Upgrade or replace existing real-time Alaska Light

The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Region is seeking vendors to upgrade or replace the existing Alaska Lightning Detection System through a Request for Information issued under FAR Subpart 15.2 (Solicitation Number 140L6326Q0001). The system must provide real-time lightning detection and tracking capabilities across Alaska, with the ability to distinguish between cloud-to-ground and intra-cloud lightning strikes, maintain geographic coverage between 50-75 degrees latitude and -170 to -129 degrees longitude, and support historical data viewing from 24 hours to 14 days. Key requirements include operational functionality from April 1st through September 30th annually, encrypted communications between sensors and viewing clients, automatic data refresh every 10-15 minutes, and compliance with the Buy American Act. The government seeks comprehensive proposals addressing technical specifications, sensor details, cost projections, detection techniques, system accuracy, concurrent user capacity, and data distribution methods. Interested vendors must submit electronic proposals to BLM_AK_Procurement@blm.gov by November 30, 2025, at 3:00 pm Alaska Daylight Savings Time, with no payment anticipated for information provided under this RFI.

This is an unrestricted solicitation with no set-aside designations, and no incumbent contractor or specific award value is identified in the documentation. The procurement targets professional, scientific, and technical services with a NAICS code of 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services) and a small business size standard of $19.5 million. Proposals should address two potential approaches: acquiring a data service through annual subscription that maintains infrastructure and provides lightning location data, or upgrading and replacing existing hardware and software while maintaining system ownership with an annual support agreement. The performance location is Ft. Wainwright, Alaska (1541 Gaffney Rd), and responses should be directed to Michael Stewart or Cory Cornell at the BLM-AK/Alaska Fire Service. Vendors must provide UEI or CAGE Code documentation and demonstrate compliance with federal procurement requirements outlined in the Statement of Work.