R -- EXTENSION OF LIGHTNING DATA SERVICES

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), Silver Spring, MD, intends to negotiate on a noncompetitive basis with Vaisala, Inc. of Tucson, AZ to extend the existing Lighting Data contract (50DDNW-1-90010) for 45 days. This contract provides the National Weather Service and other federal agencies real-time cloud to ground lightning data. This action will extend the current contact from October 1, 2004, through November 15, 2004. The incumbent contractor shall continue to provide lightning data for the entire contiguous U.S. and adjacent coastal waters and land areas out to a distance of 250km and maritime data. The lightning data will be used by NOAA (National Weather Service) and other federal agencies (e.g., Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Interior (DOI), NASA, and Department of Defense (DOD). The Contractor shall communicate the lightning data to specified Government sites for display, processing and redistribution to additional Government sites and identify hardware and software needed to receive, display and transfer the data to the Government systems. In addition, under this contract, the contractor is to provide continuity of maintenance of the acquired hardware and software. The contractor shall continue to maintain or permit the Government to maintain an archive of the lighting data throughout the duration of this contract. The contractor must currently have an established and operational network providing lighting data for the previously mentioned geographical areas. Extending the current contract is intended to provide continuation of existing lighting data support and related services on an interim basis during which time the Government will be conducting a full and open competition for its requirements in this area. Vendors who believe they can meet the above requirement are required to submit in writing via e-mail to [email protected], an affirmative response demonstrating they can meet the Governments requirements. To be considered an affirmative response, all written responses must include a written narrative statement of capability, including detailed technical information and other technical literature demonstrating the ability to meet the above requirements. Failure to submit documentation will result in the Government proceeding as stated above. A determination by the Government not to open the extension for the existing contract is solely within the discretion of the Government. Affirmative written responses must be received no later than 15 days after the publication to this synopsis. See note 22.