B -- Enhanced Sigma-0/Wind Speed Retrievals from ASCAT

INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE NOTICE: Please read this entire notice carefully as it constitutes the only notice that will be issued regarding the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) intent to contract by other than full and open competition in the development of Ultra High Resolution (5km) Wind Retrievals from an Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT). NOAA intends to award a sole source a contract to Brigham Young University, A-285 Administration Building, Provo, UT 84602. The anticipated contract will be a follow on cost reimbursable contract and will be for 12 months. The applicable North American Industry Classification code is 541710, size standard is 500 employees. The work to be performed is for the development and evaluation of enhanced resolution techniques applicable to ASCAT and incorporated ASCAT enhanced resolution products into NOAA?s near real time ASCAT processing system. Resolution enhancement algorithms such as those used with QuikSCAT for making enhanced resolution sigma-0 images and subsequent wind speed images over Tropical Cyclones (TC) can also be applied to ASCAT on The Meteorological Operational Satellite Program (METOP). Experimental QuikSCAT products for ultra high resolution ocean sigma-0 images and ultra high resolution wind retrieval have been developed. NOAA has adopted and transitioned the enhanced resolution processing technique into the near real time QuikSCAT processing system. Ultra high resolution wind speed products and sigma-0 imagery are routinely produced for TC systems based on a storm card file generated with input form the National Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The contract will utilize the services of Brigham Young University for research and development. Brigham Young provides unique experience and expertise that is unavailable within NESDIS. Only they can provide the computations that needed. Brigham Young University has a long collaboration history with NOAA and its institutes. Both ultra high resolution ocean sigma-0 images and ultra high resolution wind retrieval systems have been developed by Brigham Young University. Therefore Brigham Young University would play a critical role in our project which relies heavily on work they have a demonstrated expertise in. They have a team of scientists working on ultra high resolution algorithms. They also have an expert ultra high resolution ocean sigma-0 images and ultra high resolution wind retrieval systems. Therefore Brigham Young University plays a critical role in this project which relies heavily on their expertise. Because of Brigham Young University?s extensive experience they are the only appropriate contractor for this project. Additionally, it is not the Government's intention to enter into a contract based on this notice or otherwise pay for information solicited. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP). This is a notice of intent to sole source only, and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the NOAA. NOAA will not accept unsolicited proposals in response to the subject of this request for capabilities statements. Vendors who believe they have this capability should respond in accordance with Numbered Note 22. The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred in responding to this notice. See numbered note 22.