This amends an existing Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by making an award to the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) for engineering services to the United States Antarctic Program's (USAP).
The following tasks are included:
Support to USAP Perform review, oversight, and short-notice, limited scope engineering tasks, including written comments or letter reports in response to taskings. $32,800.
Review and Engineering Critique of Polar Drill Development Provide polar-specific engineering and logistics critique and review to the USAP drill development contractor. $30,500.
Safe Sea-Ice Thickness for Vehicle Travel Develop an engineering-based and generalized set of guidelines to govern vehicle travel on sea ice. $43,400.
Wind Turbine Induced Seismic Noise Determine the vibration emitted by commercial wind turbines and investigate whether this source of noise would affect the performance of the Global Seismic Network (GSN) station QSPA operating at the South Pole. Phase I is estimated at $65,400.
ETL for USAP Runways Expand the Air Force protocol developed for the Pegasus runway to address the sea ice runway and skiways and establish a draft ETL for routine runway evaluation and AF certification of the sea ice runway. $34,000.
McMurdo to South Pole Traverse Development Collaborate with USAP and other specialists and experts to address engineering issues pertinent to traverse development, including: GPR training, surveys and analysis; assistance on route selection and refinement; and performance evaluation of traverse vehicles. $343,700.
Similar services have been provided by CRREL and their contractors for many years. The services have always been timely, cost effective, and professional. It is expected that this work will be accomplished in a similar manner. CRREL is a government agency, not associated with the NSF or the support contractor. CRREL has no interest in the support contract that could constitute a conflict of interest.
For the reasons stated above it is in the best interest of the NSF for CRREL to continue with the ongoing tasking. This award is recommended for the amount of $549,800 as estimated by CRREL to be funded from operations funds.
