Evaluation of Dangerours Thunderstorm Alerts Product

The National Oceanic & 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 Earth Networks, Inc. to conduct an independent evaluation of the ENI Dangerous Thunderstorm Alerts (DTA) product at the request of the National Weather Service (NWS) and in support of the NWS mission to improve nationwide warning lead times for severe weather events. The sole source determination is based on an existing contract with ENI for "raw" (non-value-added) total lightning data (contract number DG-133W-12-CN-0072) but not for the "processed" DTA algorithms and products. These DTA products are built upon the pre-existing, NOAA-contracted total lightning data, and no other company delivers products derived from this dataset. The purpose of this sole source contract is to allow an independent evaluation of these DTA products and algorithms that are derived from the approved total lightning data now being used by NWS forecasters. Period of performance: Twenty four months after time of award. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals; however, firms that believe they can provide equipment that fully meets 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 compete this proposed effort on a competitive basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.