UMRB Drought Dashboard and used in weekly drought assessments.

SPECIAL NOTICE 145044-24-0028SRG

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Acquisition & Grants Office, Western Acquisition Division-Boulder, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with the University of Montana of Missoula, MT for the nonpersonal services, technical support in conjunction with both at the University of Montana and Montana Climate Office, as part of their work to support the Upper Missouri River Basin (UMRB) Data Value Study to Quantitatively assess the relative value of assimilating observed soil moisture datasets into soil moisture models to enhance soil moisture predictions across the UMRB and for the Development of an operationalized daily map product, based on the results form Task 1, providing the most accurate estimate of soil moisture across the UMRB.

These data will be directly integrated into the UMRB Drought Dashboard and used in weekly drought assessments. The deliverable would be an operationalized daily map product. The work would be completed in Missoula, MT.

The sole source determination is based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), Climate Control Office (CPO) requirement with the UMRB is for utilization of the Univeristy‘s designed, operated and maintained UMRB Drought Dashboard and Montana Mesonet Program which manags a series of weather stations around the state.

The Montance Climate office (MCO) completed a first-in-kind comprehensive assessment of operational soil moisture models for drought assessment across the U.S. (in revision at Water Resources Research). The proposed work will directly leverage this NIDIS-led: National Integrated Drought Information System-ledNIDIS-funded effort and improve upon the model identified as the most accurate (SPoRT-LIS). As such, the MCO is distinctly positioned to conduct this data assimilation effort.

The MCO maintains strong relationships with NASA representatives and has unique access to the SPoRT-LIS datasets (the historical data is not currently available to the public); without this previously acquired data archive, this analysis would be impossible. Finally, the MCO is the party responsible for the build-out of the Montana Mesonet, and therefore has ready access to, and intimate knowledge about, all datasets/metadata collected by the network.

No other source has all of these required components needed to complete this project (e.g. access to modeled and observed data/metadata, intimate knowledge of their application and utility, and state-recognized authority required to provide technology transfer across Montana and the UMRB. The period of performance will be from the date of award through 9/30/2025.

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.