REPLACE RADIOFAX WITH WEFAX

THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA'S) ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-BOULDER, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS) WESTERN DIVISION AND CENTRAL OPERATIONS, INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH DORCHESTER STRATEGY, LOCATED IN CAMBRIDGE, MARYLAND, FOR THE INSTALLATION, HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, LICENSING, AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT FOR A WEFAX SYSTEM TO BE PROVIDED AT COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND AND BOULDER, COLORADO.

THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON NOAA'S REQUIREMENT THAT DORCHESTER STRATEGY IS THE ONLY VENDOR THAT MANUFACTURES AND DISTRIBUTES WEFAX. NOAA SENDS OUT SIGNALS TO THE US COAST GUARD TO MAKE WEATHER MAPS AVAILABLE TO MARINERS. THE VENDOR THAT PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED THE RADIOFAX SYSTEM HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS AND NOAA HAS DETERMINED THAT DORCHESTER STRATEGY IS THE ONLY SOURCE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING NOAA/US COAST GUARD RADIOFAX SYSTEM.

DORCHESTER STRATEGY HAS THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE HARDWARE NEEDED TO TIE INTO THE US COAST GUARD SYSTEMS, PROVIDE THE LICENSING AND SOFTWARE FOR A NEW WEFAX SYSTEM, AND PROVIDE MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF THE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE FOR 12 MONTHS AFTER ACCEPTANCE OF INSTALLATION. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE IS ANTICIPATED TO BE 6 MONTHS INSTALLATION AND 12 MONTHS MAINTENANCE.

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.