National Weather Service Commercial Data Program (National Mesonet Program)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a Request for Proposal for the National Weather Service Commercial Data Program (National Mesonet Program), seeking a contractor to source, acquire, and deliver meteorological, hydrological, and environmental observational data from commercial and non-federal networks to extend the National Weather Service's observing capabilities. The contractor will be responsible for forming and managing subcontract relationships with partner networks, providing data-related support services including quality control and data processing, and ensuring comprehensive metadata and operational data flows through a commercial cloud-based system with 99% uptime requirements. The government will evaluate proposals using a best-value trade-off approach based on technical approach, past performance, and pricing, with technical factors significantly more important than price. Offerors must submit four volumes including technical information (34-page limit), past performance information (25-page limit with up to 5 references), proposal information, and price information. The deadline for questions was September 26, 2025, and proposals must be submitted electronically by October 10, 2025, at 1500 hours EST.

This solicitation is unrestricted with no set-aside designation and is classified under NAICS code 518210 with a $40 million size standard for full and open competition. The procurement is structured as a single-award, firm-fixed-price Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a five-year ordering period and an estimated maximum contract ceiling value of $386.5 million. The contract includes multiple data collection categories such as surface meteorology, ground-based vertical profilers, aircraft-based observations, rawinsondes, marine and oceanic data, ground-based radars, and remote data sources, with a fixed $10 million allocation per ordering period for additional data from networks not currently providing data to NWS. The contractor must maintain 90% station availability and provide quarterly status reports while supporting pilot projects to evaluate new commercial data streams. Performance will occur across the United States, with the estimated contract start date between April and October 2026.