Science on a Sphere (SOS) exhibit

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded a firm-fixed-price, turnkey contract to B/W Color Prints LLC, doing business as BWC Visual Technology, for the complete installation of a Science on a Sphere (SOS) visualization system at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Maryland. This procurement was conducted as a sole-source action under 41 U.S.C. 1901 and FAR 12.201-1 due to the exclusive technical and intellectual property rights held by BWC Visual Technology under Cooperative Research and Development Agreement CRADA CR-188, which remains active through March 2029. The contract requires the delivery and installation of proprietary SOS hardware and software, including the patented Alignment Pro system and Wibu Dongle-protected SOS RoboGuide suite, which are legally restricted to BWC and cannot be replicated or installed by any other party. The scope includes all ancillary site preparation work such as structural mounting points, installation of glass double doors, and wall murals, as these elements are technically inseparable from the SOS system and must be performed by BWC to preserve warranty validity and system integrity. The contract has a performance period of 12 months from the Notice to Proceed, with final inspection and acceptance occurring on-site at the NSOF. No competitive evaluation process was used, and no contract value is disclosed in the documentation. All technical specifications, licensing, and installation protocols are governed by the CRADA and associated patents, with no alternative vendors legally capable of meeting the government’s requirements. The agency's contracting office, under the NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office in Silver Spring, Maryland, administers the contract with no public disclosure of the Contracting Officer’s Representative, payment details, or formal inspection standards beyond functional performance of the integrated system.