***The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Acquisition & Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division-Boulder (WAD), Global Monitoring Lab (GML), intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with JH Acquisition, LLC located in Westminster, CO for 2Z-V7 Ozonesondes to be delivered to Boulder, CO.

***The sole source determination is based on NOAA’s requirement that JH Acquisition, LLC is the only vendor that manufactures and distributes this ozonesonde. JH Acquisition, LLC (EN-SCI) and Science Pump Corporation (New Jersey) are the only manufacturers of ECC ozonesondes. Science Pump uses a different radiosonde (the Vaisala RS41) which cannot be used with the NOAA ground station systems. Science Pump and Vaisala requires the Vaisala DigiCora receiving station and software in order to collect and analyze data. The electronics and software from Vaisala are proprietary and cannot be modified to our current ground station setups.

JH Acquisition, LLC d.b.a. EN-SCI and Science Pump Corporation both manufacture the basic ozonesonde (pump and ozone sensor mounted on metal frame). The Science Pump instrument requires the Vaisala RS41 radiosonde model and accompanying Vaisala interface board which are not compatible with GML’s established network of ground stations and would require purchase of new ground stations for 8 locations.

Delivery within 8 weeks from date of award.

***This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can fully meet 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 conduct a competitive procurement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.