The Department of Commerce's NOAA is seeking industry input through a Request for Information (RFI) to explore tools and practices for developing and maintaining a cloud-based operational environment for the National Weather Service (NWS). The NWS relies on the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) for weather forecasting and warnings, which is being migrated to a cloud-based platform. The contract envisioned will enhance AWIPS functionalities, ensuring effective security, operations maintenance, user training, software development, data management, and help desk support.
Key objectives include ensuring compliance with IT security policies, providing reliable system maintenance, and facilitating smooth contract transitions. The RFI requests industry feedback on contract structures, Agile development methodologies, operations and maintenance strategies, and IT security practices specifically related to cloud-based environments. Interested organizations are invited to attend an industry day for further discussion. This initiative emphasizes the government’s commitment to modernizing its operational capabilities to better serve public safety and emergency management needs through innovative technology solutions.
The document addresses a Request for Information (RFI) from NOAA regarding the AWIPS modernization project, specifically focusing on a forthcoming contract for cloud migration and support. It outlines several industry questions and NOAA's responses, revealing that key details such as current contract amounts, resource availability, and public cloud preferences remain uncertain, as the IT approach and requirements are evolving. The responses indicate a commitment to considering input from various software vendors to enhance AWIPS operations, enforce security standards, and ensure compliance with standards like FISMA and FedRAMP.
The RFI process aims to inform the government’s approach to acquiring a follow-on IT system that will integrate into a cloud environment, facilitating agile development practices and improving operational efficiency. The document highlights the need for a user-friendly structure that accommodates approximately 3,500 active accounts across numerous national locations while transitioning to cloud services. An essential aspect is the government’s intention to conduct multiple prototypes and training in preparation for a more robust operational capability ahead of the final contract award planned for August 2027, though uncertain timelines exist for the release of a draft RFP and possible industry engagement.