Vaisala DA10-DIAL

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Acquisition & Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division-Boulder (WAD), Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Vaisala Inc. located in Louisville, CO for one (1) DA10 high-performance differential absorption lidar (DIAL) to be delivered to Norman, OK.

The sole source determination is based on NOAA’s requirement that Vaisala Inc. is the only vendor that manufactures and distributes their DA10-DIAL atmospheric profiler.

The NSSL and University of Oklahoma (OU) have begun to address this need through the development of the Collaborative Lower Atmosphere Mobile Profiling System (CLAMPS) that includes a microwave radiometer and an atmospheric emitted radiance interferometer (AERI) for profiling temperature & humidity, as well as a scanning Doppler lidar (DL) for measuring the winds and radiosonde capabilities.

Additional development to meet NSSL mission goals has led to the development of a more nimble truck-mounted system based on the CLAMPS system currently comprising only a DL and radiosonde capabilities. The NSSL’s boundary layer profiling ecosystem is centered on a framework revolving around remote access and monitoring with automated data workflows.

To best complement the current capabilities of NSSL systems and fill critical observation gaps, the instrument must provide high quality water vapor profiles throughout the lower atmosphere. At present the suite of instruments operated at NSSL do not provide much information content for water vapor in the boundary layer. The Vaisala DA10-DIAL Atmospheric Profiler is the only product that can meet the Government’s requirements.

Water vapor dial provides the only method to advance remote sensing capability to measure moisture in the low levels of the atmosphere, where elusive storm processes and primers are present. Information from this layer is required to advance process understanding of rapidly evolving processes ahead of severe storms, especially linear storms.

Moisture also is one of the most impactful variables boundary layer profilers can provide to data assimilation efforts, so improving these observations is also essential to continue improving severe storm prediction. Without water vapor dial the NSSL’s capability to meet lab objectives will be decreased and delayed.

Specifically not acquiring this system will hinder researchers capability and tools available to advance the understanding of severe weather processes and the environments that favor their development; prevent advances in the lab’s capabilities to develop and deploy experimental mobile observing systems and techniques for targeted measurements of severe weather phenomena and in leading the broader research community in designing and conducting field campaigns to gather unique observations of severe weather phenomena, overcoming barriers to improved knowledge and understanding; and lastly may reduce outcomes from research to develop new forecast and warning technologies, techniques, and methods. Delivery within 8 weeks from date of award.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can fully meet the government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact within 15 days after publication of this synopsis. Such documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.