Dual Purpose Weather Forecasting Solution

The Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic Rapid Capabilities Cell is seeking a prototype Dual Purpose Weather Forecasting Solution under Area of Interest (AOI) 26-A011. The objective is to develop a scalable, rapidly deployable system for processing and visualizing polar-orbiting satellite data in remote, bandwidth-constrained environments, specifically Antarctica. The required solution must feature a multi-tiered architecture consisting of a lightweight, ultra-low-bandwidth tool for high-priority imagery and a high-fidelity analytical desktop version capable of integrating Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System (AMPS) models and outside observations. Key technical requirements include the transformation of raw Level 0 satellite data into non-proprietary, World Meteorological Organization (WMO)-compliant formats and hosting on Linux Red Hat. The prototype must adhere to strict security standards, including the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) Information Security Baseline, DISA STIGs, or CIS Benchmarks. Deliverables include certified configuration scan reports for the Authorization to Operate (ATO) process and a comprehensive Software Lifecycle Support Plan featuring a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) and binding Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for security patches. Performance will be evaluated based on the system's ability to operate on limited local computing footprints and reduce latency for actionable meteorological visualization. Visualization stations are required at sites in McMurdo, Denver, and Charleston, with potential travel to locations in Antarctica, New Zealand, and Chile. Interested parties must submit a solution brief via the Vulcan platform by September 24, 2026. Submissions must detail nontraditional business participation, including the names and CAGE codes of any teaming partners, and explicitly state any proposed cost shares. Evaluation will prioritize prior experience in mission engineering and the deployment of scalable, data-driven solutions. This effort is structured as a prototype other transaction agreement, which may lead to a direct award for a follow-on production agreement without further competition. Public announcements regarding this AOI are prohibited until the government notifies the down-select for Phase II pitches.