SECOORA Request for Quotes: Operate Nationwide Coastal Web Camera Network

SECOORA is soliciting proposals focused on installing, maintaining, and operating web cameras in all of the NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Regional Associations (RAs), as part of a federally funded project to scale from a regional to a national network of coastal web cameras (WebCOOS). Cameras will be used to support coastal and ocean research, management, and decision-making in partnership with the project team, including Principal Investigators, the data manager, and representatives of IOOS RAs including SECOORA. Applicants are encouraged so explore the WebCOOS website and the WebCOOS Documentation website.

Proposals are due by February 8th, 2024 at 5:00 PM ET, submitted via egrants.secoora.org.

Services Requested

SECOORA anticipates quotes for these services to be in the range of $150,000 to $240,000 over the duration of the project (3 year period). Proposals of high quality with lower estimates will be looked upon favorably. Applicants must demonstrate how they will address the following services:

• Camera installation: Install up to two cameras per year in each of ten of the IOOS RAs (total of up to 20 cameras per year). Describe the camera and installation hardware to be used, including schematics/diagrams and/or spec sheets in appendices as relevant.
• Camera maintenance: Installer will be responsible for ongoing operations and maintenance of installed cameras, with a minimum of 85% up-time (i.e., systems are online and providing live streams at least 85% of the time that they are expected to be online).
• Data access:
  • Provide to the data manager, at minimum, live camera streams, still images, and videos for archival access; and meet or exceed the SECOORA 85% up-time goal.
  • Videos should be accessible via a live Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) feed and use the H.264 or H.265 video codec to ensure maximum compatibility and efficiency in transmitting data.
  • Work with the data manager, project manager, and project team to provide camera feeds and data that will be used with Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning codes and algorithms to provide data products to stakeholders.
• Compliance: Comply with all federal, state, and local regulations (including NEPA and NDAA) applicable to installing and operating web cameras. The WebCOOS Project Manager will work with the camera installer and the IOOS office to complete NEPA environmental assessments for camera installations
• Coordination: Determining camera installation locations will be a collaborative process among the WebCOOS Project Manager, this contractor, and representatives and partners in each IOOS RA. Coordinate and communicate with the WebCOOS Project Manager, the IOOS RA representative(s), and applicable partner(s) throughout the process of proposing locations for the cameras, acquiring the appropriate permits/approvals, and installing and maintaining the cameras. Camera locations may include coastal areas in US states, US Pacific Islands, and US Caribbean regions.

Read the full announcement for specific required qualifications, skills, and experience.

RFQ Review Process, Eligibility, and Terms

Any eligible state agency, university, research institution, NGO, or private company that operates in the coastal United States is encouraged to submit applications. Federal employees are not eligible to apply as lead Project Managers but they can be co-PIs, project participants, and end-users. Note: SECOORA cannot fund federal employee salary or travel.

All proposals will be reviewed based on the adherence to the instructions provided in this request for quotes and outlined in detail in the Services Requested section of the full announcement. Responses must be submitted by 5:00 PM Eastern Time, February 8, 2024 via egrants.secoora.org to be considered by a review panel. The anticipated project start date is April 1, 2024.

This is an open and competitive process. SECOORA reserves the right to reject any and all proposals received as a result of this process. SECOORA reserves the right to request that respondents make modifications to their proposal at any time before a contract is awarded. Any contracts that result from the RFQ are subject to SECOORA’s continued IOOS funding and the contractor’s annual performance-based contract renewal.

Submission of Responses

Please submit the entire application package electronically through egrants.secoora.org. The submission deadline is 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on February 8, 2024. First time eGrants users must complete the registration process in order to upload a proposal to egrants.secoora.org. This is a two-part verification system (phone and email confirmations are required). Once you have registered, please select the RFP to which you are applying, complete the required fields, and upload your proposal documents.

Read the full announcement for proposal requirements.

Questions Regarding Application Solicitation

For any questions related to this solicitation, please contact webcoos@secoora.org or Theo Jass at theo@secoora.org or 984-291-0115. Click here to view questions and answers about this opportunity.