Statement_of_Need-Requirement.pdf

Statement of Need

Small Buoy for the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System

NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office (NCBO) is seeking to purchase four (4) data buoys to complete its’ replacement of its older AXYS Watch Keeper buoys, which are being phased out through attrition. This procurement will increase the program’s inventory from 8 to 12 data‐buoys. The buoys make up a system of smart buoys that support the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System (CBIBS).

Background:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy

System is a network of observing platforms (buoys) that collect meteorological, oceanographic, and water‐quality data and relay that information using wireless technology to a variety of users.

The latest data from key points up and down the Bay is made available via a website, a toll free telephone number, a mobile version of this website, and apps available for Android and iPhone smartphones.

The CBIBS "smart buoys":

• Deliver real‐time data on weather, water conditions, and water quality;

• Support high‐quality science education and enhance the delivery of experiential outdoor education; and

• Interpret points along the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail and enhance the experience of trail users.

Scientists use the data to protect, restore, and manage the Chesapeake Bay. Boaters‐ including commercial and recreational fishermen, sailors, and kayakers‐can plan a safer day by knowing the conditions on the Bay before they leave harbor. Students can learn about the Chesapeake and their environment by exploring the data.

Buoys also mark points along the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, a network of water routes that covers approximately 3,000 miles in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C., along routes taken by Captain John Smith in 1607 and 1608 to chart the land and waterways of the Chesapeake Bay.

A key program goal has been to simplify field operations by creating modular platforms where components can be readily swapped between platforms. The program will accept any brand or style of data buoy as long as the product is 100% compatible with the existing inventory of modular buoy components, sensors, and hardware. The following itemized criteria should help ensure compatibility with existing inventory.

• Not to exceed 50 inches both outside diameter and buoy height

• Total Weight (including buoy, mooring chain and anchor): Not to exceed 1200 pounds

• Minimum positive buoyancy after instrumentation and mooring: 1100 pounds

• Solar Power: Minimum of three (3) 40‐watt, 12VDC solar panels totaling at least 150 W theoretical power output

Additional Requirements:

• Capable of autonomous operations for up to two years.

• Ability to deploy and swap instruments without recovery of the buoy

• Space and power for the deployment and operation of meteorological sensor package, Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, wave sensor, and water quality monitoring instrumentation.

• Watertight enclosure to accommodate an AXYS TRIAXYS (or similar) wave sensor.

• Mast to accommodate meteorological measurements at 3 m above the water surface.

• All metal components must be constructed from 316 grade stainless steel.

• The buoy must use a single point mooring attachment located 60” below the waterline.

• Three (or more) 8 inch inner diameter, 24 inch deep, through‐holes (or moon‐pools) for the mounting of in‐situ instrumentation. The though‐holes must be positioned in such a way that the instrumentation is removable without other disassembly of the buoy. The through‐ holes must be positioned in a way that insures the instruments are free from interference with the mooring. The top of the through holes must be threaded and accept three 3/8‐16 attachment bolts. The threaded locations must be separated by 120 degrees measured from the center of the though‐hole.

• The buoy must have the ability to mount, at three points, the data‐logger enclosure.

Specifications for the enclosure are attached to these specifications.

• The enclosure must be mounted such that the bottom is less than 10” from the waterline and located at the center of gravity in the horizontal plane.

• The sides of the enclosure must be visible so that required USCG identification signage can me mounted to the enclosure.

The battery well must be waterproof and must have 3 electrical connections.

• The buoy must be powered by odyssey PC925 12V batteries.

• The battery well should have submersible ventilation to prevent buildup of hydrogen gas.

• The battery well will use two 6 pin MCBH6M (or MCBHRA6M) connectors for power output to the data‐logger/controller.

• The battery well will use one 3 pin MCBH3F (or MCBHRA3F) for solar input.

The buoy must have at least three eyes for lifting and tying lines. The lifting eyes should be able to support the full weight of buoy and mooring for deployment and recovery.

The buoy must have a removable superstructure assembly that mounts into three vertical sockets.

The inner diameter of each socket is 3/4“.

The sockets are located 17” from one another, centered around the horizontal center of the buoy, 120 degrees measured from the center of the buoy.

The super structure must:

o Mount at three points to the hull of the buoy, o Be removable in the field, o Have attachment points for:

An RM Young mechanical anemometer at 3 m above the water line The mast must be removable in the field

A Carmanagh M650 navigation light

The light must be visible from all angles An MP101A temperature probe A Vaisala PTB100 barometer A Garmin HVS19x GPS receiver

AXYS Watchman Enclosure Specifications

The described stainless steel enclosure will provide for the waterproof mounting of the AXYS Watchman 500 computer, wave sensor and communications modem used by the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System (CBIBS) small buoy.

The enclosure must meet the following specifications to provide adequate space for the internal components, while fitting properly within the small buoy structure.

The enclosure shall have exterior dimensions 16''x14''x10'' inches and constructed with gauge 14, 316 stainless steel.

The enclosure shall have UL type rating: 4X, NEMA type rating: 4X, IP Rating-Solids:6 and IP Rating- Liquids: 6.

Enclosure lid shall have seamless foam-in-place gasket, 316 stainless steel screws and clamps.

One 16'' side shall have a stainless steel continuous hinge.

The opposite 16'' side shall have three equally spaced clamps.

Each 14'' sides shall have two equally spaced clamps.

Seems shall be continuously welded and ground smooth.

Lid and sides of body shall have smooth #4 brushed finish.

On one 14''x10'' faces of the enclosure, ten (10) holes shall be drilled in the pattern seen in the technical drawing (page2 ). Each hole must have a weld nut on the backside of the enclosure and aligned perfectly such that a bolt can be threaded.

As seen in the technical drawing, there is one (1) 0.516 OD hole with a 316SS 1/2-20 welded nut inside and nine (9) 0.450 OD holes with 316SS 7/16-20 welded nuts inside.

On the enclosure's exterior 16''x14'' face opposite the lid there shall be three welded mounting brackets positioned and constructed as indicated in the technical drawing.

The enclosure shall come with four (4) stand offs welded on the inside 16''x14'' face such that a mounting panel for junction boxes can be secured with four bolts.