***NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-BOULDER, OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH (OAR), GLOBAL MONITORING LABORATORY (GML), INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH PEAK DESIGN LTD. OUT OF DERBYSHIRE UNITED KINGDOM FOR FOUR HSR1 HYPERSPECTRAL RADIOMETERS.

***The sole source determination is based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) requirement Peak Design Ltd. is the sole provider of an instrument that will meet the requirements of the NOAA GML Global Radiation, Clouds and Aerosols Division (GRAD) for measurement of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and spectrally resolved global, diffuse, and direct solar radiation at the Earth’s surface, using one compact and easily portable spectroradiometer having a 350 to 1050nm spectral measurement range that requires no external solar trackers, shading bands, or moving parts and which is designed for automatic unattended operation with low power requirements.  There are no other instruments with all the characteristics of the Peak Design Ltd. HSR1 Hyperspectral Radiometer, or other providers of this particular instrument known to the purchaser and which has been tested in comparative evaluations.  Compatibility to existing systems or equipment, the required supplies must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with existing systems or equipment, and the source is uniquely qualified to meet the requirement.  We have operated the Peak design Ltd. HSR1 Hyperspectral Radiometer in a successful comparative evaluation at the Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program’s Southern Great Plains (SGP) research facility. The comparative evaluation involved instrumentation from other manufacturers that operate with motorized sun-pointing components and motorized shading bands. We need to use the HSR1 instrument in order to allow efficient utilization of the same or similar methods of AOD data analysis that were used in the SGP comparative evaluation. Additionally, the HSR1 dome, diffuser and internal shade mask optical components are identical to those used in the SPN1 model instruments that were previously purchased from Dinamica, Inc. and are being successfully used for portable operation in GRAD RADSYS systems for broadband shortwave solar radiation measurement. The internal spectral measurement components in the HSR1 are different from those in the SPN1 and provide spectrally resolved irradiance signals from each of the individual diffusers. The Peak design Ltd. HSR1 Hyperspectral Radiometer is the only instrument that provides global and diffuse spectrally resolved solar radiation data from the Earth’s surface, utilizing a customized shading mask internal to the dome, from which AOD and direct normal solar irradiance spectral data can be obtained in an automatic, unattended, compact and readily deployable form that requires no moving parts, external solar trackers, external shading devices, solar alignment, or geographic-north alignment. Instruments from other manufacturers that are used to determine aerosol optical depth continuously during the daytime utilize various mechanical configurations including solar trackers or rotating shading bands. This particular brand name is essential to the requirement and market research indicates similar products do not meet or cannot be modified to meet agency needs. The delivery date for these instruments is 9/30/2024 to Boulder, CO.

***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.