Low Rate Information Transmission Maintenance Support

The U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Simplified Acquisition and Grants Office on behalf of the Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO) using procedures in FAR Parts 6 and 13 intends to negotiate on a sole-source basis for twelve (12) month purchase order with two (2) Option Periods with Global Imaging. The purpose of this requirement is to renew the hardware and software maintenance support for OSPO. OSPO is responsible for the management and operations of the Satellite Operation Control Center (SOCC) and the Environmental Satellite Product Center (ESPC). ESPC manages and directs the operation of the central ground facilities which ingest, process, and distribute environmental satellite data and derived products to domestic and foreign users. ESPC supports multiple GOES and POES production systems via virtualization. NOAA and NDESDIS have an operational re-broadcast of reduced resolution Geostationary Operational Environmental (GOES) imagery and other environmental products. This system is named Low Rate Information Transmission (LRIT). LRIT is an international standard for data transmission developed by the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) in response to a recommendation on digital meteorological satellite broadcasts. NOAA designed its LRIT system based on the CGMS standard. The LRIT processing system is located at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility (NSOF) in the Suitland, MD. The primary uplink antenna systems for LRIT are located in the Command and Data Acquisition Station in Fairbanks, AK (FCDAS) and at the Wallops Backup Facility (WBU) at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, MD. This procurement is for hardware and software maintenance support of the LRIT systems. Global Imaging is the only company capable of maintaining, upgrading and modifying the hardware/software as required and does not allow any other companies to provide support on their equipment. This acquisition is being sole sourced because Global Imaging is the manufacture of the LRIT hardware and software required to support the devices within the OSPO Facility. The statutory authority for other than full and open competition is 41 USC 253(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) for this acquisition is 334111, 1 million business size. This is not a solicitation for competitive quotes. 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 descriptive literature, warranties, and/or other information that demonstrates that the quote meets all of the foregoing requirements. Capability statements and related materials must be e-mailed to anthony.webb@noaa.gov by July 31, 2013, 11:00 a.m. local time. Award will be made using FAR 13, Simplified acquisition procedures, current through FAC 2005-68. The determination to compete or not to 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.