Intent to Sole Source.pdf

NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Acquisitions Division (EAD) and the Office of Marine and Aviation Operation (OMAO), Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) will solicit and award the requirement herein on a sole source basis with Skyfora located at Itälahdenkatu 22A, Helsinki, 00210 Finland, for a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP), contract for the supply of Skyfora OY, Skyfora StreamSonde dropsonde and Operational and Technical Support Services. The authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1 entitled, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements, under FAR 6.302-1(a), When the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source.

The Skyfora StreamSonde’s distinctive features provide data that traditional dropsondes cannot, which is crucial for advancing hurricane forecasting and research. The features are:

Lightweight Design and Slow Descent

Weight: The StreamSonde is lightweight, weighing approximately 80 grams, compared to 350 grams for a traditional dropsonde (RD41) and 216 grams for the newer NRD41.

Slow Descent: Owing to its low mass and integrated biodegradable parachute, the StreamSonde descends at roughly 6 m/s near sea level. This controlled, slow descent rate increases the measurement duration within the storm structures of interest — up to twice as long as a conventional dropsonde — enabling more detailed sampling of the Tropical Cyclone (TC) environment.

Updraft Measurement: The lightweight construction and slower fall rate allow the StreamSonde to respond to vertical motions in ways traditional sondes cannot. These unique measurements, processed through Skyfora’s advanced wind-retrieval algorithms, yield unprecedented detail on vertical velocity fields, updrafts, and turbulent structures within TCs.

Superior Wind Accuracy

Dual-Band GNSS: The StreamSonde incorporates an in-house–developed dual-band Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, utilizing GPS L1/L5 and Galileo signals.

Enhanced Data: Dual-band capability enables more accurate wind retrievals by reducing ionospheric error sources that limit single-band GPS dropsondes. It also improves the potential to derive turbulence-related quantities—especially near the surface—where dual-band measurements provide the necessary accuracy.

High-Density Swarm Deployment Capability

The small, robust, lightweight design of the StreamSonde enables deployments in high-density swarms.

When paired with the Skyfora StreamSDR receiver, up to 50 simultaneously descending StreamSondes can be tracked and recorded in real time. This capability provides researchers with an unprecedented, three-dimensional, high-resolution depiction of storm structure at a single time or during rapid-evolution periods—something not achievable with traditional dropsonde systems. These dense, collocated observations also enable improved verification and cross-comparison for other emerging technology platforms, including airborne drones and remote sensing instruments deployed on the NOAA Lockheed WP-3D (P-3) aircraft, such as NESDIS profiling systems.

NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT

Near-Surface and Sea-Surface Measurements

The StreamSonde also shows promise in providing in-situ measurements of pressure, temperature, and altitude at the sea surface. When floating and continuing to transmit data, it directly samples near-surface conditions rather than relying on extrapolation from measurements above the surface. This capability supports improved height assignment and enhanced characterization of near-surface thermodynamic and wind conditions, including values representative of the 10 m level. These in-situ observations are particularly valuable for TC research and provide complementary information to traditional dropsonde profiles.

In Summary:

Skyfora is the sole provider of this unique combination of lightweight construction, dual-band GNSS wind-sensing technology, true swarm-deployment capability, and emerging in-situ near-surface measurement capability. This technology delivers superior wind and turbulence measurements, enables high-density sampling strategies currently unmatched by other commercial dropsondes, and supports direct observation of near-surface conditions when surface transmission is available. NOAA’s Hurricane Research Division (HRD) regards these capabilities as essential for accelerating improvements in TC analysis and forecasting. Skyfora's StreamSonde is the only vendor offering a specific, unique technology that complements or exceeds the capabilities of traditional dropsondes in certain key areas, which is why NOAA has been using them extensively for research and operational testing, particularly in TC environments.

The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) is 334519 Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing, with a corresponding size standard of 600 employees. This notice does not constitute a solicitation, Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quotation (RFQ), or an Invitation for Bid (IFB) and it does not restrict the Government in any way regarding its ultimate acquisition approach. However, if any other interested party believes that it can meet the requirements, it may submit a statement of capabilities, which if timely received, will be considered by NOAA. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future. Evidence must be provided of ability to provide the required services. The capability statement and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NOAA to determine if the party can meet all of the requirements. Capability statements and related materials must be e-mailed to amy.l.mcliverty@noaa.gov by 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) on December 30, 2025.

mailto:amy.l.mcliverty@noaa.gov