Enhancement of the Capabilities of CRTM in Atmospheres

The U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (DOC/NOAA/NESDIS) intends to place an award on a sole source basis pursuant to FAR Part 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source to Texas A & M University (TAMU) Research Foundation for continued research for the Enhancement of the Capabilities of CRTM in Atmospheres for the period commencing from time of award and continuing for a period of twelve (12) months. This is a continuous project from 2007/2008 research. The new tasks of this continuous project will be: Task 1. Compute the optical properties for non-spherical dust aerosols. Dr. Yang has investigated the effect of non-spherical dust aerosol on radiance. He found the effect is significant in the ultraviolet and visible spectra. The JCSDA needs those optical properties to support NOAA air quality applications. Task 2. Effective truncation of the phase functions. In order to speed up the aerosol radiance computation, the truncation of the phase function is necessary. The TAMU team will generate the truncated Legendre coefficients for various multiple scattering streams (e.g. 4, 8, 16 streams) to meet different applications. Task 3. A fast radiative transfer (RT) model based on pre-computed look-up tables (LUTs) for atmospheres containing one-layer clouds. The LUTs will contain the bi-directional reflection and transmission functions, local (or, planetary) albedos, and spherical (global) reflectances and transmittances of both ice and water clouds. The effect of the polarization configuration associated with the multiple scattering process on the LUTs will be investigated. Specifically, the effect of the polarization configuration of scattered radiation on the simulation of the radiance will be quantified by comparing the solutions based the full phase matrix and just the phase function. Furthermore, this fast RT model will be flexible for being merged with an infrared clear-sky transmittance mode. For a fast radiance calculation, a LUT-based RT model can minimize computational demand and is practical for applications to satellite-based remote sensing. Task 3 is expected to require a significant amount of efforts, as the fast RT model should be well tested and validated after it is developed. 3.0 Suggested Staffing The level of effort required is 1.0 FTE at ~87% level for 12 months. The individuals need to have experience in light scattering, radiative transfer modeling of atmosphere and remote sensing field and must be familiar with computer languages such as FORTRAN. 4.0 Deliverables Stage one: 1. The bulk optical properties of non-spherical dust aerosol, which are averaged over size distributions (data delivery). 2. The truncated phase functions and the corresponding Legendre expansion coefficients (data delivery and a truncation code enable the JCSDA to produce the coefficients from the data for USER specific application). 3. Fast radiative transfer model based on look-up table. 4. Relevant documents for the data sets. 5.0 Travel Attend the annual AGU conference or JCSDA workshop to present the research results This procurement is being conducted per FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures (NTE $100k) NAICS code 541712. This is not a request for a competitive proposal. It is a notice of intent to award a contract for continued research. However, if any other interested party believes that it can meet the requirements, it may submit a statement of capabilities, which if timely received, will be considered by NOAA. The capability statement and any other information furnished must be in writing, and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NOAA to determine if the party can meet all of the foregoing requirements. Responses must also be accompanied by information that demonstrates that the quote meets all of the foregoing requirements. The determination to compete or not compete the proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. All information in relation to this notice must be submitted electronically to Yolanda Jordan at Yolanda.jordan@noaa.gov by 3:00pm on Friday September 12, 2008.