Aerological observations at The Pas Upper Air Station, Manitoba

1.0 BackgroundEnvironment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) operates 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.2.0 Scope:ECCC requires the services of a contractor to prepare the instruments and conduct two (2) upper air soundings per day, three hundred and sixty-five (365) days per year,(366 days in a leap year) to monitor the data and messages produced, and to ensure the prompt transmittal of the data, onsite at the upper air station situated in The Pas, MB. The work must be performed at the ECCC The Pas Upper Air Weather station located 31.5km from town at The Pas Airport via MB-10 N and MB-287 E.The Contractor must conduct the management and operations of the observing program three hundred and sixty-five (365) days per year, 366 days in a leap year by 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 the Safety and Health for Meteorological Services of Canada Operations (refer to Appendix 4 for list of documents to be provided at contract award). 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.