Inactive

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Coastal & Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) intends to award a contract on a sole source basis to the University of... The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Coastal & Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) intends to award a contract on a sole source basis to the University of Notre Dame upon the basis of the authority provided at FAR 13.106-1(b). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Coastal & Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) has a requirement to develop and validate a global-scale multi-physics model framework coupling existing coastal and inland hydrologic models to improve hydrographic modeling and forecasting capabilities and accuracy over a global domain. The first stage of this project involves the development and validation of an unstructured 2D global ADCIRC mesh. Validation will be performed using meteorological forcing data from the European Centre of Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF); salinity and temperature data from the testing of the global mesh is complete, a pair of high resolution regional meshes will be inset seamlessly into the global mesh and validated to allow for higher resolution regional-scale modeling within the global model. For each regional mesh, one-way streamflow linkages between the mesh and ERDC’s Streamflow Prediction Tool (SPT) will be developed and tested. When model fidelity has been deemed acceptable, the contractor will work with the sponsor to establish and test two-way data exchanges between ADCIRC and the SPT, which will enable the models to pass information to each other and for each to use data output by the other as input. Coupling these models will allow for an integrated, comprehensive approach to coastal modeling that accounts for inland, riverine, and coastal flooding. This coupled framework will then be set up within an automated forecasting system to generate 5-day hydrographic forecasts twice daily. The new coupled coastal ocean forecasting system will be designed for fast performance for tides and 30 day running average mean water levels at open ocean water level stations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The linking of these systems and development and validation of this model framework will establish a much-needed capability for integrated inland and coastal hydrographic modeling on a regional scale and coastal water level forecasting on a global scale. The Government requires the delivery of this framework in (12) months from contract award. The Government has identified the University of Notre Dame as the only vendor with the capability and expertise required to develop the model framework, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). Specifically, the University of Notre Dame has a team of key developers and subject matter experts in the area of global-scale ADCIRC meshes. Current market research has identified others in the field, however the University of Notre Dame is the only source that has the level of expertise from conducting extensive global-scale model development and testing required to achieve the Government’s needs in the timeframe established for the project. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541690 – Other scientific and technical consulting services was determined to best represent this requirement. The small business size standard is $15,000,000. This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. Any interested party that believes they can fulfill this requirement should submit a capability statement to be reviewed. All submissions will be considered, however there is no guarantee that submissions in response to this notice will in any way alter the Government's acquisition strategy. Responses to this notice shall be submitted NLT 12:00 PM CST, 3 September 2020 to Lisa Bernard at e-mail: Lisa.A.Bernard@usace.army.mil. Telephone responses will not be accepted. Responses to this notice will not be considered as a response to any solicitation, a request to be added to a prospective offerors list, or to receive a copy of any solicitation. A determination by the Government not to compete the contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Note: In order to be eligible for award of a Government contract, vendors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), have no active exclusions, and complete the FAR and DFARS representations and certifications.