U.S. Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/OFA/AGFS/AMD -- OFA51, 1305 East West Highway -- Station 7604, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

R -- POLICY REVIEW/DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SOL 9-3254 DUE 042898 POC Vivian Smith, Lawrence Frazier (301)713-0853 P -- The U.S. Dept. of Commerce/NOAA/NWS International Activities Office intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Danny Foster, Union Hall, VA to provide the necessary support required to plan and coordinate technical assistance projects in developing countries in the Americas to cover instal- lation, maintenance and repair of meteorological and hydrological equipment, including ways to obtain needed external funding. The contractor shall perform the following tasks: (1) Survey the existing and expected needs of developing countries in the Americas for meteorological and hydrological equipment, including computers, and identify cost-effective approaches to maintaining necessary high-quality observations and telecommunications between these countries and the USA, (2) work with the International Activities Office aand others, as needed, to develop a plan for evaluatioon of the potential of Internet at Meteorological Services in the Americas and for ways and means to extend the Internet capabilities throughout the Americas to include a bulletin board which will serve as a platform for sharing all types of technical problems and solutions with equipment and software used. (3) Liaise and coordinate with other Meteorological Services, with the WMO and other parts of the United Nations, including Development Banks, with the private sector; as well as with other parts of the National Weather Service and other parts of the U.S. Government in developing outside sources of funding for improving observations, telecommunications and service capabilities in the Americas. The contractor services are needed by the NWS from June 01, 1998 through May 31, 1999 on a part-time basis. The contractor services will be required both at NWS Headquarters in Silver Spring, in developing countries, and at WMO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, according to the requirements of the services as outlined. Travel will be in accordance to the Federal Travel Regulations. Other offerors that have the ability to provide this typeof service are invited to submit information as to their capabilities and any other pertinent data to the address above, to be received no later than 10 days from the date of the notice. No solicitation package exists; therefore a request for such package will not be considered. Responses should be faxed to 301/713-0806. Award will be made under Simplified Acquisition Procedures. (Reference No. 98-3254. (0107)

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