58--Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Receive System

Background: The Water Resources Discipline (WRD) of the USGS operates a critical real-time data collection system that provides data to support both the routine management of water-affected resources and emergency planning during extreme hydrologic events, such as flooding. The major data acquisition system that the WRD uses is the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Data Collection System (GOES DCS), which allows data to be acquired from remote sites using the GOES satellites. A major vulnerability to WRD's system is the GOES receive facility at Wallops Island, Virginia operated by the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA). This facility is currently a single point of failure for acquiring data from the GOES DCS for WRD and other users who either directly or indirectly receive data from this facility. Requirement: WRD is addressing this vulnerability by placing a Direct Readout Ground Station (DRGS) system at the USGS Center for Earth Observation and Science (EROS) at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The DRGS will receive data directly from the GOES satellites and provide an alternate source for data transmitted over the GOES satellites. NOAA/NESDIS intends to support the implementation of this system by the USGS as long as the USGS agrees to receive the entire GOES DCS data stream and allow other GOES DCS users who are also dependent on the facility at Wallops Island to acquire data from this system as an alternate source to Wallops Island. This system will become the major part of an interagency GOES Emergency Data Distribution Network (EDDN) supported by both GOES DCS users and NOAA/NESDIS. Finally, WRD will install a DOMSAT receiver that will acquire data from the Wallops Island facility via the DOMSAT communications satellite to provide a data feed from the Wallops Island facility to the Center for EROS. The receiver will require the installation of a suitable antenna, which shall be a part of the procurement. Important General Requirements: The procured system is intended to operate continuously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and should be as automated as possible, requiring minimal operator intervention. Significant events and failures that require operator intervention should be brought to the attention of staff support via alarms and critical event messages. All components of the system shall have the capability to be monitored and controlled both locally and remotely over a Wide Area Network (WAN). It is anticipated that the contract will be a base year plus four one-year options for extended warranty/maintenance. This Acquisition will be made under FAR Part 15, "Contracting by Negotiation," and solicited by written Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 07HQSS0003. It is anticipated that the RFP will be available on or about 1/08/2007 with proposals due on or about 3:00pm EST on 02/08/2007. The RFP may be viewed/downloaded by going to www.fedbizopps.gov. The anticipated award date is on or about 03/29/2007. The Product Service Code is 5895 and North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code is 334220. All responsible sources that have a valid Dun & Bradstreet number and are registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) may submit a proposal that shall be considered by the agency. Offerors may register in CCR by going to www.ccr.gov. A site visit prior to proposal submission will be scheduled (see RFP for details). Offerors are strongly encouraged to attend. Questions regarding this acquisition must be submitted in writing by 3:00PM EST Janaury 31, 2007 to Lynda McCarthy, Contract Specialist, either via fax +1 (555) 000-0000 or e-mail at contact@example.gov. This date is subject to change depending upon date of solicitation issuance. See RFP for details.