NOAA CoastWatch Central Professional Science Support Services   3

The purpose of this SSN Amendment 1 is to (1) update the NAICS Code for which DOC is seeking sources for this requirment from "541990" to "541715"; and (2) to clarify that submissions are limited to 10 PDF pages. The initial SSN description is updated below.

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The Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) is considering a professional program science support services contract to support its CoastWatch/OceanWatch/PolarWatch Program (hereafter, CoastWatch ) at its College Park, MD facility. The Government's objective is to continue providing professional program science support to STAR's CoastWatch Central in order to maintain and enhance present capabilities with respect to ongoing improvements in the scientific development and utilization of improved new and emerging data products (satellite et al.) and services, as well as engage in the evolution of operational satellite oceanography. This includes developing and maintaining quality assurance practices, science maintenance capabilities that underpin the validity of products and services, and supporting the transition from research, to broader routine user uptake and sustained utilization of ocean remote sensing data products and applications. The acquisition will be implemented using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology). The applicable classification code is R425 Support-Professional: Engineering/Technical.

Specific objectives for such a project may include:

• New Satellite Products and Applications Development;
• Calibration/Validation Support and Research to Operational Applications Data Product Transition and Science Maintenance Support;
• CoastWatch User Support, Training, and Outreach; and
• Scientific Program Support

The DOC/NOAA/STAR is conducting this Sources Sought to identify certified 8(a) contractors who possess the capabilities to provide services as specified above and to determine their availability, capability, and adequacy. The Government intends to conduct a limited competition amongst only those eligible certified 8(a) firms who respond to this notice. If your firm may be interested in this requirement, is a certified 8(a) firm for the NAICS code 541715 (1,000 employees according to https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2019-08/SBA%20Table%20of%20Size%20Standards_Effective%20Aug%2019%2C%202019_Rev.pdf), and has performed similar projects, we request the information shown below. An organization that is not considered an 8(a) firm under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice.

As permitted by FAR Part 10, this is a market research tool being utilized for informational and planning purposes. Your responses will assist the Government in the development of its acquisition strategy for a possible Request for Proposal (RFP), to be issued at a later date.

This notice shall not be construed as a RFP or as any commitment or obligation on the part of the Government to issue a solicitation. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this request, so proposals will not be considered. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this synopsis or any follow-up information requests.

It is mandatory to submit a response to this notice to participate in any formal RFP process that may take place in the future. All interested parties will be required to respond separately to any solicitations posted as a result of this sources sought notice.

Submission Instructions: Responses via email are due NLT April 23, 2021 at 4pm EDT to Todd Blose, Contracting Officer, at todd.blose@noaa.gov and must include the information requested below. Responses greater than 10 PDF pages (including all attachments) will not be considered. Late responses will not be accepted. This is strictly market research and the Government will not entertain any questions.

Respondents will not be notified of the results of the review. We appreciate your interest and thank you in advance for responding to the Sources Sought.

Qualified firms shall submit a statement of interest on company letterhead demonstrating the firm's qualifications to perform the defined work. Responses must be complete and sufficiently detailed to address the specific information. The documentation shall address, at a minimum, the following:

1. Company Profile to include:
   1. Company name and address;
   2. Affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, and potential teaming partners;
   3. Year the firm was established and number of employees;
   4. Two points of contact (names, titles, phone numbers and email addresses);
   5. DUNS number and CAGE Code, as registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at http://www.sam.gov/:
   6. Small Business designation/status (must correlate with SAM registration): [ ] Small business [ ] HUBZone [ ] WOSB [ ] 8(a) [ ] VOSB [ ] SDVOSB [ ] Small Disadvantaged Business
2. Provide at least three recent (i.e. performed within the past three years from the issuance of this notice) and relevant (i.e. of a similar type, size, scope, and complexity of work to the planned scope outlined in this notice) examples of historical contracts and briefly describe the work performed under said contracts and demonstrate the relevance of the work performed to the requirement(s) scope outlined in this notice.