7 NR-MN0000-23-00862 Notice of Intent.pdf

SYNOPSIS

Value of GeoXO Atmospheric Composition Data for Estimating Air Pollution-Related Health Impacts

SYNOPSIS:

This is a notice of intent to negotiate on a sole-source basis. This is not a request for competitive quotes/proposals. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division (WAD), and Ocean and Atmospheric Research (OAR), Climate Program Office (GML), requirement for a study to evaluate the influence of remote sensing capabilities for assessing air pollution-related health impacts that may be possible with GeoXO is hereby synopsized in accordance with FAR 5.207, Preparation and Transmittal of Synopses:

(1) Action Code: NR-MN0000-23-00862

(2) Date: August 14

(3) Year: 2023

(4) Contracting Office ZIP Code: 80305

(5) Product or Service Code: 541690 – Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services

(6) Contracting Office Address: 325 Broadway, DSRC, Boulder, CO 80305

(7) Subject: Intent to Sole Source, Value of GeoXO Atmospheric Composition Data for

Estimating Air Pollution-Related Health Impacts

(8) Proposed Solicitation Number: N/A

(9) Closing Response Date: August 21, 2023 at 10:00 AM Mountain Time

(10) Contact Point or Contracting Officer:

Contracting Officer: Remo Dela Cruz Email: remo.dela-cruz@noaa.gov

(11) Contract Award and Solicitation Number:

Solicitation Number: N/A Contract Number: To be determined at time of award

(12) Contract Award Dollar Amount: To be determined

(13) Line Item Number: To be determined

(14) Contract Award Date: To be determined

(15) Contractor: George Washington University

(16) Description:

The subject requirement is to evaluate the influence of remote sensing capabilities for assessing air pollution-related health impacts that may be possible with GeoXO.

Specifically, we aim to conduct health impact analyses for PM2.5, ozone, and NO2 from a range of synthetic geostationary satellite data and chemical transport model outputs to identify the benefits of GeoXO capabilities compared with datasets lacking GeoXO capabilities. We will also explore the distribution of estimated air pollution-attributable

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

ACQUISITION AND GRANTS OFFICE

Western Acquisition Division – Boulder 325 Broadway, SOU6 Boulder, CO 80305 health impacts across population subgroups (e.g. by race, income level, educational attainment level, and/or social vulnerability indices).

The scope of this acquisitions includes the following:

1. Estimate the health impacts associated with modeled NO2, ozone, and PM2.5 concentrations with and without fires to investigate the impact of having satellite derived fire products (emissions) as input to the model to drive the chemistry and transport.

2. Develop an approach for estimating the scientific, health, and environmental justice benefits of having NO2 columns from a geostationary satellite versus a polar-orbiting satellite. We may be able to use TEMPO data if available within this project period (or in lieu of TEMPO data WRF-Chem model output), and compare it to TROPOMI estimates. We would then estimate NO2-attributable mortality and pediatric asthma impacts, and use valuation techniques to estimate the value of the health impacts.

NOAA intends to award a sole-source contract to George Washington University under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901, using SAP up to $7.5M as authorized by FAR 13.500(a) and implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

Dr. Susan Anenberg’s team at George Washington University (GWU) developed the original R code and calculated pollution-attributable health impacts across the U.S. for PM2.5, ozone, and NO2 health impacts using WRF-Chem output for business as usual and COVID-19 simulations. No other source has the experience with the code and methodological approaches necessary to allow for continued updated estimates of PM2.5 attributable mortality and asthma emergency department visits using geostationary versus polar-orbiting satellites for the entire continental US in a timely manner.

If GWU is not involved, NOAA would have to find another supplier with the technical know-how (requiring a highly-qualified team in both remote sensing and epidemiology) to replicate GWU’s previous work and execute future steps. This would set the ACX user and product team back at least a year, if not more when considering educational requirements and hiring appropriate team members, and would deprive ACX valuation studies of valuable data and weaken the ACX user and product teams’ ability to contribute effectively to GeoXO planning.

The anticipated contract period of performance is September 15, 2023 – September 14, 2025.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, any firm that believes it can meet this requirement may provide written notification to the Contracting Officer. Firms who believe they can meet this requirement are required to submit in writing an affirmative response demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the requirements.

All written responses must include proof of possessing permits and a written narrative statement of capability, including detailed technical information demonstrating their ability to meet the requirement. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within its discretion. Affirmative written responses must be received no later than due date and time of this notice. All responses received prior to the close of this notice will be considered by the Government solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

(17) Place of Contract Performance:

George Washington University 45155 Research Place Ashburn, VA 20147

(18) Set-aside Status: N/A. The Government does not intend to set-aside this procurement for a small business program.