(2)_First_Task_Order_SOW.docx

Contractor Performance Work Statement- Task Order #1 ShakeAlert Cloud System and Algorithm Development, Operations, and Maintenance

1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION/SCOPE

ShakeAlert recently migrated its System Testing and Performance (STP) operations into a USGS Cloud Hosting Services (CHS) cloud instance. This new CHS-based platform is being refined, tuned, and expanded. In addition, ShakeAlert is starting to explore what other system components can or should be migrated to the cloud over the five-year period of 2025-2030. Last, ShakeAlert algorithms are constantly being upgraded, refined, and expanded as scientific developments are operationalized. The USGS requires a specialized contractor with expertise in cloud technologies, physical science, and ShakeAlert operations to participate in a semi-agile development process, as well as operations and maintenance of ShakeAlert cloud assets. Work will be accomplished in sprints.

2.0 SCOPE OF WORK:

The USGS requires a contractor with cloud expertise, physical science knowledge, database expertise, and working familiarity with the ShakeAlert code stack who can perform the following tasks in a semi-agile development environment, using the CDK (Cloud Development Kit) with Single Sign On (SSO):

· Optimize current ShakeAlert cloud operations, with a particular focus on optimizing resource allocation for processing running in the cloud (storage, CPUs, etc) and increasing the efficiency of storage access and use.

· For the ShakeAlert System Testing and Performance (STP) cloud operations:

· Design and implement a completely automated buildup and teardown pipeline for STP cloud operations.

· Write scripts to automatically download the appropriate logfiles (from both the algorithms and the messaging system) from each run after tests are complete.

· Develop automated analyses of cloud STP logs.

· Automate STP runs into one global program that encapsulates all other separate STP programs.

· Work on Ansible automation tasks and help tune Ansible to be more performant when working with roles that have a large number of files.

· For the ShakeAlert database:

· Improve existing software to maximize efficiency of database interactions.

· Create database indexes for queries that take a long time but are often sought after.

· Automate as many database uses as possible.

· Keep the database at the highest-performing version, upgrading as needed.

· Lead requirements development, design, and implement an efficient and long-term backup system for the ShakeAlert Database System.

· Design and implement storage upgrades for the ShakeAlert Database System

· For the ShakeAlert production layer:

· Test replacement of the current ActiveMQ messaging system with the optimal new messaging system.

· Automate decentralized authentication/authorization for enhanced security in the messaging system.

· Implement a monitoring dashboard to view performance of a new messaging system.

· For the ShakeAlert algorithms:

· Perform code review of existing code.

3.0 TECHNICAL/PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

Essential software knowledge requirements: The contractor must have extensive knowledge of cloud native operations including build pipelines (CI/CD), the CDK, SSO, and the USGS CHS environment. The contractor must also have deep practical knowledge of the Earthworm seismology software suite. In addition, the contractor must have sufficient knowledge of the ShakeAlert system, its various layers (alert, production, integration, and test), and its System Testing and Performance (STP) platform to make system improvements. A working knowledge of the Advanced National Seismic System Quake Monitoring System (AQMS) software suite is a plus.

Essential messaging middleware requirements: The contractor must have extensive knowledge of messaging middleware, including basic familiarity with ActiveMQ and NATS.

Sufficient knowledge of the physical sciences to enable the contractor to make educated refinements to scientific code developed by researchers for solving geophysical problems.