor shall upload/import copies of invoices in the import formats required by the web portal.

Project meetings for individual tasks will take place on an as needed basis.

9 Performance Location and Hours

The primary place of performance will be at the NOAA facility at NCWCP: 5830 University Research Ct., College Park, MD 20740. Contractor staff may need to perform their duties at other locations as the mission requires (e.g., access to specialized expertise, emergencies, or continuity of operations) subject to guidance and approval by NOAA. Off-site performance may be necessary (e.g., routine telework; traveling to meetings or CoastWatch-led/provided training courses, etc.) If so, the Contractor must use Government Furnished Equipment for the storage and processing of contract specific scientific work and information, including but not limited to source code, documentation, and data. Contractors shall be allowed to telework according to STAR/SOCD, and contracting company telework policies, and as approved by the COR.

Off-site scientific work may be permitted to ensure appropriate expertise and/or continuity of operations in support of the CoastWatch program in addition to the primary onsite work outlined in the SOW. Authority for off-site work will be at the express authority of the Government.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020, mandatory telework was instituted for NCWCP employees. Until the NOAA re-opens its facility to allow non-essential personal building access, telework for contract employees will be required. Updates on NOAA Guidance and Policies during the COVID-19 pandemic can be found at:

https://sites.google.com/noaa.gov/ohcs/current-event?authuser=0

Contractor employees shall generally perform all work within eight hours a day (not including lunch) between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Requests may be submitted to the NOAA Office of Security to request later duty hours and after-hour building access as appropriate based on government need and approvals. Further, there may be occasions when the Contractor will be requested to work other than normal business hours, including weekends and holidays, to fulfill requirements under this SOW. Telework is permitted only with advance request and approval by the government.

10 Period of Performance

The period of performance for this contract is a one-year base period with four one-year option periods:

Base Period: 1 August 2021 – 31 July 2022 Option Period One: 1 August 2022 – 31 July 2023 Option Period Two: 1 August 2023 – 31 July 2024 Option Period Three: 1 August 2024 – 31 July 2025 Option Period Four: 1 August 2025 – 31 July 2026

As set forth in this SOW, only transition and program management services can be worked and invoiced from 1 August 2021 through 23 Aug 2021 unless directed in writing by the Contracting Officer. All other services shall begin on 24 August 2021 following the initial transition period.

The duration/continuation of any task within the CoastWatch Central support contract is contingent on continued government funding and government determination of the need for the activities.

11 Special Requirements

11.1 Skills and Knowledge

A familiarity and scientific-based working knowledge of the following is required to support tasks in Section 5.

1) Extensive familiarity with present and future environmental satellites and data streams from NOAA, NASA, ESA et al., including but not limited to NOAA JPSS satellites (SNPP, NOAA-20), NOAA GOES East and West, ESA Sentinel 1, 2, 3 and JAXA Himawari and GCOM-C/GCOM-W. Future satellites that CW is expected to provide products for include but will not be limited to GOES 18 and 19, JPSS-2, NASA ocean color missions GLIMR and PACE, and NASA NISAR.

2) Expertise in scientific data and product development and generation/processing, calibration and validation support, and quality control of environmental satellite data including but not limited to sea surface temperature, ocean color radiometry, water surface roughness, altimetry, ocean surface vector winds, flood monitoring, ship monitoring, pollution, sea/lake ice, and sea surface salinity as well as downstream value-added products such as model outputs, fused data products from multiple sensor or multiple geophysical parameters, gap-filled analysis products, etc.

3) Technical writing, editing, and verbal presentation skill in the English language.

4) Graphical presentation and data visualization skills.

5) Familiarity with NOAA/NESDIS requirements, processes and procedures.

6) Knowledge of common earth science data format APIs, metadata and applications, such as ERDDAP, HDF4, HDF-EOS2.6, HDF5, NetCDF3, NetCDF4, GCTP, TIFF, GEOTIFF, NetCDF CF metadata standards and THREDDS Data Server.

7) Working knowledge of scientific programming languages including: FORTRAN, C/C++, PHP, Perl, shell script, Java, JavaScript, MATLAB, IDL and Python.

8) Familiarity with Linux platforms using PHP, CGI and GIS compliant internet map serving such as Google Map, ArcGIS online map service.

9) Familiarity with Cloud platforms (commercial, such as AWS, as well as internal STAR cloud) and associated cloud optimized data formats and metadata.

10) Knowledge and ability to maintain and develop scientific content and technical functionality of the CoastWatch program website.

11.2 Government Furnished Property

1) The Government will provide the workspace, equipment and supplies necessary to perform the on-site portion of Contractor services required in this contract, unless specifically stated otherwise in this work statement (reference Section G, CAR Clause 1352.245-70, Government Furnished Property (APR 2010)).

2) Any off-site work is subject to the limitations specified in Section 9.

3) The Government will provide all necessary information, data and documents to the Contractor for work required under this contract.

4) Contract personnel shall comply with all Federal government regulations and requirements related to government furnished equipment and property.

11.3 Official Travel

1) The Government requires official Contractor travel (i.e. of both on-site and off-site Contractor personnel) in support of the CoastWatch program. All travel required by the Government outside the local commuting area(s) will be reimbursed to the Contractor IAW the Federal Travel Regulations and FAR 31.205-46, Travel Costs.

The COR will issue written travel/official trip notifications that specify location, duration, technical presentations/assignments and personnel expected to travel. The Contractor shall obtain COR and CoastWatch Task Monitor approval (electronic mail is acceptable) for all reimbursable travel in advance of each travel event. Travel requirements under this contract shall be met with consideration of economical forms of transportation that enables efficient execution of the work. The Contractor shall strive to schedule all travel sufficiently in advance to take advantage of offered discount rates, unless otherwise authorized by the CO based on input from, and concurrence by, the COR. The following web site provides information on current Per Diem rates: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/100120.

2) The Government anticipates the occurrence of these trips will be variable from year-to-year according to internal and external meeting schedules, availability of funds, and other considerations; examples of expected travel include Contractor support with satellite data training courses and at scientific meetings.

3) Also, CoastWatch has traditionally held an annual science meeting. The recent and foreseeable pattern is that the meeting will be held in NCWCP in College Park every other year (i.e. not requiring travel for the “local” CoastWatch team) and alternating with meetings hosted by the CoastWatch Nodes around the country requiring some travel for all or a majority of the CoastWatch contract team members.

11.4 Post Award Conference

The Contractor shall attend a Post Award Conference (PAC) with the Contracting Officer and COR no later than five business days after the date of award. The purpose of the PAC, which will be chaired by the Contracting Officer, is to discuss technical and contracting objectives of this contract and review the Contractor's draft project plan. The Post Award Conference will be held at the Government’s facility, located at NCWCP or via teleconference.

11.5 Project Plan

The Contractor shall provide a draft Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Project/Milestone Schedule at the Post Award Conference for Government review and comment. The Contractor shall provide a final WBS Project/Milestone Schedule to the COR and CoastWatch Contract Monitor not later than 10 business days after the Post Award Conference.

11.6 Business Continuity Plan

The Contractor shall prepare and submit a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to the Government. The BCP Plan shall be due 60 business days after the date of award, and will be updated on an annual basis. The BCP shall document Contractor plans and procedures to maintain support during an emergency, including natural disasters and acts of terrorism. The BCP, at a minimum, shall include the following:

● A description of the Contractor’s emergency management procedures and policy

● A description of how the Contractor will account for their employees during an emergency

● How the Contractor will communicate with the Government during emergencies

● A list of primary and alternate Contractor points of contact, each with primary and alternate:

o Telephone numbers o E-mail addresses

11.7.1 BCP Activation

Individual BCPs shall be activated immediately after determining that an emergency has occurred, shall be operational within two hours of activation or as directed by the Government, and shall be sustainable until the emergency situation is resolved and normal conditions are restored or the contract is terminated, whichever comes first. The COR shall immediately make contact with the Contractor Project Manager to ascertain the status of any Contractor personnel who were located in Government controlled space affected by the emergency in case of a life threatening emergency. When any disruption of normal daily operations occur, the Contractor Project Manager and the COR shall promptly open an effective means of communication and verify:

● Key points of contact (Government and Contractor)

● Temporary work locations (alternate office spaces, telework, virtual offices, etc.)

● Means of communication available under the circumstances (e.g., email, webmail, telephone, FAX, courier, etc.)

● Essential Contractor work products expected to be continued, by priority

11.7.2 BCP Authorization:

The Government and Contractor Project Manager shall make use of the resources and tools available to continue contracted functions to the maximum extent possible under emergency circumstances. Contractors shall obtain approval from the Contracting Officer prior to incurring costs over and above those allowed for under the terms of this contract. Regardless of contract type, and of work location, Contractors performing work in support of authorized tasks within the scope of their contract shall charge those hours accurately IAW the terms of this contract.

11.7 Government Acceptance Period

The COR will review deliverables prior to acceptance and provide the Contractor with an e-mail that provides documented reasons for…