J -- Provide Tower Space and Maintenance Services for the NOAA Weather Radio System in the State of New Mexico

In the absence of other qualified sources, it is the intent of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/ National Weather Service (NOAA/NWS) to negotiate with the State of New Mexico, General Service Department, Office of Communications, located at P.O. Drawer 26110, Santa Fe, NM 87502 for tower space and preventative and remedial maintenance of NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) transmitters, antennae and transmission lines located at eight (8) State of New Mexico owned tower sites located in New Mexico in Albuquerque, Clovis, Ruidoso, Des Moines, Hobbs, Farmington, Las Cruces and Santa Fe. BACKGROUND: In a January 1975 White House Policy Statement, NOAA’s NWR was designated the sole government operated radio alert system to provide direct warnings into private homes for both natural disasters and nuclear attack. The mandate requires uninterrupted transmission capability 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Since 1994, the State of New Mexico has had access to NWR service through successive contracts between the NOAA/NWS and the State of New Mexico. SCOPE: This procurement is for a follow-on contract for tower space and maintenance services. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The contract to be negotiated is for a one year base period of performance, followed by four 1-year option periods for a total of 5 years. SOLE SOURCE: NOAA/NWS has determined that the State of New Mexico is the only contractor that can provide 1) tower space on strategically located towers and allow for placement of antennas at the needed heights to provide the required NWR broadcast service coverage. 2) The State of New Mexico is the only contractor that can provide the 24 hours per day, 365 days per year maintenance services since no other contractor can have access to the towers and equipment for maintenance after hours due to Homeland Security issues. Since outages and emergencies can occur at any time day or night, access to the sites for maintenance must be available 24 hours a day. This is not a formal solicitation. This notice may represent the only notice. The acquisition is a commercial item acquisition. See note 22.