SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- USAFA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES
- Notice Date
- 2/9/2010
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Direct Reporting Units, USAF Academy - 10 MSG/LGC, 8110 Industrial Drive, Suite 200, USAF Academy, Colorado, 80840-2315
- ZIP Code
- 80840-2315
- Solicitation Number
- USAFAMETEOROLOGICALSERVICES
- Archive Date
- 3/13/2010
- Point of Contact
- Matthew A. McLean, Phone: 719-333-2478, Marlene M. Kleckner, Phone: 719-333-8922
- E-Mail Address
-
matthew.mclean@usafa.af.mil, marlene.kleckner@usafa.af.mil
(matthew.mclean@usafa.af.mil, marlene.kleckner@usafa.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The 10th Contracting Squadron is seeking responsible sources that can provide full meteorological services for the 306th Flying Training Group (306 FTG), USAF Academy (USAFA) and a tenent organization. The applicable NAICS code is 541990. The proposed contract will be for a base period and four one-year option periods. This notice is not a solicitation. This announcement serves as a Sources Sought notice for the upcoming competitive acquisition for the 306 FTG full meteorological service contract. The current contract expires on 30 September 2010. All potential offerors are reminded that in accordance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations (DFARS) 252.204-7004 (Required Central Contractor Registration) they must be registered at www.ccr.gov. Lack of registration in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) will make an offeror ineligible for contract award. This Sources Sought Notice is also issued for the purpose of market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10. All responsible businesses capable of providing these services are invited to respond. Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this notice is voluntary. This notice is for planning purposes only and does not commit the Government to pay for the information provided. No response is necessary if you are not interested in providing this service. This is not a request for proposals. Do not submit a proposal at this time. Program Overview The 306th Operations Support Squadron Contract Weather Flight facility provides meteorological service by weather technicians under three broad categories: Airfield Services Element Operations, Mission Weather Element Operations, and Staff Weather Element Services. Weather forecasters shall be dual-certified in weather forecasting and weather observing tasks. Meteorological service includes the following: - Generating and disseminating automated, augmented, and manual surface weather observations; - Creating and disseminating the USAFA Seven Day Forecast Outlook; - Creating, amending, and disseminating mission execution forecasts for multiple airfields, multiple low level flying training routes, flying training areas, a sailplane landing area, a parachuting drop zone, Falcon Stadium, the Cadet Area, the USAFA Preparatory School, the USAFA Community Center, the Jacks Valley Training Complex, and the Saylor Park training area; - Integrating meteorological satellite imagery and Doppler weather radar products into the meteorological and missionwatch processes; and - Maintaining station climatology records. Customers include the 306th Flying Training Group (94th Flying Training Squadron (Soaring operations), the 98th Flying Training Squadron (Parachuting Operations), the 557th Flying Training Squadron (Powered Flight Operations), the 70th Flying Training Squadron - tenent unit (AFRC), the 306th OSS) and the USAF Academy (Superintendent, Commandant, Staff Agencies, and 10th Air Base Wing). USAFA airfields operate under Visual Flight Rules in challenging weather conditions. There are no runway or taxiway lights, thus there are no night flying operations. Scope of Work: The contractor shall provide all weather forecasting, observing, briefing, training, supervision, and any items and services necessary to perform full meteorological services and weather station operations at the 306th Flying Training Group (306 FTG), and the USAF Academy (USAFA), Colorado. The contractor shall follow all applicable instructions and directives as identified by the Performance Work Statement (PWS), Air Force, Air Education and Training Command (AETC), USAFA, 306 FTG, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Instructions, Manuals, and Pamphlets, and meet levels of quality as prescribed in Air Force Instruction 15-180, Standardization and Evaluation Program for Weather Operations (SEPWO), SEPWO Compliance Performance Checklists, and the Performance Work Statement. Contractor responsibilities include: - Schedule and manage weather station operations - Establish and maintain an alternate operating location - Manage personnel - Provide after-hours contingency weather service - Coordinate on and maintain 306 FTG publication, Instruction 15-101, USAFA Weather Operations - Maintain 25 OWS - 306 OSS MOA - Perform Severe Weather Action Procedures - Perform emergency action procedures - Provide "Eyes Forward" and collaborate with 25 OWS - Perform Staff Meteorological Functions (attend and brief at staff meetings) - Perform weather service in accordance with established duty priorities - Apply Air Force Organizational Risk Management (ORM) principles and processes to day-to-day weather operations - Perform Basic Weather Watch - Augment (as required) the USAFA Airfield Automated Meteorological Observing Station - Document airfield special observation criteria - Disseminate weather information - Disseminate daily weather observation forms - Maintain station climatology - Create and disseminate the USAFA Seven-Day Forecast Outlook - Establish and maintain representative visibility charts for main and alternate locations - Establish a cooperative weather watch program - Monitor (and issue if required) USAFA 25 OWS-issued forecast weather watches and warnings - Monitor (and issue if required) the 25 OWS-issued USAFA Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) - Issue and cancel USAFA observed lightning weather warnings - Issue, amend, and cancel all forecast and observed USAFA weather advisories - Respond to all Pilot-to-Metro Service (PMSV) contacts - Acquire, analyze, evaluate, encode, and disseminate Pilot Reports - Complete, document, and maintain the Standardization and Evaluation Self-Inspection Program for Weather Operations (SEPWO) Compliance and Performance checklists - Create and provide weather briefings - Perform system administrator duties for all weather systems in accordance with established procedures - Create, amend and disseminate mission execution forecasts (MEFs) - Incorporate space weather products into all phases of supported agencies' operations - Evaluate MEFs and obtain supported agency feedback based on defined thresholds - Compile and disseminate metrics to flying customers and HQ AETC information from the evaluation of MEFs - Provide forecaster integration to 306 FTG and USAFA operations - Attend conferences, workshops, and training sessions as required - Establish, perform and document quality control efforts - Maintain the Government weather equipment account - Maintain the Government information technology equipment account - Manage weather equipment at multiple locations - Provide, conduct, and document employee training - Perform limited housekeeping - Comply with the base recycle program - Manage weather web pages - Provide major maintenance on the USAFA High Wind Alert System (USAFA HWAS), and the Vaisala Lightning Detection System, including replacement of component parts. (Note: The Air Force provides all maintenance, including replacement of component parts, on all other airfield weather sensing and weather communications systems including the AN/FMQ-19, Automatic Meteorological Observing Station (AMOS), the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS), AN/FMQ-13, Digital Wind Systems, the New-Tactical Forecasting System (N-TFS), the Joint Environmental Toolkit (JET), and the Doppler Meteorological Radar Open Principal User Processor (OPUP)). PLEASE PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION / DESCRIPTION OF YOUR EXPERIENCE AND / OR YOUR COMPANY'S ABILITY TO PERFORM THE FOLLOWING MAJOR REQUIREMENTS THAT WILL LIKELY BE REQUIRED UNDER A NEW CONTRACT. PREFERRED EXPERIENCS IS OF A DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NATURE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SUBMIT COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, OR QUESTIONS. (Note: A Performance Work Statement will be posted at a later date for industry review and comment.) 1. Hours of Operation: Although subject to change to meet 306 FTG and USAFA requirements, the contractor shall provide meteorological service Monday through Saturday, from 0330 hours until 30 minutes past local sunset. A 2010 sunrise - sunset table is available upon request. 2. Contingency Support: The Government estimates 120 extra contingency support hours per year. The contractor shall be required to support the following special events: - Combat Skills Training (Jun - Jul) - 4th of July Celebration and Fireworks - Basic Cadet Training (Jul) - Commandant's Challenge (weekend before Thanksgiving break) - Graduation (May) - Night parachute jumps - Air Force Academy night football games in Falcon Stadium - Cadet Soaring, Parachuting, and Powered Flight Competitions - Severe summer and winter weather events - Power and communications outages - USAFA and 306 FTG Special Events - Distinguished Visitor Visits 3. Contract Management and Personnel Support: The contractor shall have adequate management and technical personnel whose meteorological technical qualifications and meteorological experience will enable successful completion of the Performance Work Statement requirements. The contractor shall provide leadership, technical oversight, management, and supervision of weather contract personnel and station operations. The contractor shall formulate and apply tactics, techniques and procedures to exploit weather station capabilities, and communicate those capabilities to supported agencies. The contractor shall manage resources, and adapt operations to meet mission requirements. The contractor management shall oversee the scheduling of personnel, operations and facilities. The contractor will provide adequate personnel on all shifts to meet the Performance Work Statement Requirements. A secret security clearance will be required of key personnel. 4. USAFA Weather Operations: The contractor shall maintain 306 FTG Instruction (FTGI) 15-101, USAFA Weather Operations. 306 FTGI 15-101 shall be reviewed and updated annually by the contractor, but approved by the 306th FTG Commander. 5. Alternate Operating Location (AOL): The contractor shall establish an AOL. The AOL shall be exercised and documented annually. 6. Severe Weather Action Procedures (SWAP): The contractor shall develop SWAP to ensure sufficient personnel are available during potential and actual severe weather events or during meteorological or operational events critical to mission success. 7. Resource Protection and Emergency Actions: The contractor shall formally document resource protection and emergency actions resulting from weather events or natural disasters. 8. Staff Meteorological Functions: The contractor shall formally document Staff Meteorological functions. 9. Duty Priorities: The contractor shall formally document weather flight duty priorities. 10. Operational Risk Management (ORM). The contractor shall apply Air Force ORM principles and processes to day-to-day weather operations to focus activities and allocate resources to exploit environmental conditions, mitigate mission delays, and enhance the overall effectiveness of operations. 11. Basic Weather Watch: The contractor shall perform the Basic Weather Watch during augmentation periods. 12. Special Observation Criteria: The contractor shall formally document airfield Special (SPECI) weather observation criteria. 13. Visibility Markers: The contractor shall establish a process to review, update, document, and maintain annual reviews of representative visibility charts for the primary and alternate duty locations. 14. Cooperative Weather Watch: The contractor shall establish a cooperative weather watch program with the Air Traffic Control Tower and other appropriate agencies. The contractor shall task-certify Air Traffic Control personnel to evaluate and report visibility values in accordance with the cooperative weather watch. 15. USAFA Weather Watches and Warnings: The contractor shall monitor USAFA forecast weather watches and warnings issued by 25 OWS weather forecasters. The contractor shall issue, amend, and cancel watches and warnings during 25 OWS communications outages. 16. Lightning Weather Warnings: The contractor shall issue, amend, and cancel USAFA observed lightning weather warnings during operating hours including contingency support hours. 17. USAFA Weather Advisories: The contractor shall issue, amend, and cancel all USAFA forecast and observed weather advisories during airfield operating hours. 18. Pilot-to-Metro Service: The contractor shall respond to all Pilot-to-Metro Service (PMSV) contacts using proper radio discipline and standard phraseology found in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Order 7110.10, Flight Service. 19. Pilot Reports (PIREPs): The contractor shall acquire, analyze, evaluate, encode, and disseminate PIREPs. 20. Air Force Technical Orders: The contractor shall document an annual review ensuring Air Force Technical Orders (AFTOs) or operator manuals are on hand for each piece of assigned fixed and deployable meteorological equipment. Note: 306 FTG/FTGV maintains the Weather Equipment AFTO Account. 21. Air Force Standardization and Evaluation Program: The contractor shall complete, document, and maintain the Standardization and Evaluation Program for Weather Operations (SEPWO) Compliance and Performance checklists. 22. Standup Weather Briefings: The contractor shall be the primary standup weather briefer for USAFA Superintendent, USAFA Commandant, 10 ABW, and 306 FTG briefings. 23. Weather Briefings: The contractor shall provide weather briefings upon request to aircrews, Supervisors of Flying, and flying squadron Top 3 personnel. 24. Systems Administrator: The contractor shall be the (deleted primary) systems administrator for all current and future weather systems including Automatic Meteorological Observing Stations (AMOS), the Joint Environmental Toolkit (JET), the New-Tactical Forecast System (N-TFS), the Doppler Meteorological Radar System, the USAFA High Wind Alert System (USAFA HWAS), the Lightning Detection System, and backup weather sensing equipment assets. The contractor shall be the primary maintainer of weather home pages, Community of Practice pages, etc. The contractor shall work with the 306 FTG and installation Information System Security Officer (ISSO) to establish user names, passwords, and user profiles for all authorized automated users. The contractor shall be required to maintain replacement equipment or other systems in the future that will be of a similar nature. Note: The JET Server is located in Fairchild Hall in the Cadet Area. The 10th Communications Squadron installs security and administrative updates to the JET Server in accordance with established procedures. The JET system administrator shall coordinate with 10 CS and be available to assist with JET server upgrades. Travel costs to and from the JET server in Fairchild Hall (16-mile round-trip) will be at the contractor's expense. 25. Doppler Meteorological Radar Processor: The contractor shall develop procedures for the proper operation of the Doppler Meteorological Radar processor to include software builds. 26. Customer Liaison: The contractor shall ensure agencies are kept continuously aware of potential mission-impacting weather conditions so as to offer commanders an exploitable advantage. The contractor shall ensure environmental information is integrated into all phases of supported operations. 27. Mission Execution Forecast (MEF) Process (MEFP): The contractor shall use the 12-Step MEFP to tailor weather products and provide decision-quality environmental information for USAFA and 306 FTG mission planning and execution. The contractor shall have a documented methodology to incorporate climatology, perishable weather data, strategic-level and operational level forecast products, forecasting techniques, and a logical, verifiable process (the MEFP) to conduct weather operations. MWE contractor shall identify data sources, document forecast methods, and describe methods of obtaining weather situational awareness. 28. Space Weather Products: The contractor shall incorporate space weather products into all phases of supported agencies' operations including their operations, and communications systems. The contractor shall understand the impacts of space weather on their supported agencies and incorporate those impacts into the MEFP. 29. MEF Evaluation: The contractor shall establish procedures to evaluate their MEFs and obtain supported agency feedback based on agency-defined thresholds, critical points of mission failure, and elements of quality assurance (e.g., timeliness, effectiveness, accuracy). The contractor shall obtain feedback from MEF users on forecast and observed environmental conditions applicable to their respective missions. The contractor shall coordinate and document with supported agencies and determine the content and format of the MEF to ensure it contains decision-grade information, and coordinate the delivery method and timing of the MEF to fit mission requirements. 30. Metrics Report: The contractor shall establish procedures to compile and disseminate metrics information from the evaluation of MEFs provided to their supported agencies in accordance with AFI 15-114, Functional Resource and Weather Technical Performance Evaluation, paragrpahs 1-5, and Air Education and Training Command (AETC) Weather Branch (A3OW) guidance. 31. Attendance at Conferences, Workshops, and Training Sessions: The contractor shall be required to attend conferences, workshops, or training sessions. Travel to conferences, training sessions, and workshops will be in accordance with 10th Contracting Squadron instructions, and in conformance with the Joint Travel Regulations. 32. Mission-Essential Status: The contractor shall be considered mission-essential. In the event the installation is closed due to inclement weather, or other causes, in which the installation commander has declared only mission-essential personnel shall report for duty, the Contractor shall continue to operate unless told otherwise by the QAE or Functional Commander. The contractor shall make all reasonable attempts to be in-place during airfield open hours. The contractor shall notify the QAE in the event the contractor cannot travel to the installation due to hazardous (unsafe) travel conditions. 33. Quality Control Program: The contractor shall establish a quality control program which shall encompass all aspects of the contract. 34. Government Equipment Accounts: The contractor shall manage the 306 OSS/OSW Government Weather Equipment Management Account, and the Information Technology Equipment Account. 35. Major Equipment Maintenance and Repair: The contractor shall provide major maintenance on the USAFA High Wind Alert System (USAFA HWAS) and the Vaisala Lightning and Detection System, including replacement of software and component parts. The contractor shall replace failed batteries for Uninterruptible Power Sources (UPS). The contractor is responsible for all maintenance necessary to properly perform this service to include coordination with manufacturers or subcontractors. Repairs must be accomplished in a timely manner according to the following: A. Urgent: Initiate within 4 hours and repair within 7 duty days. B. Emergency: Initiate within 4 hours and repair within 3 duty days. Note: The Air Force provides all maintenance, including replacement of component parts, on all other airfield weather sensing and weather communications systems including the AN/FMQ-19, Automatic Meteorological Observing Station (AMOS), the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS), AN/FMQ-13, Digital Wind Systems, the New-Tactical Forecasting System (N-TFS), the Joint Environmental Toolkit (JET), and the Doppler Meteorological Radar Open Principal User Processor (OPUP). 36. Training: The contractor shall maintain employee training records on-site and have them available for government review. The contractor shall develop, maintain, and conduct a Continuation Training program at the contractor's expense. The contractor shall develop, maintain, and conduct position qualification "check rides" (receive a "GO" rating) before awarding position qualification to Airfield Services Element, Mission Weather Element, and Mission Weather Element Liaison weather forecasters. The contractor shall integrate local radar imagery in qualification and continuation training programs using archived imagery, saved data, or scenarios. The contractor shall integrate meteorological satellite (METSAT) imagery into qualification and continuation training programs with clear information on the image type, and description of the scenario or regime depicted on the imagery. The contractor shall complete all Air Force Ancillary Training requirements (unless specifically excused due to contractor status), contractor security training, employee safety training, Air Force records management training, Air Force equipment supply management training, and Air Force information technology equipment management training. This list may not be inclusive of all Air Force and contractor training requirements. The contractor shall provide newly assigned personnel a thorough airfield orientation before completing position qualification training. The contractor, together with the 25th Operational Weather Squadron (25 OWS), shall conduct and document seasonal and severe weather refresher seminars which cover upcoming seasonal forecasting and observing techniques, expected threats, and response procedures. 37. Housekeeping: The contractor shall clean and dust workstations, monitors, equipment, and window sills daily. The Governement will be responsible for all other housekeeping. 38. Waste Management: The contractor shall comply with the base recycle program. ALL CONTRACTORS INTERESTED IN PROVIDING THIS SERVICE MAY INDICATE THEIR INTEREST IN THIS PROPOSED ACQUISISTION BY SENDING AN EMAIL TO INLCUDE YOUR NAME, CONTACT INFORMATION, COMPANY NAME, CAGE CODE, DUNS NUMBER, AND ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: 1. What past experience and/or contracts have you performed in weather service support? Experience in Federal Government and DoD work is preferred. 2. How long have you been performing this work? 3. What is your interest level in this requirement? Will you: - Definitely submit a proposal, - Might submit a proposal, or - Will not submit a proposal. 4. Will your company provide the service or subcontract the work? 5. Please provide a brief description of your company and reference your business size status (i.e., 8(a), HUBZone, Woman/Women Owned or Service-disable Veteran-owned, small business, large business, etc.). This notice is designed to locate responsible sources that have an interest in, and the ability to provide the service described herein. Contractors with questions or comments may contact Matt McLean, Contract Specialist, via email at matthew.mclean@usafa.af.mil, by telephone at 719-333-2478 or by fax at 719-333-9103. Please provide responses by 1600 Mountain Standard Time, 17 February 2010.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/DRU/10ABWLGC/USAFAMETEOROLOGICALSERVICES/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USAF Academy Airfield, USAF Academy, Colorado, 80840, United States
- Zip Code: 80840
- Zip Code: 80840
- Record
- SN02061950-W 20100211/100209235300-c80a0a3dbdf528c90baca0b9fcec1c7e (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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