R -- Weather education for pilots

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, Aviation Services Branch, Silver Spring, MD, intends to negotiate on a sole-source basis with Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Frederick, MD, to provide weather education for pilots. Vendors who believe that they can meet this requirement are required to submit in writing an affirmative response demonstrating they can provide the following: BackgroundU.S. Government agencies and private sector, non-profit organizations are partnering to advance efforts at increasing weather knowledge of and weather impacts on general aviation (GA) pilots and their aircraft. The primary effort will be to develop a series of internet-based training modules, using both the professional expertise of the aviation organization and its resources to maximize distribution to this project's target audience. The training can be presented at professional events or viewed individually by GA pilots at their convenience. External professional services, specializing in air safety, are required to successfully complete this project and oversee training of as many of the nation's GA pilots as possible. The National Weather Service (NWS) will work closely with the selected organization to ensure the final products meet pre-determined specifications and customer needs. The selected organization will: Design, construct and produce a major interactive live education seminar on weather education for pilots, focusing on practical operating techniques and application of knowledge in a real-world context. Show this two-hour presentation in major venues from coast-to-coast, and at organizational meetings, with a goal of reaching up to 30,000 general aviation pilots. Use their own communications resources to promote this joint program to the general aviation community. The method of communication includes, but is not limited to, a coordinated publicity campaign in all of the organization's print and electronic vehicles. Publicity in non-organizational aviation outlets will be developed in cooperation with the organization's communications division and NWS. This will include aviation regional tabloid publications and, in the aviation electronic publication field and other cooperating association/industry, websites which provide links to the online program and educational materials. Develop and provide NWS, a plan of actions and milestones identifying proposed accomplishment of key aspects of internet based course development, operations and maintenance. Provide quarterly reports that update management level metrics, briefly summarize progress and analyze current programmatic highlights and recommendations. Provide programmatic oversight and coordination during course development. Organization shall ensure timely opportunities for NWS to review and comment on course content and delivery and incorporate comments into final training products. Official notification regarding completion of the development of each internet course shall be provided to NWS as part of the quarterly status report or ad hoc within 30 days post completion of course development. This contract will consist of a one-year base period and four subsequent one-year option periods. Offerors who believe they can satisfy the requirement must demonstrate their ability in writing. All written responses must include a written narrative statement of capability, including detailed technical information and other technical literature demonstrating the ability to meet the above requirements. The response must be sufficient to permit agency analysis to establish a bona fide capability to meet the requirements. Failure to submit documentation will result in the Government proceeding as stated above. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. A one year base period with four an additional one year options, fixed price contract is contemplated. Affirmative written responses must be received no later than 45 days after publication to this synopsis. See note 22.