SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Mid-Atlantic Ocean Model Calculations
- Notice Date
- 10/30/2008
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Procurement Operations, MMS Procurement Branch, HQ381 Elden Street, MS 2102HerndonVA20170-4817US
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- M09PS00004
- Response Due
- 11/14/2008
- Archive Date
- 12/14/2008
- Point of Contact
- Bridge, Debra M. 703-787-1814, bridged@mms.gov<br />
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE NOTICE CAREFULLY AS IT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY NOTICE THAT WILL BE ISSUED. The U. S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service (MMS), intends to competitively award, based upon the availability of funds, a contract entitled Mid Atlantic Ocean Model Calculations, a study to conduct an accurate numerical modeling hindcast of surface ocean currents in the Mid-Atlantic region. This procurement is being conducted in accordance with FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation. The Minerals Management Service, Procurement Operations Branch is the contracting office for this procurement and the resultant contract administration. The anticipated period of performance will be a maximum of 24 months from the effective date of the contract. The estimated cost range is between $850,000 and $1,000,000. The applicable NAICS Code is 541690: Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Service. All vendors must be registered in the Central Contractors Registration (www.ccr.gov) in order to receive Government contracts. The Government intends to award a cost reimbursement type contract for the effort described herein. INTRODUCTION: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has an ongoing need to perform computer simulations of the trajectories of hypothetical oil spills in U. S. coastal waters. The simulations are used to estimate the probabilities of oil spill contact to environmental and commercial resources, which in turn are part of the overall environmental impact assessments MMS makes in its offshore oil and gas leasing program. To construct the simulated trajectories, MMS needs speed and direction of ocean surface currents in geographical areas of interest and a concurrent ocean surface wind field. This project seeks ocean current and wind fields from the entire Atlantic Ocean, with particular emphasis on the U. S. coastal region offshore to the 200 mile limit. By comparison with in situ observations, the ocean currents must realistically reproduce the many features of the circulation in the Mid-Atlantic. This study will provide the MMS an accurate hindcast of the mesoscale and large-scale ocean currents obtained by data assimilation techniques incorporated into a state-of-the-art ocean circulation numerical model capable of fully reproducing ocean currents at spatial scales down to 5-10 km and at the time scale of 3 hours. Additionally, MMS requires the time sequences of the model inputs used to make the ocean current calculations and the computer language source code of the numerical model with documentation enabling qualified MMS personnel to use the model. STUDY OBJECTIVES: (1) To obtain an accurate numerical model hindcast field of ocean surface currents in the Mid-Atlantic region and Atlantic Ocean at the resolution of 5-10 km and 3 hours. At a minimum, the numerical model inputs shall be the surface wind, river runoff into the Mid-Atlantic, ocean temperature and salinity, surface heat flux, tidal forcing, and data assimilation of satellite altimetry. The numerical model used shall be a state-of-the-art numerical model, which has been demonstrated through peer-reviewed research to accurately reproduce mesoscale ocean currents. The resultant field of ocean surface currents must span the 15-year period from January 1, 1994 through December 31, 2008. (2) To estimate the accuracy of the locations of the Gulf Stream, Gulf Stream eddies, and the secondary eddies in the Mid-Atlantic. MMS requires a skill assessment of the model-derived horizontal surface currents to demonstrate the accuracy of the surface currents during the 15-year time period. (3) To obtain the computer language source code of the numerical model used, all the input fields for the 15-year time period, and a users manual enabling a numerical modeler at MMS to operate the model at MMS. SCOPE OF WORK: The collection and processing of ancillary data and the numerical computations shall be conducted in the first twelve (12) months. The remaining period shall be dedicated to verifying the accuracy of the model output currents and the preparation of a final report and a users manual for the numerical model. (Computational Domain Specification) The computational domain shall be the entire Atlantic Ocean, with particular emphasis on the U. S. coastal region offshore to the 200 mile limit, to minimize the open boundary conditions. The numerical grid may be variable in mesh size but never greater than 5-10 km in each horizontal direction. The model must computationally resolve diurnal variability. Task 1. Numerical Modeling Hindcast of Surface Ocean Currents. An accurate hindcast of the surface ocean circulation in the computational domain (defined above) shall be performed using an existing, state-of-the-art, mesoscale-eddy-resolving, numerical ocean circulation model over the 15-year time period of January 1, 1994 through December 31, 2008. The model input forcing shall consist of at least the surface winds, river runoff into the Atlantic Ocean, ocean temperature and salinity, surface heat flux, and data assimilation of satellite altimetry using a procedure accepted by the oceanographic modeling community. Other forcing phenomena such as the tide generating forces or atmospheric pressure will be used. Sea surface temperature derived from satellite observations may be used optionally in the data assimilation scheme of the numerical model. Task 2. Verification of Model Hindcast Accuracy. The accuracy of the time-varying locations and strengths of the modeled Gulf Stream. Gulf Stream eddies and other, secondary eddies in the Mid-Atlantic shall be determined by comparing the models output field of surface currents against available observations during the same period of time. Sea surface temperature derived from satellite observations shall also be used for the model/data comparison. Additionally, an extensive set of locations of satellite-tracked, surface ocean drifters deployed on the U. S. continental shelf in the Mid-Atlantic are available and may be used for verification of model hindcast accuracy.Task 3. Technical Report and Users Manual Preparation. A technical report documenting the models input fields, the models physics and numerical methods employed, and the observations, methods, and results of the accuracy verification of the output currents shall be produced. In addition, a users manual documenting the computer language source code of the numerical model used and its operation shall be produced. The users manual shall also document the other, ancillary computer programs provided and shall be written for a sophisticated user one who is knowledgeable about numerical ocean circulation modeling in general but not necessarily familiar with the particular model used in this study. DELIVERABLES: In addition to progress and final reports and formal presentations to MMS and advisors, the contractor shall provide to MMS the model input and output fields in a format mutually agreed upon, the computer programming language source code of the numerical model and ancillary programs, and a users manual to enable a sophisticated numerical modeler to prepare the computational grid and model inputs and operate the numerical model. MMS may additionally request that the input and output fields be geo-referenced in a format accessible to the ARCVIEW computer program. How to Respond: If you are interested in participating in this acquisition, please e-mail your organization's name, point of contact, address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail address and DUNS Number not later than 2:00 p.m. E.T., Friday, November 14, 2008, to debra.bridge@mms.gov., or send this same information to Debra Bridge, Minerals Management Service, 381 Elden Street, MS-2101, Herndon, VA 20170. Please reference M09PS00004, Mid Atlantic Ocean Model Calculations, in your document. Those organizations responding to this announcement will receive a copy of the full Request for Proposal (RFP). PHONE CALLS ARE STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.
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