D -- NOAA Site License for COTS IDL software

The Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) plans to enter into a single-source contract with Research Systems, Inc., based in Boulder, Colorado, to acquire site licensing for commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) IDL software. This contract, to be executed under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253c(1) and FAR 6.302-1, will be procured in compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations Part 12. The software is crucial for data analysis, visualization, cross-platform application development, and ongoing maintenance. Due to the extensive existing NOAA codebase reliant on IDL and the prohibitive costs of transitioning to an alternative tool, continuing with Research Systems, the sole U.S. supplier for this software, is considered the most practical and timely solution. NOAA currently operates approximately 1,500 installations of the software, supporting around 1,000 research and support personnel, reflecting a significant organizational dependence bolstered by an estimated $1 million investment in user training. The planned contract duration is three years, with a justification for other than full and open competition duly documented. The contracting office is located in Silver Spring, Maryland, with designated points of contact including a Purchasing Agent and a Contracting Officer. This procurement supports NOAA's ongoing operational needs while maintaining continuity and cost-effectiveness in software usage.