The Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposes to negotiate on a sole source basis a contract under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) with Agile Software Corporation for Agile/Oracle software maintenance and technical support for its proprietary configuration management software for the Radar Operations Center (ROC), Norman, Oklahoma. Background: The NEXRAD weather radar network is a Tri-agency (DOD, DOC, and DOT) funded and managed program. The use of the Agile software has enabled the members of the Configuration Change Board (CCB) to efficiently manage and track all technical information pertaining to the NEXRAD weather radar system configuration. In September of 1993, the Prime Contractor (Unisys) for the NEXRAD weather radar (then referred to as WSR-88D) delivered a database for Baseline Status Accounting. The product delivered was a front end application entitled “CMStat” that ran on an Ingress database engine. CMStat used a command line interface that was extremely difficult to use and poorly designed. Over time, the poorly designed CMStat application began to function extremely slow and failed to meet additional criteria being demanded by the Tri-Agency. In 1997 the ROC solicited bids for software to replace CMStat and Agile Software was awarded the contract. In addition to the procurement of the Agile software, in January of 1998 the Agile Software Corporation was contracted to assist the ROC Configuration Management personnel to map the existing data from the CMStat database to the Agile database. This effort required hundreds of man-hours to complete and test. An additional three months of dedicated staff hours were necessary to attach graphic files to the document object in the database and modify configuration management processes to the current status. The ROC uses Agile software to manage technical drawings, technical manuals, Engineering Change Proposals (ECP), Engineering Change Orders (ECO), Configuration Change Requests (CCR), Document Change Request (DCR), Artwork Change Order (ACO), CCB member comments, and electronic approval for modifications to the NEXRAD radar system. All of the above listed documentation is contained within the application and may be viewed by any individual having access to the Agile server. The Agile client software gives the end user the ability to view any documents stored in the application even if the software that generated the document does not reside on the local PC. The Agile software is an integral part of the ROC engineering process tracking and the primary tool used to manage the configuration of the NEXRAD weather radar system. Requirements: The ROC requires the delivery of all Agile server and client software upgrades and software patches that become available from the Agile Software Corporation. The ROC requires that all delivered Agile software be compatible with the existing Agile/Oracle database schema and must maintain the current software functionality. The ROC requires that all necessary Oracle server and client components and licensing be delivered with any Agile Software releases. The ROC requires unlimited telephone technical support for Agile server and client software and Oracle server and client software (as it relates to Agile software) be made available, at a minimum, during normal business hours Monday through Friday.This procurement is being conducted per FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures (under $100,000). FAR Clauses in full text are at http://www.ARNET.gov/far/. This synopsis is issued for information purposes only. Questions should be submitted in writing to the contracting officer either by fax or email. Any source that believes it can supply the required service should respond by submitting a written narrative statement of capability, including detailed technical information and other technical literature demonstrating the ability to meet the above requirements, within 15 days of this notice, to the above address. Information submitted in response to the notice will 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 must address qualifications pertinent to this requirement. Hard copy in full text available from office address and phone number listed in notice. Anticipated award date will be October 28, 2005.

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