Amendment P20001 - final.pdf

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. Name and Title of Signer (Type or Print) 16A. Name and title of Contracting Officer (Type or Print)

15B. Contractor/Offeror 15C. Date Signed 16B. United States of America

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

16C. Date Signed

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

NSN 7540-01-152-8070 30-105 STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

PREVIOUS EDITIONS UNUSABLE Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

1. Contract ID Code Page of Pages 1 7

2. Amendment/Modification No. 3. Effective Date 4. Requisition/Purchase Req. No. 5. Project No. (if applicable) P20001 5/15/2020

6. Issued By Code AJF10001 7. Administered By (If other than Item 6) Code SEE BLOCK 6

NOAA/EASTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION

200 GRANBY STREET

SUITE 815

NORFOLK, VA 23510

8. Name and Address of Contractor (No., Street, County, and Zip Code) (X) 9A. Amendment of Solicitation No.

1305M220RNWWG0007

9B. Date (See Item 11)

10A. Modification of Contract/Order No.

10B. Date (See Item 13)

Code Facility Code

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

X

The above numbered solicitation is restated as set forth in item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers X is extended is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as restated, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing items 8 and 15, and returning 1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDG- MENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. Accounting and Appropriation Data (if required)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACT/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

(x) A. This change order is issued pursuant to: (Specify authority) The changes set forth in item 14 are made in the Contract Order No. in item 10A.

B. The above numbered Contract/Order is modified to reflect the administrative changes (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

Set fourth item 14, pursuant to the authority of FAR 43.103 (b)

C. This supplemental agreement is entered into pursuant to authority of:

D. Other (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, x is required to sign this document and return 1 copies to the issuing office.

14. Description of Amendment/Modification (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

See the attached Continuation Sheet for a Complete Description of Changes

1305M220RNWWG0007 Amendment P20001 Page 2 of 7

Solicitation Amendment P20001 is issued to provide government responses to questions submitted by interested vendors, update the Request for Proposals (RFP) and Attachment I - 403 MHz Specification, and extend the response date to May 27, 2020 at 5:00pm Eastern Time.

1. Vendor Question: On page 28/51 Volume 1 Business Proposal there is a requirement to “include three (3) original signed copies of the form in original volume”. Since proposal reply is “electronic”, is this requirement your actual intention? If so, can you please provide further guidance as to your expectations as it does not seem usual that we scan and include these “3 original signed copies”.

a. Government Response: Only one electronic submission is required and “include three (3) original signed copies of the form in original volume” has been removed from the RFP.

2. Vendor Question: Re page 28/51 Volume II Technical Approach: There is a clearly stated page limit of 20 pages.

Considering this stringent page limitation which must also include various other technical documents, what guidance can you provide as to the expected level of detail, relative # of pages out of the 20 pages, expected format, etc. of the Specification Improvement Plan?

a. Government Response: The RFP has been revised to increase the total page limit for the Technical Approach and relative number of pages for the Specification Improvement Plan. Aside from the instructions provided in the RFP, the level of detail and format are at the discretion of the contractor.

3. Vendor Question: Re page 28/51 Volume II Technical Approach: There is a clearly stated page limit of 20 pages. In our experience QA Plans can vary greatly in scope, especially when taking into consideration complicated systems including many parameters such as Software, Hardware, Sensors, Consumables, etc. Considering this stringent page limitation which must also include various other technical documents, what guidance can you provide as to the expected level of detail, expected concepts to be included, relative # of pages out of the total 20 pages, format, etc. of the Quality Assurance Plan?

a. Government Response: The RFP has been revised to increase the total page limit for the Technical Approach and relative number of pages for the Quality Assurance Plan. Aside from the instructions provided in the RFP, the level of detail and concepts are at the discretion of the contractor.

4. Vendor Question: Re page 28/51 Volume IV: Price: There is a clearly stated page limit of 10 pages. Further to the completed one page “table provided in Section B of the RFP”, what additional information (if any) is expected that offerors include within the 10 page limitation?

a. Government Response: If the prices to be used are based on a published price list or catalog, the offeror shall so state, and provide a copy of the document with its price proposal. If the prices are to be based on established market prices, not otherwise published, or are prices applicable only to the proposed contract, the offeror shall so state. The offeror can provide additional support price information at their discretion.

5. Vendor Question: Re Page 5/51 C.2 (A) paragraph 3 Addendum to FAR 52.212-4 CTC/Commercial Items: It is stated that “The offeror shall rework and redeliver radiosondes returned under warranty provision of the contract…”. There is no mention of possibility to “replace” radiosondes. Is it acceptable for the offeror to “repair or replace radiosondes under warranty provision of the contract…”?

a. Government Response: The RFP has been revised to clarify that “The Offeror shall rework and redeliver repair or replace radiosondes returned under the warranty provision of the contract within ninety (90) days of receipt from the Government.”

6. Vendor Question: Re Radiosonde Tracking System, specification 3.2.10, what peripheral items are included as components of the “Sounding Workstation” (ex. computer?, printer?, others?) and are these components provided by NOAA (and therefore expected to be outside the scope of an offerors supply for this requirement)?

a. Government Response: The Sounding Workstation is provided by the government and consists of the Windows 10 computer and monitor used by the observer to access the vendor provided radiosonde data via the vendor provided Radiosonde Observation Software.

1305M220RNWWG0007 Amendment P20001 Page 3 of 7

7. Vendor Question: The spec number 3.1.11 mentions boxes of 40 radiosondes whereas (Figure 1) the example deals with a box of 60. Does the NOAA confirm that boxes of 40 are mandatory? No detail on the radiosonde packaging is given, should it be packaged by unit, by pair by 10?

a. Government Response: The specification has been revised to remove the requirement for boxes of 40.

8. Vendor Question: Are proofs needed to confirm the compliance to all spec? Given that each document shall be limited in pages (technical description?), if we had a DNMR at the previous evaluation (MROS 2018-Phase 4) how can we prove if it has been corrected?

a. Government Response: The Government is not requesting proof of compliance with the specification. It is at the discretion of the Contractor to determine the necessary documentation to provide to ensure that the proposed system demonstrates that the functions and features of the proposed commercial equipment meets or exceeds the requirements in Attachment I -403 MHz Specification.

9. Vendor Question: We understand that the mailing bag is not mandatory if the vendor doesn’t propose any radiosonde reconditioning service. So if not, is there any penalty in the general grading of our proposal if this service is not proposed?

a. Government Response: No, there is no penalty for a vendor that does not propose radiosonde reconditioning services.

10. Vendor Question: Could the Contracting Authority please give a clear definition of raw data which is mentioned several times in the document Specification from the NWS. i.e. 3.3.35 The Radiosonde Observation Software shall display the radiosonde observation data in tables, including as a minimum, raw PTU tabular, processed tabular, WMO products (FZL, MAN, SGL, ABV), and BUFR, or Table - 3 Meteorological Parameters.

a. Government Response: Raw data has the same units as the processed data (e.g. °C, hPa, knots), but the data has had no algorithms or calculations applied to it. The government requires to see the data as reported by the instrument (raw) and the data with vendor specific algorithms applied (processed).

11. Vendor Question: Spec says 3.1.29 The Harmless Label shall be on three different sides of the radiosonde or as negotiated with the Government, is it possible to put it only on two sides if the other two sides are too narrow to stick a label on it (if the instrument is not a square shape one)?

a. Government Response: This is negotiable with the government.

12. Vendor Question: If the European radiotelecommunication directive/ law ETSI EN 3054 is compatible with the NTIA spectrum management policy…. (chapter 10), is it good enough or do we need to be certified by a certification entity?

And if so, which one, US or European?

a. Government Response: The government requires U.S. certification - NTIA.

13. Vendor Question: Is it part of your requirements to provide the installation of the tracking systems and training at each sites?

a. Government Response: No, this is not part of the requirement. The government will be responsible for installation and training.

14. Vendor Question: Attachment I - 403 MHz Specification, 3.1 Radiosonde Requirements, 3.1.10.

All radiosondes of a specific model delivered under the contract shall be identical in all respects, including pressure, temperature, and RH sensors, transmitters, GPS receiver, associated circuitry and processing algorithms, and physical characteristics.

Please clarify to what degree the government will determine radiosondes to be “identical”. For commercial radiosonde manufacturing, components for Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (PCBA) will contain the same model components (typically based on very stringent performance-based specification rather than specific component-specific specifications)

1305M220RNWWG0007 Amendment P20001 Page 4 of 7 but will have serial numbering that is different from one radiosonde to the next, which is required for traceability & quality assurance and control.

a. Government Response: The Government will use visual inspection to determine if the radiosondes are identical.

The component level serial numbers are not considered to be part of the 3.1.10 requirement. That said, requirement 3.1.17 addresses serial number requirements. The intent of 3.1.17 is two-fold. First, serial numbers are used for logistics tracking as well as assisting users in following FIFO processes. Second, when radiosondes are recovered by the public or otherwise, the serial number (external or internal) allows the NWS to trace the radiosonde to the launch location. In some cases, the external serial number is unreadable/unavailable depending on the time since launch. Thus, the internal serial number is used.

15. Vendor Question: Attachment I - 403 MHz Specification, 3.1 Radiosonde Requirements, 3.1.23

The lifting device shall be designed for convenient attachment of the balloon flight train.

Does the preferred radiosonde have only a lifting device that allows for convenient attachment of the balloon flight train, or does the preferred radiosonde include a vendor-designed unwinder for attachment to the balloon flight train?

a. Government Response: The government will consider the unwinder if the vendor’s unwinder improves performance. Otherwise, unwinders will be provided by the government.

16. Vendor Question: Attachment I - 403 MHz Specification, 3.1 Radiosonde Requirements, 3.1.62

The radiosonde altitude error shall not exceed 1 percent near the surface decreasing to 0.5 percent at 100 hPa.

This performance requirement is not possible across the entire range of any radiosonde measurements via GPS or pressure calculated heights. Specifically, this cannot be achieved near the surface below 1 km altitude, where it would require an altitude error less than 10 meters, which is inconsistent with the pressure accuracy requirement of 1.8 hPa.

It is recommended that the MROS specification use the World Meteorological Organization Guide to Instruments and Methods of Observation: Volume 1, 2018 Edition, Annex 12.A. Current breakthrough and optimum requirements for radiosonde altitude measurements.

a. Government Response: The specification has been changed to the following, “The maximum horizontal position error shall not exceed 5.0 meters Circular Error Probability (CEP) 90 and the maximum vertical position error shall not exceed 20.0 meters CEP90 of the received data a during radiosonde flight, in the absence of radio frequency (RF) multipath environment and with at least 5 matching satellites in use.”

17. Vendor Question: Attachment I - 403 MHz Specification, 3.2 Radiosonde Tracking System, 3.2.12

All electrical power circuits, electrical power components, and wiring inside the tracking system shall comply with the 2017 edition of the National Fire Protection Association Code Number 70, National Electric Code (NFPA70: NEC 2017) and the 2017 NESC.

For the purposes of this solicitation, is the Government considering the radiosonde tracking system antennae to be governed under Article 810, which is applicable to TV and Radio antennae?

a. Government Response: Article 810 Radio and Television Equipment provides installation requirements for transmitter and receiver equipment as well as the associated wiring and cabling. Article 810 applies to: VHF/UHF antennas, which receive local television signals; satellite antennas, also called satellite dishes; roof-mounted antennas for AM/FM/XM radio reception; and amateur radio transmitting and receiving equipment, including HAM radio equipment. Article 810 does not apply to this solicitation.

18. Vendor Question: Attachment I - 403 MHz Specification, 3.3 Radiosonde Observation Software, 3.3.6

The Radiosonde Observation Software shall display pressure, temperature, and relative humidity (PTU) data and latitude/longitude during baselining.

The ability of the Radiosonde Observation Software to show all listed data during baseline will be dependent on the specifications of the radiosonde offered and the configuration of the Government’s system. For example, radiosondes offered without a pressure sensor will not display pressure data during baselining, and latitude and longitude of a

1305M220RNWWG0007 Amendment P20001 Page 5 of 7 radiosonde will not be displayed if baselining occurs indoors, unless there is a GPS repeater (outside of the scope of this proposal) where the baselining occurs.

a. Government Response: The NWS baselining locations have GPS repeaters indoors. It is understood that radiosondes deriving pressure from GPS will not display pressure data, but rather will indicate the reception and use of GPS data via displaying latitude and longitude.

19. Vendor Question: Attachment I - 403 MHz Specification, 3.3 Radiosonde Observation Software, 3.3.31

All measurements shall have the same resolution as the corresponding measurement error. For example, if the pressure data has a resolution of one decimal place (0.0 hPa) then the resolution of the pressure measurement error should be 0.6 hPa.

Please clarify where this requirement is to be met? Is this same resolution requirement to be met in the software data display, data output reports, documentation, or elsewhere? Having higher data resolution compared to the measurement error resolution may be beneficial for example for recalculation purposes and provides more information especially when the measurement values are low. It is recommended that the data resolution is allowed to a maximum of two decimals, where applicable.

a. Government Response: The specification has been revised to the following, “All measurements shall have the same resolution or greater as the corresponding measurement error. For example, if the pressure measurement error has a resolution of one decimal place (e.g. 0.6 hPa), then the pressure data should have a resolution of at least one decimal place (e.g. 0.0 hPa).”

20. Vendor Question: Attachment I - 403 MHz Specification, 3.3 Radiosonde Observation Software, 3.3.46

The Radiosonde Observation Software shall save the Upper Air Data Products locally as a text file(s) for BUFR Messages.

Please clarify that this requirement means BUFR Messages shall be saved locally as a binary file(s) as BUFR Messages are Binary Universal Form for data Representation Messages (binary rather than text files).

a. Government Response: BUFR messages saved locally in a file in a defined/widely accepted format is acceptable

(binary or otherwise).

21. Vendor Question: RFMP Solicitation Final, Section B. Continuation of SF 1449, Section B – Pricing

CLIN 002 Quantity 51 Operational Tracking System and CLIN 005 Quantity 28, Operational Tracking System

In support of this solicitation, can the Government provide a list of Upper Air Stations that this requirement is applicable to? The current number of Operational Tracking Systems (79) is ten (10) stations higher than in previous RFPs.

a. Government Response: The total number of Operational Tracking Systems listed is correct and a list of stations is attached.

22. Vendor Question: RFMP Solicitation Final, Section E. General Instructions, (b) Overall Arrangement of Proposal, Volume Instructions Volume II: Technical Approach. Page Limit: 20 Pages Volume II is required to include Attachment III - DD 1494 - Application For Equipment Frequency Allocation (14 pages), commercial cutsheets / specifications, a Quality Assurance Plan, and evidenced Manufacturing Capability Statements making a 20 page limit extremely challenging.

Is the government willing to increase the page limit for Volume II given the substantive nature of the required information?

a. Government Response: The Government has increased the Technical Approach page limit to 40 pages, with

Attachment III - DD 1494 - Application For Equipment Frequency Allocation excluded from the page limit. The Quality Assurance Plan shall not exceed 20 pages and the Specification Improvement Plan shall not exceed 10 pages of the 40 pages allotted.

1305M220RNWWG0007 Amendment P20001 Page 6 of 7

23. Vendor Question: RFMP Solicitation Final, (E) General Instructions, (b) Overall Arrangement Of Proposal, Volume II Technical Approach, a. Manufacturing Capability Statement The Technical Approach text states that, “The Offeror shall provide evidence that the proposed manufacturing facility can produce up to three thousand (3,000) radiosondes per month and deliver forty-six (46) Operational Tracking Systems within ninety (90) days after receipt of an order.”

Is there a significance to the requirement for forty-six (46) Operational Tracking Systems? This number of systems does not immediately translate to CLIN 0002, 0003, 0005, or 0006? Please clarify whether this statement requires each Offeror to be able to produce both forty-six (46) Operational Tracking Systems, and up to three thousand (3,000) radiosondes per month? Or, That the Offeror must be able to produce three thousand (3,000) radiosondes per month, whilst then delivering forty-six (46) Operational Tracking Systems within ninety (90) days upon receipt of an order?

a. Government Response: The RFP has been revised to remove “forty-six (46) Operational Tracking Systems”. The Offeror shall provide evidence that the proposed manufacturing facility can produce up to three thousand (3,000) radiosondes per month and deliver within ninety (90) days after receipt of an order.

24. Vendor Question: Does the Government expect to make the award during this calendar year (2020)?

a. Government Response: Yes, the Government anticipates award in calendar year 2020.

25. Vendor Question: Attachment I - 403 MHz Specification, Specifications General Measurement Requirements 3.1.42 to

Radiosonde Performance Requirements 3.1.67 A definition of measurement accuracy and error is required within the specifications, such as repeatability or uncertainty.

This information is needed for providing consistent and justified information in the Technical Approach in order to have a common understanding across all radiosonde vendors. Is it correct to assume that the definitions conform to those found from the “WMO Guide To Meteorological Instruments And Methods Of Observation and the JCGM 100:2008, Evaluation of measurement data — Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement”? Are there any statistical requirements for the specifications, such as 95% of the measurement data conforming to the accuracy requirement, and is the non-conforming data included in the lost data as specified in 3.1.64 and 3.1.65?

a. Government Response: Accuracy references in 3.1.43 and 3.1.47 through 3.1.51 have been revised to measurement error. For the error requirements, all data must fall within the specification. The measurement error is the difference between the vendor’s sensor measurement and a traceable reference measurement. The uncertainty in that particular measurement is then added to the specification error tolerance (such as 1.0 °C for temperature), giving the vendor a larger acceptable range.

26. Vendor Question: RFMP Solicitation Final, (E) General Instructions; RFMP Solicitation Final, E.3. FAR 52.212-2

Evaluation – Commercial Items (Oct. 2014); and Attachment II – Past Performance Information Form

Are non-US based past performance references deemed acceptable / relevant to the government for this solicitation?

a. Government Response: Yes, non-U.S. based past perform references are acceptable.

27. Vendor Question: Requirements 3.3.45 and 3.3.55 appear to reference the incorrect table. Since these requirements concern dissemination of messages and the table that is referenced, Table 1, is a list of preflight parameters.

a. Government Response: The specification has been revised to reference Table 9.

28. Vendor Question: Requirement 3.3.29 requires the radiosonde observation software to “receive” pressure, temperature, RH, wind measurements and other parameters from the tracking system. Can “receive” be changed to “receive or calculate from raw measurements”?

a. Government Response: The government understands there is a conversion that takes place from what is received by the tracking system to the units in Table 3.

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29. Vendor Question: Solicitation Page 26 section (e) ‘General Instructions: In reference to the fold out diagrams and tables consisting of one 8 ½ “ x 17” should this state 11” x 17”?

a. Government Response: This wording has been removed from the RFP, as it is not applicable for electronic submissions.

30. Vendor Question: Solicitation Page 26 & 27 section (e) ‘General Instructions: in reference to the requirement “File names to be (Company Name – Initial) for the first submission” Is the Government requiring Volume number in the title as there are four (4) volumes being submitted?

a. Government Response: Yes, please indicate the volume number in the file name. The RFP has been updated accordingly.

31. Vendor Question: Regarding requirement paragraph 3.3.77, does the year in file name contain two or four digits? Is the hour included in the file name? Does the file contain messages for just one flight or messages for all flights occurring on that day?

a. Government Response: The file shall contain one flight’s worth of data. The specification has been revised to “XXXXDDMMYYHH.zip”.

Except for the changes made herein all other terms, conditions and provisions of the solicitation remain unchanged and in full force and effect.

END AMENDMENT P20001 TO 1305M220RNWWG0007