The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Region Acquisitions Division- Kansas City office intends to award, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106(b)(1), with Vaisala, Inc. in Louisville, CO a purchase order for five (5) RVP900 digital receivers for the National Weather Service (NWS) Radar Operations Center (ROC) Engineering Division in Norman, OK.

The Government intends to utilize the authority under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b)(1), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will statisfy agency requirements, unless, as a result of this announcement, acceptable responses to this notice are received and a determination is made by the Government to issue a competitive solicitation. The Government intends to award a purchase order to Vaisala, Inc.

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION:

In 2014 the National Weather Service sought commercial designs that met the WSR-88D system requirements for the replacement of the previous receiver with a modern digital receiver. Multiple vendors were solicited and reviewed. Vaisala was contracted for the

replacement of the digital deceiver, selecting the RVP900 as the successor to the previous receiver. The RVP900 is the current digital receiver utilized in the WSR-88D. Due to the proprietary nature of the digital receiver, Vaisala is the sole source capable of providing the RVP900. Vaisala announced the end-of-life status of the RVP900 and gave the ROC notice of five (5) newly manufactured IFDRs that are currently set aside for purchase by the Government.

The NEXRAD program currently has 18 RVP900sin stock, with a usage rate of three (3) per year. That number alone provides support beyond 2028 for the RVP900. However, if the usage rate increases beyond three (3) – a likely situation given the age of the RVP900sin the WSR-88D is approaching 10 years – then there will not be enough RVP900s to support the WSR-88D through 2028. ROC Engineering believes purchasing additional RVP900s increases the likelihood that the IFDR can be maintained through 2028. This allows time for ROC Engineering to determine a path forward to ensure the WSR-88D operates through 2035.

This special notice is not a request for competitive offerors and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can provide this supply may submit substantiating documentation in writing within fifteen business days of this notice. Responses can be sent via e-mail to Nikki.Radford@noaa.gov. 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 response to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. If no documentation is received, award will be made directly to Vaisala, Inc.

DOC, Eastern Region Acquisition Division requires that all contractors doing business with this office be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). No award can be made to a company not registered in SAM. For additional information and to register in SAM, please access the following web site: www.sam.gov.

All contractors must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) that is used to conduct business with the federal government. The Government has moved to a free new, non-proprietary identifier that will have to be requested in, and assigned by SAM. You can register and obtain a UEI by going to www.sam.gov.