U. S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, Central Administratrive Support Center, 601 East 12th St., CC31:MLW, Rm. 1756, Kansas City, Missouri 64106

20 -- SHIP AND MARINE EQUIPMENT SOL 51WCNR706017MW DUE 112996 POC Mamie Wandick, 816-426-6823, Extension 237 The Government intends to procure eighteen (18) ocean profiling temperature floats, i.e., Palace Floats, with options to purchase up to nine (9) additional floats for the NOAA, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML). The floats will be used to determine ocean temperature profiles and subsurface ocean current circulation patterns during a two year Atlantic Circulation and Climate Experiment (ACCE). Eighteen (18) floats will be required for deployment on scientific ocean cruises beginning May 1, 1997. The floats must meet the following specifications: (1) Shall be capable of operating for a minimum period of two years following deployment. (2) Following deployment, shall descend to a nominal depth of 1000 meters for a period of ten (10) days and shall ascend to the surface where it shall remain for 24 hours. (3) During the descent or the ascent period, the float shall measure the water temperature at 50 meter or smaller depth intervals and upon surfacing, the float shall transmit the temperature data to the scientific users using the ARGOS satellite system. The data shall be formatted such that both the temperature and corresponding water depth at which the temperature measurement was made, can be determined during subsequent data processing. (4) The geographic position of the float must be capable of being computed by Service ARGOS from the float transmissions to the satellite. (5) The temperature measurement must have a documented accuracy (calibration curve or equation) of + or -.1 degree Celsius. and, (6) The float shall be deployable by one or two persons maximum from small ships, and no specialized deck or handling equipment shall be required for launch. Units shall be delivered FOB destination to the AOML in Miami, Florida by April 1, 1997. Solicitation Number 51WCNR706017 will be issued approximately 15 days from the date of publication of this notice with bids due approximately 30 days thereafter. Requests for copies of the solicitation shall be in writing and either mailed to the address above or faxed to (816) 426-7530. The Standard Item Classification Code for this item is 3089. This is a small business set-aside. The size standard is 500 employees. (0285)

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