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

54 -- BALLOON INFLATION AND LAUNCH SHELTERS SOL 52-DGNW-0-90021 POC Edward F. Tennant, Jr., Contracting Officer, 301/713-0823 WEB: Click here to download a copy of the RFP, http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/~amd/SOLINDEX.HTML. The U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA has a requirement for the purchase of between 10 and 24 Balloon Inflation and Launch Shelters (BILS). The BILS is a semiautomatic facility to support the preparation and launch of helium filled weather balloons. These balloons carry an instrument package called a radiosonde, which collects temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and position data and transmits this data to a ground receiver. The BILS is equipped to store supplies, and contain the balloon while it is manually prepared for flight. In addition to the radiosonde, the flight train consists of a parachute, approximately 100 feet of string, and a dereeler. A balloon restraint will hold the inflated balloon in place until the launch signal is received. The BILS is a transportable structure approximately 8 feet wide by 14 feet long by 11 feet high, with a hatch, that when open, shall allow the release of the weather balloon through the roof. Electronic signals will be provided to the BILS through a Government-furnished Control Box to cause the hatch to open and balloon to be released. Status signals must be sent to the Control Box from the BILS. The control electronics, gas meter, and automatic shutoff valve will be Government-furnished equipment. The balloons, radiosondes, associated flight train material, ground receiver, helium tanks, and helium gas are not part of this procurement but are procured separately. The BILS shall be transportable as a complete unit by common ground transport to any National Weather Service (NWS) site in the coterminous United States. The initial unit shall be delivered and installed by the Contractor on a Government-prepared site at the NWS Test and Evaluation Facility in Sterling, Virginia within approximately 6 months after contract award. The Government will conduct first article testing on this initial unit. Delivery of the remaining units shall commence approximately 11 months after the contract award. Solicitation 52-DGNW-0-90021 will be issued on or about January 25, 2000 and will close on or about February 24, 2000. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency. Requests for copies of the solicitation should be submitted in writing to Edward Tennant at the address set forth above or by fax at 301/713-0806. See Notes 12 and 26. Posted 01/06/00 (W-SN413603). (0006)

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