Atmospheric Sounder Spectrometer by Infrared Spectral Technology (ASSIST) upgrades

***NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-BOULDER, NATIONAL OFFICE OF ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH, NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS LAB, INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH LR TECH OUT OF LEVIS, CANADA FOR SOFTWARE, SYSTEM REBUILD AND SYSTEM UPGRADES TO THE ATMOSPHERIC SOUNDER SPECTROMETER BY INFRARED SPECTRAL TECHNOLOGY (ASSIST).

***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT LR TECH IS THE SOLE ENTITY THAT CAN MEET AND PROVIDE THE UPGRADES TO THE ASSIST SYTEM, AS THEY ARE THE MANUFACTURER. UPGRADING AND OPERATING THE ASSIST NOW WILL PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS OVER PURCHASING A NEW ASSIST II SYSTEM AND WILL ALLOW NSSL TO DETERMINE FUTURE PLATFORM NEEDS IF NEW PURCHASE OPPORTUNITIES ARISE. TO MAKE THESE UPGRADES, LR TECH HAS TO INTEGRATE PROPRIETARY HARDWARE PARTS INTO THE SYSTEM. ALL SERVICING AND UPGRADES OF THEIR SYSTEMS MUST BE DONE BY THE MANUFACTURER.

***THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS AND NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, FIRMS THAT BELIEVE THEY CAN FULLY MEET THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUIREMENTS MAY SUBMIT SUBSTANTIATING DOCUMENTATION IN WRITING TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS SYNOPSIS. SUCH DOCUMENTATION WILL BE EVALUATED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER TO CONDUCT THIS PROCUREMENT ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS. A GOVERNMENT DETERMINATION TO NOT CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.