SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Morocco: Weather Observation Network System Technical Assistance
- Notice Date
- 3/9/2010
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- United States Trade and Development Agency, USTDA, USTDA, 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, C/O US TDA 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, Arlington, Virginia, 22209-3901
- ZIP Code
- 22209-3901
- Solicitation Number
- 2010-21005A
- Archive Date
- 6/5/2010
- Point of Contact
- Nina Patel, Phone: (703) 875-4357
- E-Mail Address
-
npatel@ustda.gov
(npatel@ustda.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- POC Nina Patel, USTDA 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600 Arlington, VA 22209-3901 Tel: (703) 875-4357 Fax: (703) 875-4009 ***Please do not contact contracts office*** Proposal Submission Place: Mr. Abdalah Mokssit, Director Direction De La Météorologie Nationale Face Prefecture-Hay Hassani Casablanca, Morocco (212)522 913 699 The Grantee invites submission of qualifications and proposal data (collectively referred to as the "Proposal") from interested U.S. firms that are qualified on the basis of experience and capability to develop a technical assistance for a weather observation network system technical assistance. The TA will assist with the modernization and optimization of Morocco's observational weather networks. Coverage of the Moroccan territory by the network of existing weather stations is incomplete, and many of these stations are not well suited for broader data collection or longer term forecasting purposes. The modernization and optimization of the observational weather network will rectify these shortcomings and will yield accurate and timely weather forecasting and alerts, as well as a greater understanding of and preparation for the impact of climatic change. Successful performance of the TA will enable DMN to carry out its responsibilities more effectively and efficiently. Meteorological services have a considerable economic and social impact in Morocco due to the importance of water and agriculture in Morocco. Agriculture is central to the Moroccan economy, and is extremely vulnerable to climatic variability. Furthermore, both severe drought and devastating floods have affected various regions of Morocco in recent years, with loss of life and extensive damage to infrastructure and property. Mitigation of the effects of natural disasters and climate change has become a priority of the Moroccan government. Proper collection, processing, interpretation and dissemination of meteorological data is essential to the management of a wide range of resources and activities, aimed particularly at protecting property, people and the environment. The DMN is a financially autonomous agency that falls under the jurisdiction of the Secretariat of State in Charge of Water and Environment (Sécretariat d'Etat Chargé de l'Eau et de l'En) of the Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment. DMN operates four regional offices, in Rabat, Fés, Casablanca and Agadir. Aside from the regional operations, the DMN comprises five major functional divisions and operational units, namely: • Commercialization and Finance Division (DCF) • Technical and Equipment Division (DTE) • Administrative Division (DA) • National Center for Meteorological Research (CNRM) • National Meteorological Operations Center (CNEM) In terms of the DMN's primary mission of forecasting/warning, the proposed TA will focus on the activities of the CNRM and CNEM. The DMN currently manages 43 synoptic weather stations, most of which are located at airports. A synoptic weather station refers to a weather station that conforms to the World Meteorological Organization standards. The primary function of these stations is to support real-time forecasting and air navigation. Five synoptic stations are dedicated primarily to marine meteorology. In addition, there are some 45 automated weather stations plus some 600 "climatological units" (postes climatologiques) managed by outside parties such as the Ministry of Interior or the Ministry of Agriculture. The DMN also operates a remote-sensing infrastructure comprising five weather radars; however, their coverage of the national territory is not complete. The DMN has made considerable progress in recent years, particularly regarding meteorological forecasting and alerts. At the same time, much remains to be done to enhance warning systems in order to cover the full range of disasters of meteorological origin (drought, heavy downpours and flash flooding, hailstorms, etc.), and to meet the needs of a growing variety of clients and users. The DMN notes that the need for meteorological information is constantly increasing and impacts a constantly broadening spectrum of social and economic activities (e.g., transportation, agriculture, water resources, land management, the fishing industry and many others). Correspondingly, clients and users are becoming ever more numerous as well as increasingly demanding in terms of quality and responsiveness. In light of the increasing demands that are being placed on the DMN's services, it is a DMN priority to develop the observational networks from a strategic perspective. The TA will assist DMN in developing a well-defined plan for network modernization and optimization, including a comprehensive needs assessment and will create a plan for the procurement of the required additional systems and equipment. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $269,110 grant to the Grantee from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). A detailed Request for Proposals (RFP), which includes requirements for the Proposal, the Terms of Reference, and a background desk study report are available from USTDA, at 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, Arlington, VA 22209-3901. To request the RFP in PDF format, please go to: https://www.ustda.gov/businessopps/rfpform.asp Requests for a mailed hardcopy version of the RFP may also be faxed to the IRC, USTDA at 703-875-4009. In the fax, please include your firm's name, contact person, address, and telephone number. Some firms have found that RFP materials sent by U.S. mail do not reach them in time for preparation of an adequate response. Firms that want USTDA to use an overnight delivery service should include the name of the delivery service and your firm's account number in the request for the RFP. Firms that want to send a courier to USTDA to retrieve the RFP should allow one hour after faxing the request to USTDA before scheduling a pick-up. Please note that no telephone requests for the RFP will be honored. Please check your internal fax verification receipt. Because of the large number of RFP requests, USTDA cannot respond to requests for fax verification. Requests for RFPs received before 4:00 PM will be mailed the same day. Requests received after 4:00 PM will be mailed the following day. Please check with your courier and/or mail room before calling USTDA. Only U.S. firms and individuals may bid on this USTDA financed activity. Interested firms, their subcontractors and employees of all participants must qualify under USTDA's nationality requirements as of the due date for submission of qualifications and proposals and, if selected to carry out the USTDA-financed activity, must continue to meet such requirements throughout the duration of the USTDA-financed activity. All goods and services to be provided by the selected firm shall have their nationality, source and origin in the U.S. or host country. The U.S. firm may use subcontractors from the host country for up to 20 percent of the USTDA grant amount. Details of USTDA's nationality requirements and mandatory contract clauses are also included in the RFP. Interested U.S. firms should submit their Proposal in English directly to the Grantee by 12:00pm NOON, May 21, 2010 at the above address. Evaluation criteria for the Proposal are included in the RFP. Price will not be a factor in contractor selection, and therefore, cost proposals should NOT be submitted. The Grantee reserves the right to reject any and/or all Proposals. The Grantee also reserves the right to contract with the selected firm for subsequent work related to the project. The Grantee is not bound to pay for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of Proposals.
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