Tornado Modeling Support Services

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCETornado Modeling Support ServicesAnnouncement Type: Special NoticeAnnouncement Number: NIST-NOI-22-73001PSC Code: R425 - Professional Engineering/Technical ServicesSubject: Tornado Modeling Support ServicesIntroductionThis is a notice of intent, not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued and quotations will not be requested.PurposeThe National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate a firm-fixed priced purchase order on a sole source basis with Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) located at 4300 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110-1295. The purchase order will be for tornado modeling support services in relation to the December 10-11, 2021 tornado outbreak in Kentucky and surrounding states.AuthorityThis acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106(b)(1) allowing the Contracting Officer (CO) to solicit from one source. The North American Industry Classification

System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541330 – Engineering Services with a size standard of $16.5 Million.Background and DescriptionAlthough much progress has been made on implementation of recommendations from NIST's National Construction Safety Team Technical Investigation of the Joplin Tornado, work remains to be done.  The multi-state tornado outbreak of December 10-11, 2021 has provided a unique opportunity for data collection from multiple, violent and long-track tornadoes to support implementation of some of the in-progress recommendations.  In particular, Joplin recommendation #4 focuses on improvements to the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale methods for estimating tornado wind speed from damage to buildings, including improved scientific basis and quantification of Damage Indicators and associated Degrees of Damage, and standardization of the process for continuous improvements to the scale.For this requirement, the contractor shall acquire field data on the performance of buildings during the December 10-11, 2021 tornado outbreak in Kentucky and surrounding states, focusing on the stronger tornadoes and more intense levels of damage. The contractor shall use the acquired data to evaluate, validate, and propose changes, as needed, to the Smart^DI and other DIs included in the American Society of Civil Engineers / American Meteorological Society (ASCE/AMS) Wind Speed Estimation in Tornadoes draft chapter on EF Scale Methodology. Sole Source DeterminationThe sole source determination is based on the following: Under contract number SB1341-12-CQ-0014, NIST created the Smart DI methodology and software with ARA, adapting data and analysis that was originally used to create tornado hazard maps for NIST. Additionally, under contractor number 1333ND19PNB730060, ARA developed related detailed technical documentation in support of a proposal to the ASCE/AMS standards committee.The current requirement is primarily focused on collecting field data on building damage in the recent, historic tornadoes, using that data to help validate the Smart DI methodology and results (particularly for heavily damaged and destroyed buildings), and refining the tool and technical documentation for the Smart DI proposal to be submitted to the ASCE/AMS Standards Committee in 2022. This effort is an extension of the earlier body of work that NIST contracted to ARA, including previous tornado deployments for data collection. To ensure continuity of research services, only ARA is capable of performing the required work. Additionally, the Smart DI software tool to be used includes ARA proprietary damage modeling algorithms thus it would not be possible for any other firm to conduct this work.Information for Interested PartiesInterested parties that believe they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing by or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation.Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Ms. Lauren Roller, Contract Specialist, at Lauren.Roller@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted via email to Lauren.Roller@nist.gov so that they are received no later than December 21, 2021 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time.Each response should include the following Business Information:Contractor Name, Address,Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and Email addressContractor DUNSContractor Business Classification (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, hubZone, veteran owned, etc.) as validated in System for Award Management (SAM). All offerors must register in the SAM located at http://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/#1Capability Statement