New or Reconditioned Global Positioning System Radiosondes

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service plans to procure up to 390,000 new GPS 1680 MHz Radiosondes to support critical atmospheric measurements used for weather forecasting, satellite calibration, and aviation safety. The contract requires a minimum annual delivery of 78,000 radiosondes, which are balloon-borne instruments that collect essential data such as temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind metrics. Deliveries will be made to the National Logistics Support Center in Kansas City, Missouri, starting no earlier than two months after the contract award. The solicitation is scheduled to be released around March 15, 2013, with a closing date near April 15, 2013, and all qualified and responsible vendors are encouraged to submit proposals. This acquisition is subject to international trade agreements including the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and various Free Trade Agreements. The contract solicitation is listed under NAICS code 334519, which pertains to instruments manufacturing. The Department of Commerce, specifically NOAA, manages the procurement from its Silver Spring, Maryland office. Key points of contact for the contract include Contracting Officers Robert M. McNamara and Anthony S. Kram, reachable by email or phone for potential bidders seeking additional information. The procurement emphasizes compliance with established federal requirements and aims to ensure the continuous availability of high-quality radiosondes for national weather monitoring and forecasting efforts.