National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Southeast Regional Weather Records Center (SERWRC)

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a solicitation (RFP 1332KP26R0026) for Regional Weather Records Center Services. The services are to be provided under an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, with the potential for firm-fixed-price (FFP) task orders. The goal is to support the National Centers for Environmental Information's (NCEI) effort to understand user needs for environmental information and translate them into requirements for future products and services. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541990.

• The core requirements will be defined at the task order level.

• Services will involve providing products and services to address regional weather records needs and issues.

• This includes leveraging NOAA's capabilities to transform data into regionally-tailored products and services.

• Specific deliverables will be detailed in individual task orders.

• Contract Type: Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) with firm-fixed-price (FFP) task orders.

• Period of Performance: Base ordering period is September 17, 2026, through September 16, 2031 (five years).

• Option Periods: Not specified as available (N/A).

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated in the provided pages.

• Proposal Submission Deadline: June 17, 2026, 1:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

• Submission Method: Electronic submission via email to Audrey.Hogg@noaa.gov and Recarlo.Applewhite@noaa.gov.

• Evaluation Criteria: Proposals will be evaluated based on technical factors (Experience for IDIQ Contract, Technical Approach to Task Order 1, Key Personnel) and Past Performance, which are of equal importance and will be weighed equally. Non-price factors combined are significantly more important than evaluated price. Price will be evaluated but not scored.

• Oral Presentations: Offerors may be required to conduct virtual oral presentations.

• The acquisition is listed as "UNRESTRICTED" with a set-aside percentage of "% FOR:" not specified.

• NAICS Code: 541990 with a size standard of $19.5 million.

• The solicitation includes numerous FAR and CAR clauses covering various aspects of contract performance, including security, data management, labor, and reporting.

• Section J lists several attachments, including the IDIQ Performance Work Statement (PWS) and Task Order 1 PWS, a Pricing Matrix, and a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP).

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines the requirements for the Southeast Regional Weather Records Center (SERWRC) under an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. The SERWRC's primary goal is to support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) mission by providing regionally tailored environmental data products and services.

The SERWRC will operate within a defined geographic scope including VA, NC, SC, GA, AL, FL, Puerto Rico (PR), and US Virgin Islands (USVI). The contractor must be physically located within this region and serve all states, territories, and U.S.-affiliated islands. The work involves:

• Regional Engagement and User Needs Identification: Engaging with industry, economic, environmental, and public sectors to understand long-term weather-related issues and needs.
• Needs Prioritization and Product/Tool Provision: Adapting or developing, testing, and sustaining tools, products, and services to meet user requirements, contributing to NCEI's requirements collection.
• Transitioning Products and Services: Planning and executing projects to transition new or upgraded NCEI operational software, systems, products, services, and capabilities.
• Sustaining Services: Providing ongoing services to support the mission of delivering products and services, and addressing other NCEI regional and national needs.

The SERWRC will support existing NCEI Data Product Areas and NESDIS Products, including but not limited to imagery, sensor data, atmospheric composition, temperature, precipitation, climate, weather, and ocean data.

• The contractor must ensure no degradation of service during transition periods.

• Software tool development must be platform-independent and sufficiently documented.

• Contractor personnel must comply with NOAA's Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Prevention and Response Policy, including mandatory training.

• Contractor personnel must safeguard protected information in accordance with law and government policy.

• Base Ordering Period: September 17, 2026 - September 16, 2031 (5 years).

• Place of Performance: Within the defined Southeast region (VA, NC, SC, GA, AL, FL, PR, USVI).

• Key Personnel: A SERWRC Director with a PhD (or PhD candidate) in Earth/Environmental Sciences and at least 12 years of direct experience is required. This individual is the primary point of contact and has significant responsibilities for planning, directing, and overseeing work.

• Personnel Security: Contractor personnel will be screened according to Moderate Risk contract requirements.

• Section 508 Compliance: All Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) developed, procured, maintained, or used must comply with Section 508 accessibility standards.

• Deliverables: Include SASH Prevention Training and Transition Plans, submitted annually to the PM, CO, and COR.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines the requirements for Task Order 1, "Core Task Order," for the Southeast Regional Weather Records Center (SERWRC). The SERWRC's primary goal is to provide products and services that address regional long-term weather records needs and issues, supporting the National Centers for Environmental Information's (NCEI) broader environmental information responsibilities.

Base Services:

• Provide monthly environmental monitoring reports for public release, including regional overviews of temperature, precipitation, drought statistics, weather impacts (e.g., crop conditions, reservoir levels, energy demand), and historical context of weather events.
• Quarterly compile and synthesize seasonal-scale weather-related impact and outlook information for non-technical audiences.
• Produce annual "State of the Region" environmental monitoring summaries.
• Contribute to NCEI monitoring of sub-monthly environmental events (e.g., hurricanes, heat outbreaks).
• Support the assessment of extraordinary weather observations as potential new records.
• Maintain an inventory of research, products, and services, including maturity assessment and documentation.
• Respond to customer inquiries within one business day.
• Input monthly user needs into an NCEI requirements collection database.
• Track data, product, and information downloads and service requests.
• Implement a process for tracking the further distribution, use, and value of products and services.
• Deliver data and information via the internet with a consistent web interface.

Regional Services:

• Meet Regional Theme Requirements for the identified region (VA, NC, SC, GA, AL, FL, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands).

• Propose annual changes to themes based on regional needs.

• Provide products and services to support relevant private and public sectors, including stewardship and consultation.

• Assess user needs for NOAA-relevant environmental products and services and develop a prioritized list of unmet needs.

• Convene at least one regional constituent workshop and engage regionally at least five times.

• Identify opportunities to grow awareness and use of NCEI, NESDIS, and NOAA environmental data.

• Support the transition of mature SERWRC products, tools, and services to NCEI operational state.

• Provide products and services for additional government-designated sectors or weather-related issues, potentially in collaboration with other RWRCs.

• Base Period (BP): September 17, 2026 - April 16, 2027

• Option Periods (OP1-OP6): April 17, 2027 - September 16, 2031

• Performance reports will describe customer inquiries, partner engagement, products and services, and technical support activities.

• Performance measures will be developed to describe program activities, support NCEI budget planning, and may be reported to OMB or Congress.

• Deliverables include Environmental Monitoring Reports, Performance Reports, Weather-related Impact and Outlook Summaries, Summary of User Requests, Inventory of products and services, Prioritized List of User Needs, and Workshop and Regional Engagement Reports.

• Deliverables must be submitted to a common government directory with email notification.

• Templates and file naming conventions will be provided by NCEI.

• Invoices must be received via IPP within one week of the required Performance Report submission date.

• The Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) will be appointed by memo.

• Transition plans must be submitted within 3 months of contract expiration to ensure continuity of services and portability of systems.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) developed by the Government for the Regional Weather Records Centers (RWRC) Support Services contract. Its purpose is to ensure systematic quality assurance methods are used in administering the Performance-based Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract and any subsequent work requirements. The QASP aims to verify that the contractor meets performance metrics, delivers the required quality of services, and that the Government only pays for acceptable services.

• Government Roles: Outlines responsibilities of the Contracting Officer (CO) and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), including contact information.
• Contractor Representatives: Placeholder for contractor's key personnel.
• Performance Standards: Defines desired services and how contractor performance will be measured against Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs).
• Methods of Surveillance: Details methods such as Partner Feedback, Director Meetings, Random Monitoring, and Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS).
• QASP Table: Specifies required services (e.g., Environmental Monitoring Reports, Progress Reports, Workshop organization), their performance standards, AQLs (e.g., 99% on-time delivery, 100% accuracy), and surveillance methods (e.g., 100% inspection).
• Assessment Areas: Includes Quality of Product/Service, Schedule, Business Relations, Management, and Other Important Areas.
• Ratings: Defines performance ratings (Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, Unsatisfactory).
• Documenting Performance: Describes processes for handling acceptable and unacceptable performance, including the use of Contract Discrepancy Reports (CDRs).

This QASP is critical for bidders as it defines the performance standards, metrics, and surveillance methods the Government will use to evaluate contractor performance. Understanding these requirements is essential for developing a compliant proposal and for managing contract execution effectively. It highlights the specific quality expectations and the consequences of failing to meet them, including potential payment deductions.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Past Performance Questionnaire designed to gather feedback from references on an Offeror's performance on previous contracts. It is to be completed by both the Offeror (Part 1) and the reference/evaluator (Part 2).

Part 1 (Offeror/Contractor):

• Name of company being evaluated.
• Name, address, and contact information of the company providing the evaluation.
• Project Information, including:
  • Contract Number
  • Date of Award
  • Project Title/Location
  • Work Description (emphasizing similarities to the current solicitation)
  • Contract Type, Price, and Completion Dates
  • Type of client (Commercial, Federal Gov't, Local/City/State Gov't)

Part 2 (Reference/Evaluator):

• Evaluation of contractor performance across various categories using a rating scale (Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, Unsatisfactory).
• Categories include: Successful Performance, Quality and Timeliness, Subcontractor Management, Cost Control, Communication, Proactive Management, and Customer Satisfaction.
• Specific questions regarding contract options, discrepancies, terminations, and willingness to rehire.
• Requires narrative explanations for Exceptional, Marginal, or Unsatisfactory ratings.

This questionnaire is crucial for potential bidders to provide to their past clients. The completed questionnaires will be used by the government to evaluate the Offeror's past performance. Bidders must ensure their references provide thorough and accurate information, highlighting relevant project experience and positive performance. The submission deadline for completed questionnaires is June 17, 2026, at 1:00 PM (EDT), and they must be emailed to Recarlo.Applewhite@noaa.gov and Audrey.Hogg@noaa.gov with a specific subject line.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is the Data Management Plan (DMP) for the NCEI Regional Climate Data Product Area. It outlines the plan for managing value-added data and products created and served by the Regional Climate Centers (RCCs) for six regions encompassing the United States.

• Data Description: Details various climate data products and services offered by the six RCCs (e.g., Applied Climate Web Services, Automated Weather Dataset, Climate and Forecast Perspectives, Climate Data Quality Control, Climate Tools for Agriculture, Extremes, Freeze/Thaw, Regional Climate Summaries and Webinars, Regional Mesonet Products, Regional Winter Weather, Sporting Events Climatologies, Station-Based Climate Data and Summaries, Tropical Weather and Impacts, Vegetation Impact Products).
• Data Management: Covers data collection methods, temporal and geographic coverage, data types, data lineage, quality control procedures, and data documentation standards (ISO 19115).
• Data Access: Specifies that all data products are publicly available without restriction, with access provided through various services like HTTPS, THREDDS, LAS, and ArcGIS Server.
• Data Preservation: Outlines the long-term data archive location (NCEI and RCCs), storage facilities, and protection measures for data integrity.

This document provides insight into the types of climate data and products managed and disseminated by NOAA's NCEI and its regional partners. Understanding this plan can help bidders identify potential data sources, understand data management practices, and learn about data access methods relevant to climate-related opportunities or research.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is the "RWRC Question and Comment Template" (Attachment J-7), provided to assist offerors in submitting questions or comments regarding the solicitation. It is an Excel spreadsheet designed for structured feedback.

• Offeror Name: Field to identify the submitting company.
• Question Number: A sequential number for each question or comment.
• Document: The specific document the question or comment pertains to.
• Page Number: The page number within the referenced document.
• Section: The section number or title within the document.
• Paragraph: The specific paragraph number within the section.
• Question / Comment: The space for the offeror to articulate their question or comment.

Bidders must use this template to formally submit any questions or comments they have about the solicitation documents. This structured format ensures that all necessary context is provided for the government to understand and respond to the inquiry effectively. Failure to use this template may result in questions not being addressed.