In the absence of other qualified sources, it is the intent of the Arctic Research Group of the Physical Sciences Division (PSD) of the Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to negotiate on a sole source basis with the University of Wisconsin located at 1225 W. Dayton St., Madison, WI, 53706 for the use of their High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) for data collection for operations at a high Arctic observation site in Eureka, Canada. This is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this action based on this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Any information received in response to this notice will be considered for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Interested parties who believe they can meet the agency?s requirements are requested to submit, in writing, an affirmative response demonstrating their technical capabilities. To be considered an affirmative response, the response must include detailed technical information and other technical literature demonstrating the ability to meet the stated requirements. Interested parties must address each of the mandatory requirements listed in sufficient detail to permit agency analysis to establish a bona fide capability to meet requirements. Failure to submit documentation will result in the agency proceeding as stated above. All affirmative responses shall be received by 4:00 P.M., Mountain Standard Time, on June 18, 2007 to
[email protected]. BACKGROUND: NOAA operates a major climate research site in the high Arctic as part of NOAA?s Study for Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) program. NOAA is one of eight federal agencies participating in the implementation of SEARCH. With a mission to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet the Nation's economic, social and environmental needs, NOAA has a particularly important role to play in SEARCH. The SEARCH facility in Eureka, Canada currently has a University of Wisconsin (UW) owned HSRL operating at its site. The UW has provided NOAA with the analysis of the HSRL data since August of 2005. This new acquisition effort requires the UW to continue to house their lidar in Eureka, Canada and provide the same data and analysis to NOAA over a five year period. These measurements include all backscatter cross section, optical depth and depolarization data collected by the lidar. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The contract to be negotiated is for a base period of one year, followed by four 1-year option periods. SOLE SOURCE: NOAA has determined that the UW is the only contractor that can satisfy its requirements. Only UW can provide the lidar to collect the data required by NOAA. Besides being able to meet the other requirements listed below, UW has the only lidar that is known to be able to take unattended lidar measurements 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week. In addition, UW has the ability to retrieve cloud micro-physical properties from the HSRL data and correlate these data with three other instruments currently operating in Eureka: a millimeter cloud radar, a microwave radiometer, and a polar atmospheric emitted radiation interferometer. Dr. Ed Eloranta , one of the world?s leading experts on high spectral resolution lidars, currently leads UW?s Lidar Group. Dr. Eloranta and his team developed their lidar through National Science Foundation (NSF) funding and have proven its unique ability to monitor cloud properties in the Arctic. UW's Unique Qualifications: ? The HSRL is capable of unattended lidar measurements 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Unattended operation is critical in order obtain a continuous data record from the lidar for use in climate studies. There is only one person located at this site that is in charge of monitoring a large number of instruments and can not be expected to watch over any single instrument more than the rest. This instrument will be operating at a high Arctic site where weather conditions may restrict the on-site personnel from being able to check on the instruments for extended periods of time. ? Availability of lidar for a minimum of 5 years ? The HSRL is able to measure a separate molecular scattering profile along with the standard lidar profile. This provides an absolute calibration and eliminates the need to make assumptions about the nature of the scattering media. ? The High Spectral Resolution Lidar is capable of automated data processing using the measured direct reference molecular scattering. ? The transmitter and receiver shares the same 0.4 m diameter telescope maintaining alignment of the laser beam with the receiver field of view to perturbations at the 10 rad level ? Laser power (minimum level: 200mW outgoing power). ? Total stability of the laser light frequency has to be better then ?100MHz. ? Asynchronous Data Push detectors. ? Field-of-view better than 50 ?rad. ? Twice a day automatic self-calibrated receiver channels. ? Lidar must fit in instrument container currently installed in Eureka, Canada (~8?x4? space). ? Lidar specifications: Wavelength------------------------ 532 nm (locked to line 1109 of iodine) Laser pulse width----------------- 40 ns Repetition rate--------------------- 4 kHz Receiver spectral bandpass---------- 6 GHz (pressure tuned etalon) Aerosol blocking filter bandwidth-- 1.8 GHz (line 1109 of iodine spectrum) Data acquisition---------------------- Photon counting Altitude resolution------------------ 7.5 m, (i.e.50 nsec bin width) Typical time resolution-------------- 2.5 s (programmable) This is not a formal solicitation. This notice may represent the only notice.