B2 - Sources Sought.doc

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Acquisition Division office intends to award, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 with Engineered Tower Solutions, PLLC (ETS) to provide an engineering and structural analysis for the potential relocation of a new NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) tower located in Mooresville, NC. The estimated magnitude of this project is less than $25,000.00.

Justification for Sole Source

NWR has a requirement to move their existing tower location to a site in Mooresville, NC owned and managed by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) under their VIPER tower fleet. Prior to the installation of the NWR Transmitter, an engineering and structural analysis needs to be accomplished to effectively and safely install the NWR broadcast antennas and their cable assemblies on commercial communication towers. The NWR is essential to forecasting weather and submitting weather warnings to aid in the protection of US citizens and property by providing the capability to distribute weather-related warnings directly to emergency managers and the public.

NCSHP owns and manages a fleet of VIPER towers. Prior to any tenant operating from a VIPER tower, the State requires all tenants follow the Expectations and Procedures for Tower and Building Co-Location on NCSHP VIPER towers. The State has contracted with ETS as the sole source to provide the engineering service contained in the Expectations and Procedures document. NCSHP only allows ETS to accomplish this task.

The State entered into a fixed price contract with ETS, so NWR intends to award to ETS per NCSHP guidance. ETS is the only firm that the state allows to develop drawings, perform structural analysis, generate engineering drawings to improve tower strength which allows the installed systems to be under 95% of rated tower strength. As such, NCSHP will not accept drawings/studies/recommendations from any other firm except ETS.

Sources Sought

This sources sought notice is not a request for competitive offers and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that can provide the required engineering services stated below may submit substantiating documentation in writing within five (5) business days of this notice explaining in detail how they can perform the services including engineering services of a registered architect or engineer in the State of North Carolina:

Approval Requirements for Tower Space

Pre-existing towers (Tower Study and Tower Upgrade)

Tower study: to be completed by the engineering firm on contract with the NCSHP-VIPER with a copy provided to the NCSHP-VIPER. All studies will be done to the Public Safety grade standards.

· Existing tower built or was upgraded to an old tower standard: tower study must be assessed at the current tower standard with a minimum of ≤ 95% capacity AFTER their equipment is added.

Tower upgrades:

a. All tower work shall be bonded and insured at $1M for General Liability.

b. A Certificate of Liability Insurance must be provided to the VIPER Construction Manger before work begins.

c. All tower work shall be performed by only personnel certified as an advanced climber/ tower rescue with a minimum of 2 certified personnel on site at all times.

d. Whenever any tower work is performed, the NWR shall notify NCSHP-VIPER NOC at 1-888-92-VIPER prior to climbing and at the completion of work.

Electrical study: must be completed by the engineering firm on contract with the NCSHP-VIPER.

Intermodulation study: an intermodulation study will be conducted and provided to NCSHP-VIPER to ensure there are no foreseeable frequency issues.

Post inspections: required to be completed by the engineering firm on contract with the NCSHP-VIPER.

Approval requirements for building space All space will be assigned by NCSHP-VIPER personnel.

Responses can be sent via e-mail to elliott.waxman@noaa.gov. Documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon response to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. If no documentation is received, award will be made directly to Engineered Tower Solutions, PLLC.

DOC, Eastern Acquisition Division requires that all contractors doing business with this office be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). No award can be made to a company not registered in SAM. For additional information and to register in SAM, please access the following web site: www.sam.gov. To register, all contractors must have a Dun and Bradstreet number. A Dun and Bradstreet number may be acquired free of charge by contacting Dun and Bradstreet on-line at http://www.dnb.com/eupdate or by telephone at (800)333-0505.