RFI - 25-01 - Seismic Instrumentation Support Services

The California Department of Conservation, specifically the California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (CSMIP), has issued a Request for Information (RFI) 25-01 seeking potential vendors to provide development, support, and maintenance services for a real-time seismic monitoring system. The procurement targets comprehensive support for a system that currently operates 550 seismic stations and plans to expand to 850 real-time stations, ultimately supporting a total of 1,500 seismic stations. Respondents must demonstrate expertise in Earthworm/AQMS (ANSS Quake Monitoring System) software package maintenance, Linux server management, MS Azure programming, and real-time seismic data network operations. The RFI requires detailed narrative responses, including descriptions of previous work, network diagrams, and examples of seismic station work on MS Azure. Key procurement dates include the RFI release on September 17, 2025, with vendor questions due by September 24, 2025, and final responses required by October 1, 2025. The Department of Conservation is specifically seeking external expertise due to a lack of internal staff with the necessary technical capabilities to develop and maintain the complex seismic data collection and processing system.

The RFI does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. The current system has been exclusively maintained by Instrumental Software Technologies, Inc. (ISTI) for several years, suggesting a potential incumbent vendor with deep institutional knowledge. While no specific budget range is provided, the complexity of maintaining a statewide seismic monitoring network involving 1,500 stations implies a significant technical and financial investment. The jurisdictions identified for this procurement include Lake Riverside CDP, Marin City CDP, Twin Lakes CDP, Hidden Valley Lake CDP, and Yosemite Lakes CDP, though the actual system appears to have a broader statewide scope. Potential respondents should be prepared to demonstrate comprehensive technical capabilities in seismic data infrastructure, real-time monitoring technologies, and cloud-based data management systems. The procurement appears focused on finding a technically sophisticated vendor capable of providing ongoing software development, system maintenance, and potential future expansion of the seismic monitoring infrastructure.