Quests_Ans__1_SS.doc

AFTAC MMS/ADAMTD Meeting

Questions and Answers #1

1. When do you anticipate release of the ADAMTD RFP, and will it include a detailed PWS/SOW? Will you sponsor an Industry Day?

ANSWER: Anticipated release is early Dec 2013; PWS to be included; Will not sponsor an Industry Day

2. Has a decision been made regarding the Competition Type (i.e., Full and Open or Small Business Set-Aside)?

ANSWER: Small Business Set-Aside

3. How do you currently define and measure, “incremental improvements” within your modeling programs/ADAMTD?

ANSWER: This will be a long term (8-year) contract for improving our meteorological modeling capabilities; improvements to the modeling system will occur incrementally over time, not all at once.

4. Do you currently use and/or will ADAMTD incorporate EVMS requirements/other metrics?

ANSWER: This is basically an R&D effort and EVMS is not part of the requirement.

5. In addition to the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, are there any other weather/mesoscale models you require the contractor to have experience with?

ANSWER: RAMS

6. Can you provide examples of “enhancements” the contractor will be expected to make to Atmospheric Numerical and Data Assimilation systems? What kind of “enhancements” are specifically desired for WRF, and other mesoscale models? Improved physics, resolution, computational efficiencies, etc.?

ANSWER: Adapt (modify/test/evaluate/implement for AFTAC modeling system) enhancements such as improved physics, resolution, computational efficiencies, etc. as they are developed by WRF developers (NCAR).

7. Can you provide examples of “enhancements” the contractor will be expected to make to Transport and Dispersion Model and Material Source Estimation systems?

ANSWER: Incorporate new 4-D datasets into atmospheric transport & dispersion (ATD) model; develop meteorological and ATD modeling methods to optimize placement of collection instrumentation.

8. Can you provide examples of “enhancements” the contractor will be expected to make to climatological analysis techniques? What is the source(s) of your climatology data?

ANSWER: Question 7 and 8 are related; enhancements to Met and ATD modeling can improve our climatological analysis capabilities. Sources of data: WRF output generated at AFTAC and GFS data from NOAA.

9. By “Characterization of model uncertainty within the ensemble,” are you referring to forecast skill, standard deviation, confidence level, relating ensemble spread to mean variance to forecast skill, and/or other measurement criteria?

ANSWER: We are referring to the ensemble’s ability to represent simulation uncertainty as measured by ensemble spread. Measures that incorporate comparisons using observations are of most interest.

10. Are personnel required to have a current Secret clearance upon contract award or can they be eligible for obtaining a Secret clearance? Are there any TS or TS/SCI requirements?

ANSWER: Within 12 months from contract initiation, personnel shall possess at least a SECRET clearance. There are no TS or TS/SCI requirements for this contract.

11. By “Maintain and control the software and hardware configuration baseline,” do you mean that the contractor will be responsible for Configuration Management of all software and hardware systems to be used in performing this task? If so, what is the scope of each?

ANSWER: Yes, the tasks under this contract will be performed at the contractor’s facility.

12. Will Management, Staffing and Transition plan(s) be required as part of the contractor’s demonstration of “clear and sound organizational and management methods?”

ANSWER: Yes

13. The Sources Sought Notice states, “Travel may be required as directed by the government to receive training or to support the mission.” What type(s) of training do you anticipate and what is the estimated frequency and duration of an average training and support trip?

ANSWER: An example of training might be the annual WRF modeling workshop. Travel to support our mission would include trips to AFTAC to provide periodic updates or to assist in software implementation/integration.

14. Should the contractor’s data assimilation experience be with a specific toolset, e.g. GSI DA or WRF DA? Others?

ANSWER: WRFDA

15. Can you provide examples of, “climatological analysis techniques,” that are currently used and/or of interest for use in the future?

ANSWER: Modeling techniques to better determine climatological Opportunities for Detection (OFDs) of a given source(s).