Meterological Modeling Study

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MODIFICATION ISSUES THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. The Contracting Officer has determined that the circumstances of this contract action deem only one source is reasonably available. This requirement is considered noncommercial in nature and any resultant contract will be awarded in accordance with FAR Part 15. The 45th Contracting Squadron intends to award a sole source Fixed Price contract to Florida State University (FSU). The purpose of the requirement is to determine optimal parameter settings for the Weather Research and Forecast Model (WRF) and the optimal usage of its inline tracer capability for transport and dispersion modeling. The WRF model was developed by various agencies and universities (e.g., the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), the Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA), the Penn State University and is considered the United States meteorological community mesoscale model. This research and development will consist of sensitivity studies of both WRF with its tracer capability, and WRF using other transport and dispersion models for comparison. The anticipated period of performance is 24 months from date of award. FSU is the only source known to be capable of fulfilling the government's requirement. FSU has unique experience in long range transport issues, having participated in seven National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) airborne field projects involving the global transport of air pollutants. Locations of those field projects include numerous regions within both hemispheres. This vast experience in performing and analyzing numerical model simulations over various regions of the world is critical to accomplishment of this requirement. This research will answer questions that are very similar to those encountered during the NASA research. FSU prepared various T&D products for each project using a variety of meteorological model output ranging from global models down to the locally run Mesoscale Model 5 (MM5). By viewing the trajectories and comparing them with airborne in situ data, FSU has obtained vast experience in assessing the quality of trajectories and other T&D parameters. Other research projects have given FSU extensive experience in sensitivity studies of additional mesoscale models (e.g., the Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) and the Weather Research and Forecast model (WRF) and their applicability to transport and dispersion analyses. FSU has extensive experience with both mesoscale and transport and dispersion models. Finally, the FSU personnel can consult (at no cost) with other inhouse meteorological faculty who also are experts in running the WRF model. The solicitation for this requirement will be issued as a Request For Proposal (RFP). It is advertised with a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code of 541712, with a size standard of 500. Potential contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registry to be eligible for award (See Internet site: http://www.ccr.dlsc.dla.mil). It is mandatory to obtain a DUNS number prior to registering in CCR by calling DUN & Bradstreet (1-800-333-0505). Any firm that believes it can meet the specifications above may give written notification to the point of contact below. Responses received will be evaluated; however, a determination by the Government not to compete the proposed procurement based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.