Sole source notice support activities for forestry R & D

The U.S. Forest Service, under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Rules (FAR) Part 13.106-1, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, intends to issue sole source purchase order to RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY, for additional programming expertise and to continue to provide the Forest Service with formatted meteorological data from their tower networks for modeling fire danger and testing fire danger indices for the Pine Barrens, and to assist with connecting to the new USFS "Smart Forest" network of meteorological stations. .

The RUTGERS will support activities for Forestry R & D in specific characteristics that it:
1. Continue to maintain and improve the "fast loading" fire weather page for operational use by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and other fire managers in the region. Included will be the addition of new towers to the fire weather pages as they become available, and to increase the scanning interval from hourly to 5-minute intervals for remaining towers.
2. Continue to maintain a second fire weather page for the NW portions of New Jersey covered by Divison A of the NJFFS.
3. Add additional Fire weather sensors as needed to existing towers operated by the NJWxNet.
4. Continue the delivery of all fire weather variables to the MADIS and MesoWest systems.
5. Work with scientists at the Silas Little Experimental Forest to provide formatted meteorological data for modeling purposes, and assist with USFS "Smart Forest" activities.

NO SOLICITATION OR REQUEST FOR QUOTE IS AVAILABLE. Contractor selected is capable of supplying the requirements because of their experience within this field of study and have the necessary skills to adequately provide these services. Contractor selected also has explicit and intimate knowledge of the specific project for which those services are required. Notwithstanding, any contractor who believes they are capable of meeting Forest Service requirements as stated herein may submit a response, which if received within 10 calendar days of the date of this announcement, will be considered. Responses to this posting must be in writing. A determination not to compete the proposed Purchase Order based upon the responses is solely within the discretion of the Government. All questions should be directed to David Easter via email to dceaster@fs.fed.us no later than 4:00 pm CST 10 calendar days after the date of this announcement. Telephone inquiries are discouraged.