Fire Weather RFI_Vendor Questions.pdf

NOAA-NESDIS-SAE-FIREWEATHER- Q12024

Vendor Questions February 7, 2023

1. Step 2 under the submission instructions, requested any information about satellite launches. Is this RFI only interested in new tools and technologies related to satellites or would air-based tools (specifically un-crewed aerial systems) be of interest?

Answer: The RFI’s scope is broad; therefore, areas of interest include non-satellite technologies, i.e., to include air-based tools (un-crewed aerial systems).

2. Can NOAA provide an ascending list of high, medium, low indication of its fire weather capability priorities?

Answer: Below is a summary of key NOAA focus areas that support wildland fire operations.

• Pre-fire: Fire weather, forecasting, monitoring; Seasonal fire conditions forecast

• During the fire: Hot spot detection, smoke forecast, weather monitoring

• After the fire: burn, scar flood, monitoring, warning, and recovery, runoff impact, analysis Decision support for all phases

• Data & tools: Observations (satellites, radar, surface observations), Modeling (drought, fire weather, smoke), Research (artificial intelligence, automated alerts, air chemistry models)

3. Can NOAA clarify when a determination will be made establishing a commercial fire weather data pilot project?

Answer: At present, NOAA is focused on gathering information on commercial capabilities.

4. Is there NOAA funding available for a pilot program and if so how much?

5. When can industry expect a Pre-Solicitation or RFP notice for fire weather?

6. What is NOAA’s preliminary estimate for expected number of awardees and average size of award for a pilot program?

7. Does NOAA encourage the use of teaming partners in capability statement responses?

Answer: NOAA is interested in commercial wildland fire capabilities, including partnership-based capabilities.

8. Question 6 references licensing terms [i.e., item 6 of the RFI under Submission Instructions], will NOAA accept contractor licensing terms? Are there standard NOAA licensing terms for this requirement? If so, please provide them.

Answer: A standard set of license options has been developed by the NOAA Commercial Data Program and is currently used for purchases of commercial weather data (Appendix A). These licenses range from unrestricted to NOAA-only, with options to separate the near-real-time data from day-old data. NOAA would prefer to purchase commercial data under one of these licenses.

9. Can the RFI response deadline be extended to 1 March 2024?

Answer: At this time, the deadline will not be extended.

10. Can NOAA provide additional detail on current fire weather challenges or capability gaps that it would like to address in the listed capability areas?

Answer: Below is a summary of key NOAA focus areas that support wildland fire operations.

• Pre-fire: Fire weather, forecasting, monitoring; Seasonal fire conditions forecast

• During the fire: Hot spot detection, smoke forecast, weather monitoring

• After the fire: burn, scar flood, monitoring, warning, and recovery, runoff impact, analysis Decision support for all phases

• Data & tools: Observations (satellites, radar, surface observations), Modeling (drought, fire weather, smoke), Research (artificial intelligence, automated alerts, air chemistry models)

11. What are the contracting mechanisms that NOAA is considering to enable these partnerships with industry? For example, is NOAA considering using OTA or joint-venture partnerships with

NTIS?

12. In reference to the potential pilot, does NOAA has an anticipated timeline for pilot start?

13. Does NOAA have an anticipated budget for the pilot?

14. Can NOAA provide more details on its priorities for the scope of a potential pilot?

15. How is NOAA considering partnering with other government agencies to evaluate commercial capabilities?

Answer: NOAA will engage government partners through established inter-governmental coordination groups such as the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services (ICAMS) and the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG).

Appendix A: NOAA Commercial Data Program License Options

Option 1 Unlimited right to distribute all data to any entity immediately after receipt at NOAA, with no restrictions on their use or further distribution (distribution rights included in the unlimited data rights definition at FAR 52.227-14).

Option 2A

Right to distribute all data to U.S. Gov. agencies, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, WMO-designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers, members of the CGMS, non-profit entities and academic entities, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non-commercial use but not for further distribution. Right to distribute all data to any entity with no restriction on use or further distribution 24 hours after receipt at NOAA.

Option 2

Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, WMO-designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers, members of the CGMS, non-profit entities and academic entities, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non-commercial use but not for further distribution.

Option 3A

Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, WMO-designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers, and members of the CGMS, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non-commercial use but not for further distribution. Right to distribute all data to any entity with no restriction on use or further distribution 24 hours after receipt at NOAA.

Option 3

Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, WMO-designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers, and members of the CGMS, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non-commercial use but not for further distribution.

Option 4A

Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non- commercial use but not for further distribution (except to others to use on their behalf, including contractors and grantees). Right to distribute all data to any entity with no restriction on use or further distribution 24 hours after receipt at NOAA.

Option 4 Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non- commercial use but not for further distribution (except to others to use on their behalf, including contractors and grantees).

Option 5A

No right to distribute any data outside NOAA immediately after receipt at NOAA (except to others to use on its behalf, including contractors and grantees). Right to distribute all data to any entity with no restriction on use or further distribution 24 hours after receipt at

NOAA.

Option 5 No right to distribute any data outside NOAA immediately after receipt at NOAA (except to others to use on its behalf, including contractors and grantees).