NWS Commercial Aircraft Based Observations Data Buy Support

The US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Acquisition and Grants Office, Eastern Acquisition Division and the National Weather Service, using the procedures set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12 - Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services and FAR Part 15 - Contracting by Negotiation, intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Collins (formerly ARINC) Incorporated, for a firm-fixed price procurement for observations of wind, temperature, and humidity Meteorological Data and Reporting System and Water Vapor Sensor System data which includes atmospheric observations from commercial aircraft, through the use of commercial aircraft and on-board meteorological sensors, leading to the improved understanding of the structure of the atmospheric water vapor, temperature, wind, and pressure, as these data are critical to the prediction of thunderstorms, flash floods, hail, tornados, clouds, icing, and climate.