US Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Systems Acquisition Office, Procurement Staff, 8455 Colesville Road, Suite 705, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

66 -- ALL-WEATHER PRECIPITATION ACCUMULATION GAUGE DUE 040596 POC Thomas D. Genovese, Jr. (301) 427-2179. The NOAA Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) program has a need for an All-Weather, Liquid and Frozen Precipitation Water Equivalent Accumulation Gauge. An alternative to tipping bucket technology is sought which meets the following minimum requirements: (1) Range (i.e., measuring capacity) greathern than or equal to 40 inches (preferably greater than or equal to 60 inches) without intervening maintenance; (2) Resolution of 0.01 inch; (3) Accuracy shall pass all real-world environmental comparisons with standard shielded 8'' gauge and laboratory repeatability tests for discrete accumulation rates, measured every minute over specified time periods and temperature ranges. The accuracy specification is applicable to all new precipitation accumulation regardless of the amount of liquid residing in the gauge. The accuracy requirements (A) are: (a) For low rate of 0.10 inch per hour over 10 hour period, A = plus or minus 0.02 inch when the temperature (T) is greater than -20 degrees F, and A = plus or minus 0.04 inch for T less than or equal to -20 degrees F greater than or equal to -60 degrees F; (b) For high rate of 10.0 inches per hour over 2 hour period, A = plus or minus 0.02 inch; Rest for 1 hour, then continue test at very high rate of 20.0 inches per hour for one hour or more (2 hours or more for gauges with rated capacity of 60 inches), A = plus or minus 0.04 inch; (c) For extreme rate of 60.0 inches per hour over 10 minute period, A = plus or minus 0.10 inch; (4) Starting threshold for reporting accumulation is 0.01 inch; (5) Temperature limits are: (a) Operational (-60 degrees F to 120 degrees F); (b) Withstanding (-80 degrees F to 130 degrees F); (6) Wind limits are: (a) Operational steady wind up to 30 knots; (b) Withstanding steady wind up to 73 knots; (c) Operational wind gust stability up to 46 knots; (d) Withstanding wind gust up to 125 knots. Vendors may request a copy of the complete statement of work (which will include reliability, maintainability, and availability requirements) from the contact person within 2 weeks of CBD issuance and should respond within 5 weeks of CBD issuance. (0057)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0300 19960227\66-0008.SOL)