NWS - Aerological Sounding Balloons

The U.S. Department of Commerce, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service, intends to award a sole-source, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract to Kaymont for the procurement of up to 94,800 GP20 Aerological Sounding Balloons under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Part 12. Kaymont is the sole vendor capable of producing balloons that meet the strict technical specifications outlined in J300-SP005 Revision L, and can consistently deliver at the required monthly rate of 4,680 units with a 90-day lead time, justifying the use of other-than-full-and-open competition under RFO 12.201-1. The contract will be awarded on a firm-fixed unit price basis, with deliveries F.O.B. the National Logistics Support Center in Kansas City, Missouri, after balloons are manufactured within a 14-day production window. Each balloon must adhere to detailed performance standards for ascent rate, burst altitude, and environmental durability, with a minimum 90% success rate required across 40 or more flight tests per lot, and no more than 1% defect rate allowed. Packaging and labeling must strictly comply with MIL-STD-129M and MIL-STD-1189B, including Code 3 of 9 barcoding, NSN and CAGE code markings, shelf-life expiration dates, hazardous material indicators, and palletization to 44” x 40” dimensions with shrink-wrapping and double-strapping. The warranty period begins upon receipt at the NLSC and extends for 16 months. Inspection and acceptance are performed by the Government at the NLSC, and the acquisition is managed by the Eastern Acquisition Division in Norfolk, Virginia, with Alice Park as the point of contact. No solicitation-level pricing data or contract value is provided, though the total quantity cap is set at 94,800 units, with annual demand of approximately 18,960 balloons. The acquisition is classified under NAICS code 326299, and while socioeconomic set-asides are not used, respondents must provide their UEI and CAGE codes and certify their size status relative to a 650-employee small business threshold. The contract includes no options, security clearances, or OCI provisions, and invoicing and payment details are not specified.