Synopsis - Intent to Sole Source AONCA0110-24-0013.pdf

SYNOPSIS

Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL) Wind Profilers

SYNOPSIS:

This is a notice of intent to negotiate on a sole-source basis. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division (WAD), Ocean and Atmospheric Research (OAR) and Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL), Wind Profiler requirement is hereby synopsized in accordance with FAR 5.207, Preparation and Transmittal of Synopses:

(1) Action Code: AONCA0110-24-0013

(2) Date: December 21st

(3) Year: 2023

(4) Contracting Office ZIP Code: 80305

(5) Product or Service Code: 334519 – Other Measuring and Controlling Device

Manufacturing

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

(7) Subject: Purchase and Installation of Four LAP 8000 Wind Profilers

(8) Proposed Solicitation Number: N/A

(9) Closing Response Date: N/A

(10) Contact Point or Contracting Officer:

Contract Specialist: Heidi Washburn Email: Heidi.washburn@noaa.gov 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: Scintec Corporation

(16) Description:

This requirement is for four 449 MHz, LAP-8000 wind profilers, including all hardware, electronics, and installation, to improve fire weather monitoring over the interior mountainous region of the Western U.S. Each unit includes a fully functional wind profiler and other system components such as RF/power cables, equipment rack for rack-mountable radar electronics, and packaging for transporting the radar’s antenna.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

ACQUISITION AND GRANTS OFFICE

Western Acquisition Division – Boulder 325 Broadway, SOU6 Boulder, CO 80305

The new units will be integrated with the existing network of nine wind profilers currently deployed that are operating at a frequency of 449 MHz. The wind profilers must be fully compatible with the existing wind profilers’ hardware and software infrastructure. PSL uses LAP-XM to control radar network operations; monitor performance of individual radar components such as antenna, beam-steering unit, transmitter, receiver, power amplifier unit, and interface unit; process raw data signals to produce Doppler velocity spectra from which radial velocities are estimated from; and perform spectral level and post-processed quality control to maximize the accuracy of generated wind profiles. The raw signals recorded by wind profiling radars are usually combined in a time-series format.

The wind profiles generated by LAP-XM are transmitted via cellular or satellite communications to a data hub in Boulder, Colorado, where digital data and displays of data are shared publicly via the internet with the National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters, firefighters, and the general public, in near real-time. The wind profilers must be interchangeable with PSL’s existing wind profilers to allow a consistently operable and maintainable network.

Delivery Schedule: To be determined

NOAA intends to award a sole-source contract to Scintec Corporation 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).

The new wind profilers will be integrated with PSL’s current network of nine 449 MHz Scintec wind profilers which uses proprietary hardware and software infrastructure for profiler network management, control, monitoring and operations. Other companies’ similar products cannot meet or be modified to meet the Government’s requirements because only Scintec wind profilers are capable of being connected seamlessly to the existing infrastructure to ensure system integrity and interchangeability with PSL’s existing wind profiler network. Only Scintec wind profilers are compatible with the current equipment and infrastructure management system within the Government’s wind profiler network to collect and deliver high-quality datasets that operational forecasters, firefighters, researchers, and the general public can rely upon based on their intended use.

If the wind profilers are not manufactured specifically by Scintec, the integrity of managing and operating the existing profiler network will be jeopardized. Scintec is the developer of the proprietary software that manages and operates PSL’s existing wind profiler network and has identified that it does not sell to potential competitors in the marketplace. Only Scintec manufactures the required wind profilers and no authorized resellers currently exist.

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 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. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

(17) Place of Contract Performance:

NOAA OAR

Global Monitoring Laboratory 325 Broadway R.

Boulder CO, 80305

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