Cooperative Observer Program (COOP) Network Modernization & Management Paradigm Analysis

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is conducting market research to support the National Weather Service (NWS) in the modernization and management of the Cooperative Observer Program (COOP). This Sources Sought notice, issued under solicitation number 1305M2-COOP, is intended to identify the capabilities of the market, particularly among small business concerns. The NWS is evaluating the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and data continuity risks of three management models across approximately 6,700 surface observation sites: Government-Owned, Government-Operated (GO-GO); Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated (GO-CO); and Contractor-Owned, Contractor-Operated (CO-CO), also known as Data-as-a-Service (DaaS). The effort includes a technology refresh and the development of long-term operational support. Under the GO-CO model, the NWS would procure hardware while outsourcing installation, preventive maintenance, and emergency repairs. The CO-CO/DaaS model would shift hardware ownership and logistics to commercial or state-level operators, with the NWS subscribing to quality-controlled data streams. Technical standards are established by National Weather Service Instruction (NWSI) 10-1302, which defines mandatory performance thresholds for accuracy, resolution, and siting to maintain the historical climate record. The RFI seeks industry input on hardware, installation, maintenance logistics, and the viability of DaaS solutions to meet climatological standards. Feasibility and cost-effectiveness analysis of transitioning from the current GO-GO model to GO-CO or CO-CO/DaaS paradigms.