Atmospheric Rivers

Presolicitation Notice: N0001424RSS04

Description: NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) intends to issue a Cost-Reimbursement award to a single source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1(a)(2), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements, on or about 1 September 2024 to University of California San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography under Contract Number TBD. The period of performance will be 24 Months. 

The prospective contractor shall provide an effort which focuses on novel observational techniques and model-data development in the Western Pacific improving predictability for the Pacific theater from time scales of days to weeks in order to benefit disaster preparedness, military operations, training, and planning. The Pacific theater is strongly and directly influenced by the ocean, so accounting for the ocean in forecasts brings enhanced skill through coupled modeling systems. Atmospheric Rivers are temporally and spatially transient high impact weather events which remain poorly understood. Accurate forecasts of transient, high-impact weather events will provide an operational advantage and are desired on both tactical scales (1-3 days) and logistical scales (weeks-months).

ONR intends to award this requirement as a sole source to University of California San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography because this institute is a world leader in the study of Atmospheric Rivers and in advancing the resulting observational strategies and technologies and numerical analysis and forecasting capabilities into Operational Weather Prediction Centers at NOAA and ECMWF, who are international leaders in weather forecast skill. The institute is in a unique position with expertise in direct collaboration with the USAF 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (WRS) and the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) for direct observational campaigns in the Eastern Pacific and Western U.S. There is no other institution that has this level of integration with Federal and DoD partners and Scripps is uniquely positioned to extend this domestic capability into areas of Navy interest in the Western Pacific and Atlantic.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 541715 with the size standard of 1,000. This notice of intent is not a request for proposals or quotes; however, all responsible sources may submit a quotation and technical capabilities, which, if received within fifteen calendar days of publication of this notice, shall be considered by ONR.  All responses must be submitted to the Government point of contact at the email address shown below.  A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. 

Contracting Office Address:

Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR), Code – ONR BD252, 875 North Randolph Street, Arlington, VA 22203-1995.

Government Point of Contact: Derek Petersen, derek.w.petersen.civ@us.navy.mil