A -- CHAMBER SYSTEM FOR MEASUREMENT OF RADON EFFLUX

The U. S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory (CMDL) proposes to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), with Stanford University for a chamber system for measurement of radon efflux from the soil and a soil gas diffusion model. The proposed chamber system is an open-top chamber that should minimize pressure effects, and the walls shall be of clear plastic to minimize the effect of the chamber on the microclimate at the soil surface. It shall be attached at the bottom to with a metal ring approximately 1 meter in diameter that is imbedded in the soil. The chamber shall be ventilated by natural convection. The chamber system shall use a second gas introduced at the soil surface at a known flux to quantify the ventilation of the chamber. Since radon and the tracer gas are transported similarly by the ventilation of the chamber, then the covariation of the concentration of the tracer with that of radon can be used to scale the radon flux to the tracer flux. The purpose of developing a chamber system for measuring radon efflux from the soil is to calibrate and test a soil efflux model. The resulting efflux model can be incorporated into global and mesoscale atmospheric transport models to simulate radon flux into the atmosphere from the land surface. Measurements of radon and CO2 concentration in the free atmosphere made from tall towers and aircraft will be used together with these radon flux simulations to quantify net CO2 flux from the land surface, and to trace atmospheric transport. This measurement strategy will be a key component of the North American Carbon Program.This procurement is being conducted per FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures (NTE $100K). This synopsis is issued for information only. No competitive solicitation is planned. Information submitted in response to this notice shall be used solely to determine whether or not use of competitive procedures to fulfill this requirement would be in the Government's best interest and shall address qualifications pertinent to this requirement. Any questions regarding this notice shall be submitted in writing to Ms. Rima (e-mail preferred). Anticipated award date is September 9, 2005.