U.S. Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/OFA/PGAS/Contract Administration Branch -- OFA513, 1305 East West Highway -- Station 7604, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

66 -- RADIOSONDE GROUND SYSTEMS AND RADIOSONDES SOL 52-DGNW-7-90157 POC Mary Watson, Procurement Technician, 301-713-0823 or Edward F. Tennant, Jr., Contracting Officer, 301-713-0823 17. The National Weather Service (NWS) has a requirement to replace seven radiosonde ground systems in the Caribbean basin, one radiosonde ground system in Honduras, and one radiosonde ground system in Paraguay, as well as one or more radiosonde ground systems to be used for testing purposes in the United States. Additionally, the NWS may desire to replace a radiosonde ground system in Guam as a future option. Up to twelve existing Government-owned VIZ Manufacturing Company WO-9000 Omega Meteorological Processing Systems, each including a personal computer and printer, can be made available for this project as Government-furnished property on an "as is" basis. Furthermore, the NWS has a requirement to acquire radiosondes which can be used with the replacement ground systems. The acquisition also will include installation and checkout services, training, documentation, and maintenance. This procurement is occasioned by the decommissioning of the worldwide Omega Navigation System at the end of September 1997, which will result in the existing WO-9000 Omega ground systems being unable to measure wind speed and wind direction. Initially, the NWS planned to convert the existing WO-9000 Omega ground systems into ground systems which would be capable of receiving and processing all VLF signals (rather than just the Omega signal). However, tests recently conducted in the Caribbean show that there are inadequate VLF signals at the present time to assure reliable all-season operation of VLF systems in the Caribbean once Omega is decommissioned. Because of its proximity to the Caribbean, it is expected that the Honduras site also will experience inadequate VLF signals. A recent test shows that Loran-C is usable for the purpose of radiosonde soundings in the Bahamas (one of the seven Caribbean sites). The NWS is presently in the process of conducting tests at the other six Caribbean sites and at Honduras to determine at which of these sites, if any, Loran-C will be an adequate solution. The NWS expects to make the results of this Loran-C testing available to prospective offerors prior to solicitation closing. Solicitation 52-DGNW-7-90157 will be issued on or about July 3, 1997 and will close on or about July 17, 1997. The NWS may require an offeror to conduct a demonstration of its ground system (at no cost to the Government) as part of the offer evaluation process. Contract award is scheduled to take place by August 1, 1997 with deliveries of ground systems and radiosondes to commence not later than 45 days after contract award. More than one contract may be awarded. See Note 12. (0174)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0301 19970625\66-0011.SOL)