Sources Sought Notice (SSN): Upper Air Observations - International Falls, MN

SSN for a Firm-Fixed-Price Contract for Upper Air Observations - International Falls, MN to Support the National Weather Service (NWS), Central Region.

Notice ID: 142030-24-0139

Google Form Link: https://forms.gle/zubZwaLrHfnEod766

This is a SSN for market research purposes only, to be used for preliminary planning purposes. No proposals are being requested or accepted with this notice. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS AND NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FROM THIS NOTICE. The intent of the announcement is to identify capable small businesses, including those with socioeconomic designations, for a new contract for the NWS CR. Identified sources should be capable of performing the key criteria described herein. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this notice or any follow up information requests.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS) office at Duluth, MN conducts an upper air observation program at the Weather Service Contract Meteorological Observatory (WSCMO) at the Falls International Airport in International Falls, MN, which meets a variety of needs and serves a variety of users.  Upper air observations are taken and coded for the operational use of meteorologists and hydrologists, as well as for international dissemination.

The Government proposes to issue a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) type contract for this requirement. The attached Performance Work Statement (PWS) to the SAM.gov posting provides additional context to the capability areas. 

The Government will issue a contract for this requirement contingent upon funding. The term of the contract will be one (1) base year plus four (4) one-year option periods, for a total potential of five years.

The applicable North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) Code for this acquisition is 541990 - All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services. The Small Business Size Standard for this acquisition is $19.5M.

The current contract under which this service is being provided is 1305M219CNWWR0052.

A vendor’s response to this notice shall be input in the Google Form link, supporting documentation is limited to three pages and shall include the following information:

1. Firm's name, address, point of contact, phone number, and email address.

2. A statement of intent to propose or not propose. This statement does not bind the Contractor to submit a proposal in response should a solicitation be issued. However, the purpose of this SSN is to determine the capabilities of the vendor pool, potential set-aside, and anticipated competition.

3. Capabilities Statement addressing your firm’s ability to provide the following services: 

   1. Capability to furnish all supervision and labor to take, document, and disseminate upper air observations using the Manual Radiosonde Observing System (MROS) workstation in International Falls, MN.

   2. Capability to meet schedule requirements of two MROS observations per day for the length of the contract as well as any additional required observances.

   3. Capability to meet the NWS certification requirement that all contract observers shall be Upper Air certified by the NWS, and maintain certification during the contract period of performance.

4. Firm's type of business and business size.

5. Firm's Joint Venture information, if applicable existing and potential.

Interested vendors shall respond to the SSN no later than May 31, 2024 at 2:00 PM (PST).

All interested vendors must be registered in SAM to be eligible for award of Government contracts. Please record your response in the Google Form. Interested vendors may alternatively email responses to hannah.hartman@noaa.gov.