NOAA readies new weather data system contract

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency wants a contractor to maintain its Advanced Weather Interaction Processing System while also improving the system's data-gathering technologies and increasing its overall performance.

NOAA is gathering information for a possible 10-year operations and maintenance contract that would include improvements to AWIPS. The agency wants the system to easily adapt to new technical requirements as well as advances in hardware and software

AWIPS is the cornerstone IT system used to gather, forecast, and send out weather data, including time-sensitive, high-impact warnings to protect life and property. AWIPS has an extensible architecture that allows for highly available data communications, processing, and meteorological and hydrologic display.

NOAA and the National Weather Service intend to structure the performance-based contract to ensure that the contractor’s goals and objectives align with the agencies’ goals. For instance, the agencies want to share the risk and responsibility of joint implementations and initiatives.

The current AWIPS prime contract was awarded in 2005 and current contract expires in August 2015.

NOAA released a request for information Jan. 16. Responses are due Feb. 3.