Coordination and Data Collection of the U.S. Interagency Acrtic Buoy Program (USIABP)

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for a for commercial items prepared in accordance with FAR Parts 12 and 13, as supplemented with additional information in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested and a separate solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation Number NEEC0000-9-09879 is being issued as a Request for Quotation. This acquisition is being solicited using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) is 611310 and size standard of $7.0. The U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Environmental Satellite, Data & Information Service (NESDIS) Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution, has a requirement to provide Coordination and Data Collection of the U.S. Interagency Arctic Buoy Program (USIABP). The contractor shall 1) Maintain a well spaced network of automatic data buoys to monitor air, sea, ice conditions throughout the Arctic Ocean to support operational forecasts. Improve buoy spacing from 500km to 250km and support collocation of buoys with different sensors; 2) Analyze and produce a quality database containing gridded fields of sea level pressure, surface air temperature, and ice motion, which is extensively used by NIC and the larger climate community to: 1) study global climate and climate change; 2) validate satellite retrievals of environmental variables; 3) force, validate and initialize numerical models; 3) Maintain quality data base of ice motion and surface meteorological data, and submit data base through the World Data Centre -A (Glaciology) to World Data Centre B (Sea-Ice) and the RNODC/DB; 4) Monitor and receive appropriate Argos and non-Argos data from the buoy network and prepare a monthly status report of buoys; 5) Ensure timely posting of quality-controlled data from all Arctic buoys on the Global Telecommunications System (GTS) for operational weather and ice forecasting; 6) Stay informed of the activities of non-Argos buoy programs and other field operations and to make those data available, as possible; and maintain contact with managers of individual buoy programs in the Arctic Ocean. Consolidate data when available from other cooperating buoy programs; 7) Develop a deployment strategy to maintain an optimum buoy network in the Arctic. Provide the Technical Coordinator of the Data Buoy Cooperation Panel with deployment information. Identify and coordinate opportunities for buoy deployment. Coordinate deployments of ice buoys with the annual air deployment provided by the Naval Oceanographic Office; 8) Keep abreast of new technical aspects of buoy deployment and maintain contact with the Technical Coordinator of the Data Buoy Cooperation Panel to ensure that the proper quality control of arctic data is maintained; 9) Arrange for the purchase of buoys and ancillary equipment, as authorized; 10) Prepare and distribute an annual data report; and 11) Prepare an annual summary of resources committed to the Program. Period of Performance: August 1, 2009 through July 31, 2010. Best value evaluation factors include the following: 1) Technical Approach - The likelihood of effectively meeting the requirements; 2) Past Performance - The relevance and quality of prior performance; and 3) Price - The amount, realism and consistency of the evaluated price. The evaluation shall be based on use of the adjectival scheme as follows: Outstanding (O) - Conspicuously striking in eminence; Good (G) - Beneficial and worthwhile; sound and valid; Adequate (A) - Reasonably sufficient and suitable; Marginal (M) - Minimally suitable at the lower limit. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-32. The provisions and clauses may be downloaded at http://www.arnet.gov/far. The following provisions and clauses shall apply to this solicitation: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial, FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items - The Government will award a purchase order resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certificates - Commercial Item, FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items, FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items. FAR 52.232-33, Payment be Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration; FAR 52.239-1, Privacy or Security Safeguards; FAR 52.222-41, Service Contract Act; and FAR 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires. Other clauses include FAR 52.204-7, Central Contractor Registration. All responsible sources who can meet the requirements and provide the items as listed above may respond to this solicitation by submitting a quotation to perform the work, location, past performance and price addressed to Gina E. Lee, Purchasing Agent, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East West Highway, Suite 7144, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, to be received no later than June 17, 2009 at 12:00pm. The Government reserves the right to make one award or no award at all as a result of this solicitation. Responses are to be emailed to Gina.E.Lee@noaa,gov.