Kinemetrics Antelope Software Licenses, STS 2. 5 Seismometer & Q330 Digitizers

****NOAA’s Acquisition & Grants Office, Western Acquisition Division-Boulder, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) with Kinemetrics, Inc.

 ****The sole source determination is based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) Pacific Tsunami Warning Center’s (PTWC) need for Kinemetrics’ Antelope software license renewal, STS-2-5 broadband seismometer and Q330S+ ultra-low power high resolution network- aware seismic data acquisition system.

1 PTWC requires renewal of the annual Antelope Environmental Monitoring Software Licenses/Upgrade.  No other software package provides PTWC with the ability to remotely monitor state of health and calibrate the instruments deployed in the field while also providing reliable access to the seismic data that PTWC needs to fulfill its obligations. In addition, the Antelope Real time System provides a suite of advanced seismic analysis tools that PTWC can use to further its mission.  These tools include regional CMT modules useful for sizing up great earthquakes quickly using instruments in the near-field, and Earthquake Early Warning modules to detect earthquakes faster. The ability to calibrate instruments remotely alone saves PTWC countless man-hours and a substantial amount of travel associated costs otherwise needed to visit the field sites to do the same in situ as opposed to remotely. Period of Performance:  One year from date of award.

2 Part of the PTWC's mission is to provide a tsunami warning as fast as possible after a great earthquake in the Hawaiian Islands.  This requires a robust seismic network.  The backbone of the PTWC seismic network is comprised of STS-2 seismometers/digitizer pairs. Using another digitizer would require PTWC to purchase additional software and pay to train personnel to use it.

The nature of the requirement has been deemed urgent due to unusual and compelling circumstances. Following competitive procedures would result in unacceptable delays resulting in serious injury to the Government. Part of the PTWC's mission is to provide a tsunami warning as fast as possible after a great earthquake in the Hawaiian Islands. This requires a robust seismic network. The O330S digitizer communicates signals from the STS-2 seismometers which are the backbone of PTWC's seismic network and are needed to size up great earthquakes (M>6.5) that can causes destructive tsunamis in Hawaiian waters. In order to maintain our network's availability we need to repair the failed digitizer.  Deliver by 08/31/2020. 

3 PTWC requires a new Kinemetrics Q330S Digitizer.  The backbone of the PTWC seismic network is comprised of STS-2 seismometers/digitizer pairs. Using another digitizer would require PTWC to purchase additional software and pay to train personnel to use it.  The nature of the requirement has been deemed urgent due to unusual and compelling circumstances. Following competitive procedures would result in unacceptable delays resulting in serious injury to the Government. Part of the PTWC's mission is to provide a tsunami warning as fast as possible after a great earthquake in the Hawaiian Islands. This requires a robust seismic network. The O330S digitizer communicates signals from the STS-2 seismometers which are the backbone of PTWC's seismic network and are needed to size up great earthquakes (M>6.5) that can causes destructive tsunamis in Hawaiian waters. In order to maintain our network's availability we need to repair the failed digitizer.  Deliver by 08/31/2020. 

***This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available.  However, firms that believe they can provide the service as described that fully meets 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 or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to 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.