InterMet IMET-54-AS Radiosondes

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Acquisition & Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division-Boulder (WAD), Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), Earth Systems Research Laboratories (ESRL), Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML), intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with International Met Systems Inc (InterMet) located in Grand Rapids, MI for the purchase of 100 IMET-54-AS research radiosondes to be delivered to Boulder, CO.

The sole source determination is based on NOAA’s requirement that InterMet is the only vendor that manufactures and distributes the IMET-54-AS radiosonde. InterMet is the only manufacturer of a radiosonde that is compatible with GML’s En-Sci electrochemical concentration cell (ECC) ozonesondes for electronic interface and software to decode the radiosonde meteorological data.

Other radiosondes are not compatible with the existing system (form, fit, and function), and would require substantial modification to the system. This would require additional cost to the Government for modification, software, and training at all sites. The InterMet radiosondes will be modified with an external power cable, that will interface with the GML’s ECC instrument. The radiosonde and ECC instrument are the two necessary components that make up the ECC balloon-borne ozonesonde package.

This ozonesonde has been used since the 1980s to monitor ozone in the upper atmosphere through weekly balloon launches at up to nine sites including Fiji, American Samoa, Hawaii, California, Colorado, and the South Pole. The InterMet radiosondes are designed to interface directly to the ECC instrument electronics board and then transmit all in-flight data to our low-cost radio-receiver ground station.

The data is then processed with GML’s data acquisition software (SkySonde) and uploaded to NOAA and other databases to monitor the health of the stratospheric ozone layer in high resolution layers. This InterMet radiosonde will have an external power cable modification that will primarily be used at South Pole Station, where the operators typically need to turn the radiosonde power on and off.

The long-term data set of ozone and temperature profiles makes a significant contribution to world-wide ground-based and satellite measurements of total column ozone to understand the health of the ozone layer and effects of ozone-depleting substances. Understanding the production and fate of ozone and the compounds that deplete it has been and remains a focal point of GML research. GML has undertaken tremendous efforts to remain transparent and consistent in maintaining long-term observation records. These records are unique to NOAA and are not found anywhere else in the world. Delivery within 90 days 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.