SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Development and Commercialization of the WorldWide Weather Workstation (W4)
- Notice Date
- 1/3/2002
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Mountain Administrative Support Center, 325 Broadway - MC3, Boulder, CO, 80303-3328
- ZIP Code
- 80303-3328
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-FSLW4000DSG
- Response Due
- 2/15/2002
- Archive Date
- 3/2/2002
- Point of Contact
- David Groton, Supervisory Purchasing Agent, Phone (303) 497-3107, Fax (303) 497-3163,
- E-Mail Address
-
David.S.Groton@noaa.gov
- Description
- The Forecast Systems Laboratory (FSL) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is actively seeking licensees and/or CRADA partners to collaborate on the development and commercialization of the WorldWide Weather Workstation (W4). It is the intent of FSL to collaborate with industry on certain technical aspects of the system, such as data broadcast via satellite and end user requirements analysis. The W4 system is designed to meet the forecast needs of developing nations or for forecast situations where no data access is available. The system is designed to use a satellite broadcast or the internet to disseminate atmospheric data at continental or regional scales. To reduce hardware costs to the user while providing a high level of system performance, both the server subsystem and the user subsystem will utilize PC Linux platforms. The W4 system is based on the FSL developments for the AWIPS system that has allowed major improvements in National Weather Service offices throughout the country. W4 uses a series of scales, just as the AWIPS system does, that will allow a display to be compatible with the size and type of the weather feature that is being studied. Important workstation features such as roam and zoom, predefined sets of procedures (sets of forecast products designed for a specific type of storm), family graphics, and toggle capabilities for displayed products are available. All data can be broadcast using technologies such as VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) systems or other low bandwidth solutions. The Forecast Systems Laboratory has done innovative, groundbreaking work on data compression, particularly using wavelet transform compression that will allow a full set of data to be transmitted over a 128 kbps satellite link. Application of these data compression techniques will be applied both to satellite observations and imagery and gridded Numerical Weather Prediction model data sets. There will be only a very small reduction in data resolution after decompression at the receiver side of the process. The significant improvements in efficiency of transmission will contribute to decreasing the operational costs of using the system. For world areas where internet connectivity is available, an internet version of W4 is also available. FSL is interested in working with a commercial collaborator, under the auspices of the Federal Technology Transfer Act, 15 USC 3710a, to transfer this technology to the private sector. There are many potential areas such as emergency response regions, remote military field sites and branch weather forecasting offices within developing countries that could benefit from this technology. FSL will negotiate royalties and licenses for this technology arising from a CRADA partnership or Memorandum of Agreement. The private company or companies forming this partnership with FSL would assist in the research and development of the product and would be responsible for documenting, marketing and maintaining the W4 system networks that would be implemented. This technology will be demonstrated in the NOAA FSL booth (#111) at the AMS Conference and Exhibit to be held in Orlando, FL, during the week of January 14, 2002. Additional technical information has also been published on the W4 web site http://www-id.fsl.noaa.gov. Discussions will be held en mass with all candidate partners regarding the specifics of this new technology to be defined within the CRADA or licensing agreement. Partner selection criteria will include technical expertise and experience with similar technologies, experience in marketing, past experience in partnering with a government research organization and the resources and funding available to successfully bring this technology to market. Parties interested in scheduling a demonstration at the AMS Conference and Exhibit should contact William B. Bendel at (303) 497-6708, fax: (303) 497-6758, bendel@fsl.noaa.gov or stop by the NOAA FSL booth. The potential for holding a Technology Day at FSL in Boulder, CO, as a follow-up to this activity is under consideration. The time for the possible Technology Day has not yet been determined. NO SOLICITATION IS AVAILABLE. NO PROCUREMENT ACTION WILL RESULT FROM THIS NOTICE. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT REIMBURSE RESPONDENT COSTS FOR REPLYING TO THIS NOTICE.
- Place of Performance
- Address: U. S. Department of Commerce, NOAA/FSL, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado
- Zip Code: 80305
- Country: U. S.
- Zip Code: 80305
- Record
- SN20020105/00010973-020104090111 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(will not be valid after Archive Date)
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