A -- Research and Development Support

The government plans to award a sole source purchase order to Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI), located in Silver Spring, MD, for research and development support related to modeling work in support of the Air Force Weather Agency’s Battlespace Environment Institute. The award, managed by the 55th Contracting Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, NE, will be made without full and open competition under the justification that SGI is the only responsible source capable of meeting the agency’s unique requirements. This determination is based on SGI’s exclusive involvement in the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model development program and their specialized expertise in benchmarking potential host platforms, which is critical for timely delivery. The sole source procurement is in accordance with federal acquisition regulations allowing non-competitive procurement when only one supplier is capable of performing. The government’s market research confirmed no alternative suppliers exist who can fulfill the contract requirements as SGI is intimately involved with the program coordinator at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Questions regarding the procurement can be directed to the designated contract administrator, Shawn Anderson, via email or fax. This contract supports the Department of Defense’s ongoing development efforts with a focus on advancing weather modeling capabilities critical for military operations.