Weekly air samplings and data exchange

NOAA's Acquisition & Grants Office, Mountain Region Acquisition Division, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Environment Canada (EC) Air Quality Research Branch, which is a division of the Government of Canada, to conduct regular measurements of greenhouse gas mixing ratios and stable isotope of carbon dioxide.

The sole source determination is based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) requirement for the coordination, collection and shipment of vertical profile air samples collected from the EC Boreal Ecosystem Research and Monitoring Sites (BERMS) near Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada from a small aircraft platform. EC is the only known contractor that operates the BERMS where NOAA requires these measurements in accordance with the North American goals of the U.S. Climate Change Science Programs (CCSP). It is necessary for the measurements discussed herein be within a network of carefully chosen sites in North America, to study the variation of greenhouse gases with height, which will enable NOAA and other scientists to better quantify the predicted North American terrestrial biosphere's uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Performance period shall be 10/01/2008 through 09/30/2009.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can provide equipment that fully meets the Government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact within 15 days after publication of this synopsis. Such documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.