B -- INITIATE TIME DIFFERENTIATED NOx EMISSIONS CONTROL, OZONE FORECASTING AND VALUE OF INFORMATION STUDY

The U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, with the Massachusetts Institutes of Technology (MIT) Department of Economics and Center for Energy and Environmental Policy for experts who have extensive experience in energy and environmental economics. The services to be acquired for a contract to fund a multi-year research program to develop an analytical framework and modeling capability to evaluate the potential for integrating weather forecast date into air quality regulation in order to reduce economic cost and improve environmental effectiveness. The problem to be evaluated in the initial step is ozone non-attainment and the control of NOx precursor emissions in the Northeastern United States. Sole source determination is based on the need that this contract builds on a feasibility study that examined whether operating reserve capacity within the electrical system provides enough potential quick-response flexibility in dispatch for sufficient reduction in NOx emissions even during peak demand hours. The objective of this research is to address two policy concerns. The first is to explore in detail the potential for redispatching electric power generators by NOx emissions when realistic transmission and operational constraints are accounted for. The second task is to explore the relationship between predictability of ozone exceedences and the time horizon of the forecast. This will be a joint NOAA/EPA project. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have jointly been developing a national forecast capability. This system was tested for the northeastern U.S. during the ozone season of 2004. This requirement is being advertised under Other Than Full and Open Competition by the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1, citing U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) or 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1),Only One Responsible Source and no other supplies or services will satisfy the agency requirements. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for this acquisition is 541620, and the size standard is $6.0M. The period of performance will be for a base period of twelve months and two twelve month option periods. This is not a request for competitive proposals. No solicitation will be published. However, any interested party may submit written evidence of their interest and bonafide capability to fulfill the requirement to cheryl.coxen@noaa.gov no later than the response date for this posting. Supporting evidence must be furnished with a statement in sufficient detail to demonstrate the ability to comply with the requirements noted above. Failure to submit documentation will result in the agency proceeding as stated above. A determination by the agency not to open competition is solely within the discretion of the agency. SEE NOTE 22.