A -- Prototype of New Peer into the Waterways Information Network

The United States Coast Guard Research & Development Center intends to negotiate and award a sole-source contract to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) at The College of William and Mary for research into improving short- and long-term predictions of phenomena that affect the Lower Chesapeake Bay and the port of Hampton Roads. Under the contract, VIMS will implement an observing system that will validate accurate and timely model predictions, and conduct related research. This system will provide simultaneous measurements of winds, waves, currents, water density, nutrients, water quality, biological indices and fish stocks under all conditions. The system will provide data that will be assimilated into state of the art numerical models. Observational data and linked computational models will be accessible in real-time and at high-speed through a web portal. These predictions will guide management of natural resources, enable planning for extreme events, facilitate safe and efficient maritime operations, support homeland security and advance science and education. The motivation for this program is driven by operational needs to provide better predictions of hazards in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay for use by the Coast Guard, and other operational users including the general public. Support for this program is included in the Senate Budget Report for Transportation (S. Rpt. 107-224) under the category Coast Guard-Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation with the following language “Meteorological and Marine Observation Systems.--Within the funds provided, $250,000 is included for a prototype observation system in the Lower Chesapeake Bay. The determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract based upon response to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct future competitive procurement(s). This notice is for informational purposes for Minority, Women-Owned and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (BDEs): The Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), has a program to assist minority, women-owned and disadvantaged business enterprises to acquire short term working capital assistance for transportation related contracts. For information concerning the acquisition, contact the contracting official listed above. See notes 22 and 26.