Commercial Data Program (CDP) Microwave Sounder (MWS) Data Buy

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document contains questions and answers related to the Commercial Data Program (CDP) Microwave Sounder (MWS) Data Buy, RFP 1332KP26R0007. It serves to clarify requirements and provide responses to vendor inquiries.

This document is a template for submitting questions and answers. The actual questions and NOAA's responses are not populated in the provided text. It outlines the structure for RFP Reference, Page No., Question/Comment, and NOAA Response.

As the Q&A content is not provided, there is no impact on the solicitation to report at this time. This form is intended to facilitate clarification of the RFP.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To acquire commercial, near-real-time Microwave Sounder (MWS) data, including optional hyperspectral observations, from on-orbit MWS systems. This data will support operational data assimilation, short-term forecast improvement, tropical cyclone monitoring, precipitation-related applications, and environmental hazard assessment.

• Supply Microwave Sounder (MWS) L1B/L1C observation data from one or more on-orbit satellites.

• Provide derived geophysical products including Atmospheric Vertical Temperature Profile, Atmospheric Vertical Moisture Profile, Precipitation contributor, Atmospheric Vertical Wind Profile contributor, and Select Land & Hydrology Products contributor.

• Data should support all-weather atmospheric temperature and moisture profiling, tropical cyclone observations, and related operational applications.

• Deliver data products in formats and content fully compatible with NOAA's operational processing and assimilation systems (e.g., ATMS).

• Maintain continuous and contiguous near-real-time delivery of data.

• Data availability: Target of at least 70% average data availability at the constellation level.

• Latency: L1B product latency of microwave soundings must meet or exceed specified requirements (e.g., <= 60 minutes).

• Data Quality: Meet or exceed threshold requirements for Noise Equivalent Delta Temperature (NEDT) and radiometric calibration accuracy.

• Coverage: Provide data covering at least 75% of the region, averaged over the platform's orbital coverage.

• Total period of performance: Approximately 12 months from award.

• Phase 1: Preparation (3 months)

• Phase 2: Data Delivery / Observation Period (6 or 12 months)

• Phase 3: Data Evaluation Period (3 months)

• Place of performance is not explicitly stated but implies data acquisition from on-orbit satellites.

• Security: Comply with Federal and international IT security frameworks (NIST, ISO, COBIT).

• Data Delivery: Use HTTPS or SFTP, compliant with NESDIS specifications.

• Data Rights: Grant NOAA a perpetual, non-exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license to use, reproduce, and create NOAA derived and value-added products. NOAA has the right to distribute data to U.S. Government agencies, foreign partners, and research centers.

• Documentation: Provide technical documentation including Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents (ATBDs), characterization/quality control data, calibration reports, user guides, and instrument descriptions.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or services to acquire commercial, near-real-time Microwave Sounder (MWS) radiance data, including optional hyperspectral observations, from on-orbit MWS systems. This acquisition is a full and open competition, reserved for one small business concern.

• The "Statement of Work" (Attachment 1) details the requirements for the items to be acquired.

• Deliverables include technical documentation, data format specifications, sample data, and engineering support for data ingestion and processing.

• The contractor shall deliver 24 hours of sample data for testing and adjustment of delivery and data flow processes.

• Phase 2 involves a series of data deliveries over 6 to 12 months.

• Phase 3 involves the contractor being available for limited engineering or technical support during government evaluation of supplied datasets.

• The Government intends to award one or more Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contracts.

• The base period of performance is from 06/01/2026 to 05/31/2027.

• The estimated contract value is not explicitly stated, but the NAICS code (518210) has a small business size standard of $40.0 million.

• Proposals are due by 2:00 PM Eastern Time on April 22, 2026.

• Questions regarding the RFP are due by 2:00 PM Eastern Time on April 10, 2026.

• Proposals must be submitted electronically via email to Suzanna Espinoza (suzanna.espinoza@noaa.gov) and Cherron E. Bennett-Pettus (cherron.bennett-pettus@noaa.gov).

• The evaluation will be based on Technical Capability (significantly more important than Price) and Price.

• Offerors must have operational capabilities to provide data at the time the RFP is released.

• Proposals exceeding minimum requirements may receive a higher technical rating if enhancements are advantageous to the Government.

• This acquisition is a full and open competition, RESERVED for one small business concern.

• The NAICS code is 518210 (Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services) with a small business size standard of $40.0 million.

• The solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference, including FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-2, 52.212-3, and 52.212-4.

• Attachment 1: Statement of Work

• Attachment 2: Price / Availability Schedule

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a pricing schedule, specifically an Excel spreadsheet, intended for bidders to provide their total price by phase for different data product levels. It is labeled as 'Attachment 2_Price Schedule v1.xlsx'.

• The pricing schedule is divided into phases: Preparation (3 Months), Data Delivery (12 Months), and Evaluation (3 Months).
• It includes columns for 'MWS Total Price by Phase for Level 0 and 1 Data Products' and 'MWS Total Price by Phase for Level 2 Data Products'.
• It also includes optional columns for 'HyMS Total Price by Phase for Level 0 and 1 Data Products' and 'HyMS Total Price by Phase for Level 2 Data Products'.
• A 'Total' row is provided for summing up prices across all phases.
• All provided values in the sample data are $0.0 for all phases and data product types.

Bidders must use this pricing schedule to detail their proposed costs for the opportunity. They need to fill in the appropriate cells corresponding to the different phases and data product levels, including any optional HyMS pricing if applicable. This document is critical for proposal preparation and will likely be a key component of the evaluation process.