Notice of Intent to Negotiate Sole Source To Provide Satellite & Education Conference

Notice of Intent to Negotiate Sole Source:  This is being issued pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 13 under simplified acquisition procedures for a commercial item.

1.0       General

NOAA's Satellite and Information Services (NESDIS) mission is to provide and ensure timely access to global environmental data from satellites and other sources to promote, protect, and enhance the Nation's economy, security, environment and quality of life. To accomplish its mission, NESDIS makes accessible to the public environmental data and information services including earth system monitoring imagery. Through constituent outreach efforts including exhibits at scientific and educational conferences, NESDIS scientists strive to foster an increased understanding by the public and industry of the NESDIS products and services. In addition, federal, state, and local government decision makers often request specific remotely sensed NOAA imagery and documentation in hard copy for land use planning and public safety concerns such as flooding or forest fires.

One of the cross-cutting priorities in the agency, NOAA, and the new NOAA Education Strategic Plan is "Promoting Environmental Literacy." This Conference provides an avenue for engaging stakeholders from the educational arena. NESDIS scientists are able to provide information about NESDIS products and services in a "train the trainer: concept, where educators take what they learn back to their schools and teach other teachers. By partnering with the university community, other federal agencies, and private industry, for the next four (3) years NESDIS is able to multiply its outreach endeavors. Other NOAA Line Offices are participating in sponsorship of this Conference.

NOAA Satellite and Information Service (NESDIS) has provided both in-kind and financial support to the Conference over the past 24 years, first when it was hosted at West Chester University and more recently, at California State University at Los Angeles (CSU-LA). The College of Education at CSU-LA is known for its skill in hosting conferences that bring together educators from across the United Stated and the world to interact with scientists and engineers. Originally, the Conference focused upon the ways in which educators could use data from polar-orbiting satellite through the use of direct readout stations at schools. With the growth of the Internet, the Conference has expanded to include geostationary satellite data and a wide variety of satellite applications, such as using data to track forest fires and to estimate vegetation stress.

2.0       Technical Support Services Required

In order to adequately meet the NESDIS need for this Conference, the Contractor shall provide and coordinate a three-day conference in NOAA related sciences.

The contractor shall supply technical support to include:

A) Consultation on and solicitation of speakers and conference personnel (i.e., registration)

B) Design and production of the one-pagers and web announcements of the conference and conference program

3.0       Deliverables

The production of a Conference Report will include a listing of participants and recommendations.  Report is due within 30 days of completion of conference.