THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, AN INVITATION FOR BIDS, OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS. FURTHER, IT DOES NOT REPRESENT A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR COSTS INCURRED IN PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF DATA OR ANY OTHER COSTS INCURRED IN RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.The NTSB intends to award a sole source purchase order to the University of Wisconsin, as the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available.The NTSB has a unique requirement for a tool with the capability of acquiring, managing, analyzing, displaying and integrating environmental data for use in accident/incident investigations for all modes of transportation, as well as for the formulation of safety recommendations. McIDAS has been used by NTSB meteorologists since 1987 and is the only known system that provides timely display and analysis of global meteorological satellite data (real time and historical), and also allows access to a database of real time and historical meteorological products (e.g. international meteorological bulletins, advisories, and observations) from the Space Science and Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin.The decision to award a sole source contract is based on the fact that the McIDAS–X system is a proprietary product, and no third party can provide access to the system. The University of Wisconsin – Madison has developed and maintained the system since 1970 and is the only vendor authorized to provide access and technical support of the system. There is no other known source that can provide timely display and analysis of meteorological data as well as access to the historical database or meteorological parameters.The intended sole source contract will be awarded in accordance with FAR 13.106–1(b)(1), Soliciting from a single source. Contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency,