Quantity of 400 Balloon Launch Reels with 120ft long line - Brand Requirement: Davis Wire Products, Ltd

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION
Quantity of 400 Balloon Launch Reels with 120ft long line - Brand Requirement: Davis Wire Products, Ltd

(I) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice and in accordance with the simplified acquisition procedures authorized in FAR Part 13. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

(II) This solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). Submit written quotes on RFQ Number
NRMJ1000-19-00225SRG.

(III) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-101 2018 (OCT 2018) (DEVIATION 2017-02) (AUG 2017).

(IV) This solicitation is being issued as unrestricted. The associated NAICS code is 332618. The business size standard is 500 employees.

CLIN 0001 - Quantity of 440 Balloon Launch Reels with 120ft long line - Brand Requirement: Davis Wire Products, Ltd

BRAND JUSTIFICATION:

"The NOAA Ozonesonde balloon group requires a balloon launch reel rated for lifting a 5.5 lb package. The launch reels need to let out at least 100 feet of string after the package has been launched in order to increase the distance between the ozonesonde package and the balloon during the flight period. This allows one person to easily launch the ozonesonde balloon package even in windy conditions, and prevents measurement contamination from the balloon during the flight.

Davis Wire specializes in design and fabrication of metal components and assemblies for the scientific industries. They designed and build launch reels specifically for the 5.5 lb package medium weight limitation of non-regulated free flying balloons that the ozonesonde package NOAA launches falls in to. Smaller radiosondes launched in far greater numbers by the National Weather Service do not need a ratcheting launch reel because they are much lighter. The unique machinery Davis Wire has manufactured for building a reliable unwinder has resulted in a product that does not break and drop the package from thousands of feet in the air during a balloon flight. If the balloon launch reels are not reliable, every site launching ozonesonde instruments would need to employ an additional employee during launches because of the additional difficulty of untangling or recovery.

The current Davis system alleviates these issues and removes the need for additional persons and duplicate costs. In 2016 a request for bids was posted to see if any new vendors had begun providing this extremely precise requirement. There were no vendors in the industry for production of new manufacturing equipment. If a new vendor does enter the market, there would be a vast amount of testing required to prove reliability. This has prevented new manufacturers from entering this unique small market."

(VI) Description of requirements is as follows:

CLIN 0001 - Quantity of 440 Balloon Launch Reels with 120ft long line - Brand Requirement: Davis Wire Products, Ltd

PURPOSE:
The Global Monitoring Division (GMD) ozone and water vapor (OZWV) group coordinates launches of balloon borne ozonesonde instruments from ten sites around the world. A key component to balloon borne instruments is a "Balloon Launch Reel." The balloon launch reel contains a long length of string wound on to a spool that will slowly ratchet out after the instrument has been released. Successfully launching a sensitive scientific instrument can be very difficult depending on wind and weather conditions at the surface, but with the aid of a launch reel, sites are able to launch in most weather conditions. It is much easier to launch an instrument when it is located as close as possible to the balloon, but high in the atmosphere, the balloon needs to be separated far from the instrument in order to avoid contamination of measurements because of its large surface area and contaminants picked up lower in the atmosphere.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
1.) The payout reel must contain at least 100 feet of string.
2). The payout reel must be lightweight..