Sources Sought to Lease Improved Land

Sources Sought to Lease Improved Land
Industrial and/or Airpark/Airport

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED SPRING 2023, UPDATED FOR AUTUMN 2024

Requirements
The United States Government, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is
seeking alternative locations to locate its Weather Surveillance Radar – 1988 Doppler KBOX.

The Delineated Area is within Massachusetts or Rhode Island bounded by:
North: MA Route 3 East (Northwest Expressway) to I-95 South
East: I-95 South to I-495 East to I-195 West
South: I-195 West to I-95 North
West: I-95 North to I-495 North to MA Route 3

Regional Airports/Airparks in the Greater Boston Area will be considered and evaluated even if
outside the Delineated Area, above.

The site shall be zoned for airpark/airport or industrial to permit the operation of a Weather
Surveillance Radar. The proposed site shall not be in the 1 percent annual chance/0.2 percent
annual chance floodplain (formerly referred to as the 100-year/500-year floodplain).

The environment and terrain surrounding the site including the below will be evaluated to
determine suitability for the operation of the Weather Surveillance Radar:
● quality and extent of any screening objects over the 360 degree azimuth sector: hills,
buildings (existing or proposed), tree growth (existing or proposed), horizon, etc;
● radar reflectors (reflecting surfaces); terrain features (soil type, bodies of water,
mountains, farmland, forests, urban areas);
● environmental features (areas affected by National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),
and its implementing guidelines and policies);
● elevation to scan the 360 degree horizon, site, distances and terrain will be evaluated
case by case to verify if site meets mission requirements;
● electrical power (access to/above ground and/or buried to minimize broadband noise
interference), surface traffic, drainage, sanitation and area development

The Site Geometry.
● Land Area Size: Site size must be no less than 10,500 square feet and no larger than
21,800 square feet of improved land;
● Site geometry permits placement of radar facilities (i.e. WSR-88D radar plus four
shelters and three parking spaces) and any associated equipment [minimum 120 feet by
90 feet];
● Premises must have 24/7 access to a public right of way for regular inspection and
maintenance of the radar facilities;
● The greater premises must have at least two means of ingress/egress to public right of
ways;
● Access to public right-of-ways shall not be in the 1 percent annual chance/0.2 percent
annual chance floodplain (formerly referred to as the 100-year/500-year floodplain);
● The site must possess appropriate land use for a weather surveillance radar;

● Maximize use of existing facilities to minimize installation costs; provided this does not
degrade the use of NEXRAD; and,
● Minimize the acquisition or lease of new land.

The Government is seeking up to a twenty-year term with termination rights.

Government may review and determine that the site does not meet technical requirements.
To propose a location ready for inspection, the site must meet the federal government’s
requirements; must not be in a floodplain or wetland; and, be accessible by vehicle, near public
right-of-ways and existing utility lines.

Additional Information
Additional requirements and information on the program are attached.
In evaluating, the Government may eliminate a proposed site if it is determined by the
Government the site will not support its program.

Entities are advised to familiarize themselves with the telecommunications prohibitions outlined
under Section 889 of the FY19 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), as implemented by
the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). ).

For more information, visit:
https://acquisition.gov/FAR-Case-2019-009/889_Part_B.

Estimated Dates:
A National Environmental Policy Act - Environmental Review through 2025
Staging of Equipment and Materials in 2025
Estimated Occupancy is by spring 2026

Due Date
Due Date of Potential Sources: December 5, 2024

Contact Information
Please feel free to submit via email to:
Christian Townsend
christian.townsend@noaa.gov
240-753-4387