Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

THIS IS A SMALL BUSINESS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS, PROPOSAL ABSTRACTS, OR QUOTATIONS, NOR DOES IT GUARANTEE A SOLICITATION WILL BE ISSUED. REQUESTS FOR A SOLICIT... THIS IS A SMALL BUSINESS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS, PROPOSAL ABSTRACTS, OR QUOTATIONS, NOR DOES IT GUARANTEE A SOLICITATION WILL BE ISSUED. REQUESTS FOR A SOLICITATION WILL NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. The requirement is assigned a code of 517410 in the NAICS, and the size standard for such requirement is $35 million per annum. Responses should also include an indication of current certified business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferably placed under the eligible small business concern's name and address) as well as the eligible business name, point of contact, address and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. Any information submitted in response to this Sources Sought Announcement is strictly voluntary. The Government will neither award a contract solely based on this notice, nor pay for any information submitted by respondents. This notice is a request by the Government to collect information from interested vendors for the purpose of market research. Failing to provide a response to this announcement will not prohibit/exclude an interested vendor from participating in a future solicitation. A. Background The Department of Commerce (DOC), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) manages and funds a commercially provided operational re-broadcast of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES), Joint Polar Satellite System polar imagery as well and other external non-NOAA environmental products. This rebroadcast is named GEONETCast-Americas (GNC-A) and provides broadcast coverage to most of North America and all of the continental U.S., South America, Central America and the Caribbean Basin since its operational inception in spring of 2008. GNC-A is a low-cost, global environmental information delivery system that transmits satellite and in-situ data, products, and services to users through commercial TV satellites, using multicast, and access-controlled broadband capability. The GNC-A broadcast is a part of the GEONETCast community including EUMETCast (EUMETSAT) and CMACast (Chinese Meteorological Agency). NOAA is seeking capable small business vendors to provide commercial satellite data broadcast service to most of North America and all of the continental United States, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean Basin in order to deliver environmental data as part of an integrated global system named GEONETCast (GNC). GNC is a near real time, global network of satellite-based data dissemination systems designed to distribute space-based, air-borne and in situ data, metadata and products to diverse communities. Data and products are received by a data management system uplink server(s) and broadcast by a commercial satellite telecommunications service provider to low cost, user receive terminals located under the footprint of the satellite broadcast. B. Purpose and Objectives Ensure continuity operations of the GNC-A system, which is defined as the ingest, processing, encapsulation, uplink, downlink and receipt of data files via a commercial geostationary satellite transponder. C. Project Requirements The GNC-A system is considered a complete end-to-end service including all necessary telecommunications, hardware and software, and broadcast service supported by monitoring, reporting and system design improvement. The service begins with network connections allowing the acceptance or ingest of the content from the content providers and ending with the satellite downlink and confidence receive stations. It also includes the documentation of standard receive station specification and a setup guide. The end-to-end service shall include, but not be limited to the following: Sustainment of the current 20 Mbps broadcast rate Flexibility to possibly increase/decrease the bandwidth within scope DVB-S2 broadcast system that covers all of the Americas land mass to the extent possible, at a minimum the Contiguous United States (CONUS), Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Flexibility to possibly include an expansion of the geographic coverage of the broadcast (e.g. Pacific Ocean, Alaska, etc…). The capability to “unicast” data to GEONETCast Partners/Systems via the terrestrial internet or other telecommunication circuits. Telecommunications, internet or dedicated lines to accept all content input and output. All system hardware and software components necessary to receive, process, and transfer the GNC-A content to the satellite including network interfaces and security components. System and network administration (including IT security compliance). System monitoring including statistic gathering and online tools used to monitor the health of the system. Reporting on system performance, bandwidth utilization and IT Security. Applications management including the ability of Government personnel and partners to assist in the administration of the server datacasting application remotely (not to include the servers/operating systems). Configuration of Government laptop(s) and portable stations. User station and client management support to include, but not be limited to, the evaluation of the GNC-A receive stations documents and proposing recommendations on installation and components; specifically, for stations located in the vicinity of the ocean. 24x7x365 Help Desk support to the COR, NOAA managers and to GNC-A external partners. Engineering support to include developing new or expanded bandwidth management, unicast management, monitoring, and reporting and client system tools. Optional event and training support to include a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) system. Regular and ad hoc technical exchange meetings to discuss system and service status Assistance and training during the transition period and after software and system changes. The GNC-A processing system shall accept data and information from international and national providers over the internet and/or through dedicated ground circuits. The processing system shall accept content in all formats and thus shall be format independent. The GNC-A system shall prepare the content for dissemination in the DVB-S2 standard. The GNC-A system shall accept and disseminate encrypted data. The GNC-A shall disseminate data and information via a satellite broadcast to low cost, receive stations that can utilize off-the-shelf components in the footprint of the satellite broadcast. The system shall have the ability to target data to one or several user stations with the non-target stations not able to decrypt or archive the files. The GNC-A system shall also disseminate files through the internet or dedicated lines to the other GEONETCast regional providers, such as European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), China Meteorological Agency (CMA), Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet), and the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA). D. Anticipated Period of Performance The anticipated period of performance shall include a Base Period* from May 13, 2023 to May 12, 2024; and four (4) twelve (12) month option periods. *A planned phase-in period of approximately 90 days has been programmed into the performance period to allow for a smooth transition of services beginning February 13, 2023 to May 12, 2023 in the event the awardee is a non-incumbent and the start of each option period would fall on February 13 annually. If no phase-in is required; performance would start on May 13, 2023 with the start of each option period falling on May 13 annually. The Government anticipates approving a Brand Name justification supporting the KenCast FAZZT Server Application. The anticipated NAICS code, which the Government applies to this procurement, is 517410 “Satellite Telecommunications.” Part 1 below specifies the bandwidth for GEONETCast Americas Broadcast Service: Part 1: Specifications Description Sustainment of 20 megabits per second bandwidth GEONETCast Americas Broadcast service; Qty: 1 Optional increase/decrease of bandwidth within scope; Qty: 1 E. Other Important Considerations Capability Statements must clearly address the following: Current or past capability in satellite communications. Highlighting the ability to acquire and install all the necessary hardware/software and control a complete end-to-end satellite rebroadcast service including satellite receive stations for monitoring. Capability of provide a satellite service that provides a C-band downlink to end users, in DVB-S2 format, that encapsulates a hemispheric beam footprint that covers all of South America, Central America, the Caribbean basin, the continental United States and a portion of the heavily populated Southern regions of Canada. Capability to staff a 24/7/365 Network Operations Center (NOC) capable of monitoring and controlling ground to spacecraft data dissemination. Capability providing technical and programmatic support in updating the rebroadcast service, anomaly detection and troubleshooting with satellite service and data providers Capability utilizing Datacast client software such as KenCast FAZZT or similar products Detailed working knowledge of DOC and NOAA IT security requirements as well as implementing and maintaining an IT Security management program that is similarly specified in the Commerce Acquisition Regulation (CAR) 1352.239-72. F. Capability Statement We encourage small businesses to submit a capability statement, which will be considered by the agency. Small businesses possessing experience and demonstrated capability to accomplish the requirements and level of effort are to supply pertinent information in sufficient detail to demonstrate their ability to perform the required services. Organizations that submit capability statements in response to this notice shall clearly document and demonstrate capabilities in their technical approach, personnel, corporate experience and management, and facilities and equipment. Capability Statements submitted in response to this notice are not to exceed 5 single-sided pages (including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc.) presented in a single -space format using 12-point font size minimum. Responses will be reviewed only by NOAA personnel and will be held in a confidential manner. Responses must reference the sources sought number and include the following: Current certified business status under NAICS Code 517410. If you’re firm is a small business, please specify if you’re firm is HUBZONE certified, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, Women Owned, or 8(a) program Name and Address of the Company, UEI number. Point of contact with name, title, address, phone, fax and email. Examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, the dollar value of that work, and other related information; List of organizations to whom similar types of services have been previously provided and the dollar value of that work. A statement AFFIRMATIVELY stating that you are able provide the required GEONETCast America Broadcast Service and why you believe your firm has the capability to satisfy the above requirements; G. Information Submission Instructions Responses are due no later than 10:00 am EST on July 30, 2022 via email to kirstin.banks@noaa.gov and jame.chang@noaa.gov. H. Disclaimer and Important Notes This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a RFQ may be issued in GSA E-Buy. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. I. Confidentiality No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).