66 -- GPS Dropwindsondes

Request for Information. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Marine and Aircraft Operations, (hereinafter referred to as government) intends to perform a technology refresh of the existing government GPS dropwindsonde (hereinafter referred to as dropsonde) design, to incorporate current technology sensors and components. This request for information relates only to pressure, temperature, and humidity sensor components to be selected for use in the upgraded dropsonde design. The purpose of this request for information is to determine (i) if there are sources capable of satisfying the government's requirements; (ii) availability of commercial items; (iii) the extent to which commercial items or non-development items could be incorporated at the component level. If commercial items are not available that are suitable to meet the government's needs, the government is interested in determining if non-development items are available that: (a) meet the government's requirements; (b) can be modified to meet the government's requirements; or (c) can meet the government's requirements if those requirements were modified to a reasonable extent. Feedback addressing the clarity, feasibility, scope, and potential alternative means of meeting the government's requirement is sought. The government currently deploys an average of 3000 dropsondes per year, for use in missions such as hurricane reconnaissance, atmospheric research, and satellite sensor verification. The data collected from the dropsondes is of critical importance to accurately forecast severe weather events, and as such, the dropsonde sensors must be accurate and reliable. System requirements: The dropsonde flight envelope is from the surface up to 20 km. The dropsonde sensors must survive post launch deceleration forces of up to (~70 G's @13 km and 210 knots IAS, ~100 G's @13 km and 250 knots IAS without performance degradation. Minimum data reporting rate is 2 Hz. All sensors incorporated in the dropsonde must be fully functional throughout the flight envelope, with the following minimum performance requirements: Pressure: range 1050 mB to 100 mB, resolution 0.1 mB, accuracy 0.5 mB, sensor response time constant less than 0.01 s; Temperature: range +40 Deg C to 90 Deg C, resolution 0.1 Deg C, accuracy 0.1 Deg C, sensor response time constant (~0.2 sec. @ 1000 mB with 6 m/s flow rate); Relative Humidity: 0 percent to 100 percent, resolution 1 percent, accuracy 5 percent, sensor response time constant (~0.1 sec @1000 mb at 20 C and (~10 sec @ -20 C). NOAA will consider all comments, supportive or critical, but may or may not use these individual comments. In addition to comments, those interested are requested to provide a budgetary estimate for the System as specified herein. Interested Sources are also encouraged to submit product literature in response to this RFI. Any submission of such product literature or "catalog cut sheets" will be treated separate from, and will have no bearing on, any subsequent evaluation of proposals submitted in response to any resulting future formal Request for Proposals. All questions or requests for clarification should be directed, in writing, to the Contracting Officer. Responses to all questions will be available to all potential respondents. Responses should be submitted to the Contracting Office, no later than 2:00 p.m. Central Standard Time, February 28, 2006. Respondents are requested to submit 1 electronic and 1 hardcopy of their response to the attention of Jackie Shewmaker, DOC/NOAA/CRAD, 601 East 12th Street, Room 1756, Kansas City, MO 64106. Phone: +1 (555) 000-0000. Submittals may also be made via E-mail to contact@example.gov, by Facsimile to +1 (555) 000-0000 or express delivery; however, telephone responses are not acceptable. It is important that all responses submitted specify, on the cover page of the response or in the transmittal letter submitted with the response, the business size/status of the organization (i.e., large business, small business, certified 8(a) concern, veteran-owned, hubzone, women-owned, etc.). This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute an Invitation for Bids (IFB), a Request for Proposals (RFP), a Request for Quotes (RFQ) or an indication that the Government will contract for any of the items and/or services contained in this notice. All information received in response to this notice that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to this notice will not be returned. In submitting a response, you are solely responsible and accountable for all of the expenses associated with your response. The following provision is applicable to this notice and is hereby incorporated by reference: FAR 52.215-3 Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997). The full text of this clause is available at http://www.arnet.gov.