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

D -- NOAA WEATHER WIRE REPLACEMENT SYSTEM SOL 52-DDNW-9-90002 POC Rubie B. King, Contract Specialist (301) 713-0839 x 164 or Ina R. Merson, Contracting Officer (301) 713-0839 x 194 WEB: click here to download a draft copy of the RFP, http://www.nws.noaa.gov/oso/oso1. E-MAIL: click here to submit responses via E-mail to the Contract, Rubie.B.King@agf.noaa.gov. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS) is conducting a market survey to identify if existing Government-Wide Agency Contracts (GWACs) or other relevant mechanisms exist which would help to streamline the procurement process for its next-generation NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS). The current NWWS is a satellite-based dissemination system which provides broadcast of NWS weather products, hydro meteorological forecasts, watches and warnings, and other environmental information to NWS Weather Forecast Offices, National Centers, and NWS-supported State Agencies as well as to more than 1450 external users. The replacement NWWS will differ from the existing system in that: (1) the Contractor must provide users external to the NWS with a non-proprietary, open interface to facilitate and encourage multiple transmission technologies for sending NWWS products to these users (e.g., paging, Internet, DBS, etc.) (2) it can utilize any acceptable technological approach, and (3) it will include, as an option, collection of WSR-88D Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD) products. The NWS specific requirements will include: the ability to provide system coverage to the Conus U. S., Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and, optionally, Guam; central monitor and control of the network; an analysis of lease vs. purchase of receiving equipment; very high operational availability requirements, and associated down-time credits for failure to achieve the specified level of performance; special testing, inspection, and acceptance terms; and maintenance for all locations. NWS envisions a 10 year systems life with technology upgrades and refreshment provisions. A draft Request for Quotation which provides greater detail is located at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/oso/oso1 . Interested concerns should provide a response including the following: (1) a copy of the General Statement of Work of the contract relied upon in making a determination that this requirement is within the scope, (2)the contract number, (3) issuing agency, (4) name and telephone number for a contracting point of contact, (5) the term of the contract, (6) the contract award date, (7) equipment leasing provisions, if any, and (6) information on fees for usage and/or administration of this contract which may be charged by the awarding Government agency. ( Please note that those firms who have previously expressed an interest in this requirement and who are on our mailing list will receive a separate individual request for this information.) Responses should be submitted no later September 18, 1998. to the attention of Rubie B. King, Contract Specialist. Questions may be referred to Ms. King at (301) 713 0839 ext. 164 or Ina R. Merson, Contracting Officer (301) 713-0839 ext. 194. King@agf@noaa.gov">King@agf@noaa.gov. Posted 09/01/98 (W-SN244633). (0244)

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