NWS - AEROLOGICAL SOUNDING BALLOONS

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Eastern Acquisition Division (EAD), is conducting market research for the purpose of assessing the current and near future marketplace and potential vendors capable of providing up to 18,960 General Purpose 20 km (GP-20) aerological sounding balloons annually to support NWS radiosonde observations required by the Office of Observations (OBS) and its NWS Weather Forecast Offices. An aerological sounding balloon is a balloon used to carry radiosondes aloft. Radiosondes measure atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed, and wind direction from the surface to an altitude of approximately 30,000 meters. The radiosonde observations are a critical source of meteorological data for weather forecast models. The NWS radiosonde observations provide atmospheric observations for development of watches, warnings, weather forecasts and aviation support. The NOAA/NWS publishes 3-hour, 6-hour, 12-hour, 24-hour, and 48-hour upper level atmospheric models for watches, warnings, forecasts, and aviation support.

The aerological sounding balloons are launched at all 102 NWS Upper-Air sites and thus must survive a wide variety of launch and flight weather conditions, while providing an average ascent rate of 5 m/s for accurate sensor measurements. The aerological sounding balloon performance is critical to accurate sensor readings on the supported radiosonde observations. The aerological sounding balloon performance specification provides the radiosonde sensors with optimal ascent rate and burst altitude necessary for reliable and accurate radiosonde observations.

Attached to this Contract Opportunity are a specifications document and a Sources Sought Notice document. Please review and respond by the deadline confirming your interest in and capability of providing supplies as described in the specifications document.