***THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, EASTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-NORFOLK, NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE (NOS), CENTER FOR OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS AND SERVICE (CO-OPS) OFFICE, INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE AND AWARD A PURCHASE ORDER, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF RFO FAR 6.103-1, WITH VAISALA, INC OUT OF LOUISVILLE, CO FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS OF VAISALA PRESENT WEATHER VISIBILITY SENSORS (PWD22) AND ACCESSSORIES. NO SET ASIDE IS TO BE USED FOR THIS SOLE SOURCE REQUIREMENT. THE ASSOCIATED NAICS CODE IS 334519. ***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON NOAA'S REQUIREMENT THAT VAISALA, INC IS THE MANUFACTURER AND SOLE DISTRIBUTOR OF PWD22 PRESENT WEATHER VISIBILITY SENSORS AND ACCESSSORIES. THERE ARE NO AUTHORIZED PARTNERS OR RESELLERS. THE VAISALA PRESENT WEATHER VISIBILITY SENSOR, PART NUMBER PWD22-DNNNNNNANNNNCN IS CO-OPS STANDARD SENSOR FOR USE IN REMOTE METEOROLOGICAL VISIBILITY MEASUREMENT APPLICATIONS. THE VAISALA PWD22 WAS APPROVED FOR USE BY CO-OPS FOR REMOTE VISIBILITY SENSING AFTER A THOROUGH TEST AND EVALUATION OF MULTIPLE SENSORS FROM SEVERAL MANUFACTURES. THESE TESTS EXAMINED THE QUALITY OF THE DATA, SENSOR COMPATIBILITY WITH THE CO-OPS SYSTEMS, SENSOR RELIABILITY AND ACCURACY, AND OVER-ALL COST OF THE EQUIPMENT (INCLUDING INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS, ANNUAL OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, AND INITIAL PROCUREMENT). THE VAISALA PWD22 WAS SELECTED BASED ON ITS DATA RETURN RELIABILITY, MINIMAL INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS, AND EASE OF INTEGRATION INTO THE CO-OPS SUITE OF STANDARDIZED SENSORS AND EQUIPMENT. THE UNIT PROVED TO BE THE MOST RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE AND EXPANDABLE OF THE MULTIPLE SENSORS TESTED, AND IS FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH CO-OPS DATA MANAGEMENT PROTOCOLS AND VALIDATION PROCESSES UTILIZED IN (PORTS®) DATA COLLECTION, MANAGEMENT, AND DISSEMINATION INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS PURCHASE OF REPLACEMENT PARTS SUPPORTS MAINTENANCE EFFORTS VISIBILITY STATIONS WITHIN JACKSONVILLE PORTS®, MOBILE BAY PORTS®, AND NARRAGANSETT BAY PORTS®. IMPLEMENTING DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL COSTS AND RESOURCES. IN ADDITION, IT WILL RESULT IN DELAYS FOR THE REQUIRED TESTING, TRAINING, AND PURCHASING OF SUPPORT EQUIPMENT. UNDER THE CURRENT CO-OPS OPERATING SYSTEM ANY ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING EQUIPMENT THAT HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN APPROVED MUST BE SUBJECTED TO A SERIES OF TESTS TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF THE DATA AND THE DURABILITY OF THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE INTENDED USE. THESE TESTS USUALLY INCLUDE BENCH TESTING USING CONTROLLED CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL MEASUREMENT, CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING TO CHECK RELIABILITY UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS, AND LONG-TERM COMPARISON TESTING WITH ACCEPTED EQUIPMENT AT MULTIPLE REAL-WORLD LOCATIONS. THESE TESTS AND THE ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTING DATA TAKE A LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME, MONEY, AND RESOURCES TO CONDUCT. CO-OPS ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED TO OPERATE WITH THE COMPONENTS IN THIS PURCHASE. IMPLEMENTING DIFFERENT COMPONENTS WILL RESULT IN…