Scalability Analysis for Western U.S. States

The contract seeks to evaluate the technical, institutional, and data infrastructure needed to adapt California’s drought dashboard for implementation across other western U.S. states including Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon. This effort focuses on identifying compatibility challenges, data standards, governance structures, and system modifications necessary to ensure the tool functions effectively in diverse regional contexts with varying water management practices, data availability, and policy frameworks. The analysis will determine what adjustments are required in monitoring metrics, visualization interfaces, and data integration protocols to support statewide drought decision-making while maintaining consistency with the original California model. The work falls under the NAICS code 541620, indicating it is a subcontract for scientific and technical consulting services, and is managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the U.S. Department of Commerce. Performance is expected to occur in Silver Spring, Maryland, though the scope of work directly impacts data and policy environments across multiple western states. The solicitation was posted in June 2026, and while details such as set-aside status and point of contact are not provided, the initiative underscores a broader federal effort to enhance regional drought resilience through scalable, interoperable tools that can be repurposed across states with similar climatic and hydrological challenges.