Sources Sought The National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Earth System Research Laboratory, Global Monitoring Division (ESRL/GMD) (hereinafter referred to as the Government) located in Boulder, Colorado is currently conducting market research to determine sources for a one handed balloon launch pay out reel or unwinder with 120 feet of string to support up to 5.5 pound packages of ozonesonde and water vapor instrumentation. The launch reel is a ratchet device that connects the instrumentation package to the balloon that lets out about 120 feet of string at around 1 foot per second after the balloon has been launched to increase the distance between the balloon borne package and the balloon during the ascent. This allows one person to easily launch the balloon package without having to handle a long line at the surface when attempting to launch the balloon. A typical balloon launch component list from top to bottom would be balloon, parachute, payout reel, then instrumentation. The balloon launch reel would be expendable and travel with the balloon. A picture of a legacy unit can be obtained in the attachments (package) to this notice or by contacting Bill Cushman at
[email protected] or (303) 497-6072 that meets the Government's requirements. The Government is not committed to any one design and will entertain all designs that meet the requirements listed below. The Government anticipates award of a contract for approximately 300 balloon launch payout reels per year as a 1-year base period contract followed by three 1-year option periods. The anticipated North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) for this requirement is 332618 (Other Fabricated Wire Product Manufacturing) and the small business size standard is 500 employees. Background: A reliable balloon launch reel is critical when considering the value of the payload it is assisting in launching. Each ozonesonde launch costs approximately $700. When a water vapor sensor is added to the suite, the cost is $2,600. If a balloon launch reel fails or slips and allows the payload to fall, the typical result is the sensors smashing into the ground and breaking without possibility of repair. Draft Statement of Work Requirements: The Contractor shall provide a system that have all the following features and/or meet the following minimum description/performance requirements: 1. 120 feet of payout string / string diameter of at least 0.031 inches / string test strength of at least 50 pounds 2. One handed operation 3. Must be able to support 5.5 pounds 4. Overall weight of apparatus must be below .5 pounds 5. Maximum string payout rate must not exceed 2ft/second RFI Instructions: This is not a solicitation; it is only a Request for Information (RFI). The purpose of the RFI is to determine (1) whether there are sources capable of satisfying the Government's requirements and (2) to determine whether these services are provided by the commercial market. No proposals are being requested or accepted under this synopsis. Interested sources must provide information regarding their capabilities to provide balloon launch reels that meet the above requirements. At a minimum, responders shall submit the following information: (1) Statement explaining how the responder's balloon payout reel meets the requirements; (2) Provide DUNS or CAGE number. NOAA will consider all comments, supportive or critical, but may or may not use these individual comments. Qualification statements will be treated separately from, and will have no bearing on, any subsequent evaluation of proposals submitted in response to any resulting future formal Request for Proposals. NOAA will not pay for information or comments provided and will not recognize any costs associated with submission of comments. NOAA, as noted above, is assessing the existence of sources and is requesting written comments from industry on the attached requirements. Written comments or e-mail messages shall be received no later than 4:00PM Mountain Standard Time, Thursday, December 31, 2009. Sources interested in providing comments shall respond in writing to Bill Cushman, GMD, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305. Submittals may also be sent by e-mail to
[email protected]. Telephone responses are not acceptable. This notice is not a Request for Proposals, Invitation for Bids, or Request for Quotes. It is a Request for Information and is part of the Government's market research process.