CoastWatch/OceanWatch Program Support

This is a sources sought notice for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), the Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR), Satellite Oceanography and Climatology Division (SOCD). This sources sought notice is published for market research purposes only to identify business concerns, especially Section 8(a) Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Small businesses, interested and capable of providing the services as defined. The Government will not award a contract based on the responses to this notice, but wants to obtain market information or capabilities for planning purposes. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This sources sought notice is for services to provide development of the product processing system for Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) and the testing and demonstration of that system during the base period of performance. The primary objective of this requirement is to maintain the existing NOAA CoastWatch system as presently operating in SCOD, to enhance this present system with respect to ongoing improvements in the development and utilization of improved, new and emerging data and products, and to develop a broader system called NOAA OceanWatch. Contracted support services as outlined will require skills and knowledge as described above and below as well as a commitment to supporting an operational ocean satellite system. The option years will complete the testing and demonstration and begin transition of operations to the Satellite Service Division (SSD) of the Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution (OSDPD). Other key activities in the base year will be the expansion of Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) data product integration efforts as well as the continuing build out of the OceanWatch Program. Throughout the base and option years, other current CoastWatch support activities will continue, including Scientific Computing Environment and Systems Engineering support, Scientific and Technology support for product development and quality assurance, Operational Product Team Support, Program Development, Coordination, and Outreach Support, and Non-Scientific Program Support. Approximately 40% of the required contract effort will be for Scientific Computing Environment and Systems Engineering support, 20% will be for Scientific/Technical support, 15% will be for Operational Product Team Support, 15% will be for Program Development, Coordination and Outreach Support, and the remaining 10% for Non-Scientific Program Support. Scientific Computing Environment and Systems Engineering support generally will involve the following kinds of expertise and tasks: Knowledge of current civilian research and operational environmental satellite systems, scientific programming, digital communications systems, data visualization techniques, data base management, manipulation and integration of satellite data, metadata creation and documentation, technology maintenance and refresh, and new system architecture development. Familiarity with the NPP/NPOESS programs is required, likewise the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) and associated Data Integration Framework (DIF) activities. Science/Technology tasks will involve: Scientific aspects of a number of oceanographic remote sensing systems and their scientific and user application, including but not limited to requirements acquisition and verification/documentation. Experience is required in the area of calibration and validation of spacecraft and remote sensing product, as well as product development. Extensive experience is required in the area of ocean color radiometry product validation as well as ocean color radiometry algorithm and product development. Operational Product Team Support will consist of supporting associated efforts of the NESDIS OSDPD, particularly helping to transition products from research into operations according to the guidelines of the NESDIS Satellite Products and Services Review Board (SPSRB). The Ocean Color Radiometry, Sea Surface Temperature, Ocean Surface Vector Winds and Synthetic Aperture Radar product suites will be among the primary focal areas in the next three years. Program Development, Coordination, and Outreach tasks will involve: developing new capabilities and user bases within NOAA (especially in support of the NOAA IOOS Program Office), outreach to academic, professional and educational groups, and program development and presentation skills. Project management and coordination will required only at a modest level and will required to coordinate the various aspects of the task, assure adherence to delivery schedules, and to maintain reporting standards and timeliness. At this time it is anticipated that technical project oversight should be minimal. Non-Scientific Program Support will consist of supporting CoastWatch/OceanWatch and SOCD and its three branches (Laboratory for Satellite Altimetry, Ocean Sensors Branch, and the Marine Ecosystems and Climate Branch), supporting property oversight, travel management, meeting coordination, internal and external correspondences, weekly reporting and response to actions. It is expected that systems used by NOAA CoastWatch/OceanWatch will evolve extensively over the next several years. The skills mix of the contract staff should be flexible to respond to these changing demands. Additional contract staff might be required to meet unanticipated requirements of the government. NOAA is anticipating a base one year requirement with four (4) option years for these services. Attached is the statement of work for the Satellite Oceanography and Climatology Division (SOCD). Contractors are to provide capability statements for the following projected labor categories: a Project Coordinator/Project Manager (400 hours); Senior Systems Analyst/Senior Programmers (10416 hours); and an Administrative Assistant (2080 hours). All interested, capable, and responsible sources that wish to respond to this RFI are encouraged to: (1) respond by providing documentation of your firm's specific capabilities to perform the identified services; information on similar efforts to include contract number, dollar value, performance period, point of contact information, and description of the requirement; the staffing available to support a contract of this type; a statement demonstrating your firm's understands the proposed requirements and your prior contracts of this type, qualifications, annual business report, and (2) submit to the designated Contracting Officer the requested documents with any comments and other market information. Capability statements should not exceed 30 pages and must also include the following information: company name, address, point of contact, phone/fax/email, and business size and status (e.g., small business, 8(a) small disadvantaged business, women owned small business, etc.). The NAICS code is 541690, $7 million. Any questions regarding this announcement must be submitted in writing. No telephone inquiries will be accepted. Responses to this notice are requested by 2:00 p.m. on May 21, 2009, via email to Edith L.Jones@noaa.gov. Responses to this notice will be handled as business/technical proprietary data. POINT OF CONTACT: Edith L. Jones, Contracting Officer SSMC3 - Room 10100 1315 East West Highway, 10th Floor Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 PHONE: (301) 713-3478 ext. 176 FAX NO.: (301) 713-4155 EMAIL: edith.l.jones@noaa.gov.