SUMMARY:
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) operates thirty-three (33) aerological observing stations throughout Canada. These stations complete soundings of the upper atmosphere twice daily for each day of the year. The observations are taken by releasing a gas-filled balloon with an attached instrument which is tracked via one of a variety of electronic navigational methods. This attached instrument transmits meteorological data relating to temperature, humidity, and the height of standard atmospheric pressure levels. In addition, tracking of the balloon allows for computation of winds and wind shear at upper levels of the atmosphere.
Data is collected and processed automatically by sounding equipment and transmitted to the Canadian Meteorological Centre for inclusion in atmospheric models which are used to produce a number of weather forecasts. In addition, the data is shared internationally for use in many global weather monitoring and forecasting programs.
SCOPE:
ECCC requires the services of a Contractor to prepare the instruments and release the balloons twice each day, three hundred and sixty-five (365) days per year, to monitor the data and messages produced, and to ensure the prompt transmittal of the data.
The Contractor will conduct the management and operations of the observing program, and the scheduling of personnel for observing, recording, encoding and transmitting Aerological and Supplementary programs at the times specified below as required to comply with the instructions contained in the “MANUAL OF UPPER AIR OBSERVATIONS” (MANUPP) and various other manual required for Supplementary Programs and the Safety and Health for Meteorological Services of Canada Operations.
Administrative responsibilities include maintaining an inventory of consumable supplies, the preparation of monthly reports detailing the performance of the observing program, shipping and receiving of program related items, and the provision of some technical support in the maintenance of the associated equipment.
The Contractor is to perform Aerological and Surface/Aviation observations at Pickle Lake Upper Air Station, as described in Section 4, Annex A, and Appendices 1 through 4.
