Pre-Detection Diversity Combining Receivers & Warranties.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), on behalf of the National Environmental Satellite and Data Information Service (NESDIS)/Office of Satellite & Product Operations (OSPO)/Wallops Command and Data Acquisition Station (WCDAS), intends to negotiate with the contractor: SAFRAN Data Systems, Inc., (SAFRAN), 3005 Business Park Drive, Norcross, Georgia 30071-1427, on a sole source basis under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 13.106-1(b) Soliciting from a single source.  (1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. (i) Contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available.  Therefore, DOC/NOAA intends to conduct a sole source acquisition to procure Pre-Detection Diversity Combining Receivers & Warranties on behalf of NESDIS/OSPO/WCDAS.

WCDAS requires Pre-Detection Diversity Combining Receivers to support the GOES NOP SDL downlink following upgrades to the HR 1 and 2 Antennas.  The SDL downlink is an Unbalanced Asynchronous Quadrature Phase Shift Keyed modulated signal.  OSPO has historically utilized the CORTEX CRT receivers to support this link.  During market research for viable sources, SAFRAN was the only company capable to provide a unit for testing.  Through the testing phase, custom software was generated that controlled the unit and provided the Government a unique opportunity to continue development which will reduce integration and test time.  As a result, SAFRAN was the only company capable to meet the Government’s required pre-detection diversity combining receiver functions.  Market research supports that the modulation scheme is not available in COTS satellite telemetry receivers and requires a tailored solution.  SAFRAN is the CORTEX CRT Original Equipment Manufacturer and developed a unique Pre-Detection Diversity Combining Receivers Solution that maintains the CORTEX compatibility with the existing GOES NOP ground system infrastructure at WCDAS.  Thus, SAFRAN is the single source that meet the Government’s requirements and using another source would adversely impact the Government.

North American Industry Classification System Code 334511: Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1250 Employees, is applicable to Government’s requirements.  The Government anticipates negotiating & awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order with an estimated value of $230,000.00.

Any interested vendor who believes it can meet the Government’s requirements may accurately, clearly and concisely identify its capability in writing by/no later than the response date of this notice.  The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred by any interested vendor responding to this notice.  Information submitted in response to this notice may be used to determine whether competitive procedures can be used to meet the Government’s requirements.  The determination whether to compete (e.g., not to compete) the Government’s requirements is solely within the discretion of the Government.  This notice is NOT a solicitation: not a request for quotations and not a request for proposals.

Any response to this notice must be submitted in writing via email to mario.gray@noaa.gov and received by/no later than 8/26/2022 11:59 P.M., Eastern Time, with the Notice Number in the subject of the email response to this notice.  Phone calls and voice mail messages will NOT be accepted by the Government and will NOT receive a response from the Government.