The U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA is requesting proposals for a requirements type contract for expendable GPS dropwindsondes for the Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) located at Tampa, FL. The GPS dropwindsonde is an expendable meteorological instrument package, part of the Airborne Vertical Atmospheric profiling System (AVAPS), used on the NOAA/AOC Jet, NOAA/AOC WP-3Ds Air Force C-130 and NASA P3 aircraft. The dropwindsonde contains measurement and navigation assemblies. The approved design of this instrument has been provided by Vaisala, Inc. and is proprietary. The vendor receiving the award for the manufacture of this instrument will not be able to reproduce the instrument for sale to other entities other than NOAA and those agencies included in the contract. The required GPS dropwindsonde must fully meet NCAR/SSSF drawings and specifications that will be included in the solicitation. The Met Sensor Module (RSS9011Z) and GPS Module (GPS121 shall be sourced or produced under license to Vaisala. The Government intends to award a contract beginning November 2003 for a base year and four option years. Delivery of the dropwindsondes shall begin 90 days after receipt of a delivery order and continue at a minimum rate of 200 units per month until the order is complete. Estimated order quantity is 3000 units per years. The Government will base its award on the following factors: Price; Past performance with aircraft launched instrumentation; past performance with aircraft launched weather instrumentation. The Government reserves the right to make an award without holding discussions with the offerors. The solicitation will be available on or about July 9, 2003. Firms interested in receiving a copy of the solicitation should send a written request to the contracting officer, referencing this announcement number. Requests may be made by fax (816) 426-7530) or e-mail. This action is not set-aside for small business.

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