Commercial Total Lightning (TL) Data Feed

The National Weather Service (NWS) under NOAA is conducting a Sources Sought market research to identify capable vendors that can provide a continuous, real‑time commercial Total Lightning (TL) data feed. The feed must include both cloud‑flash (CF) and cloud‑to‑ground (CG) events, meet stringent accuracy and latency requirements, and be delivered via encrypted AES‑128 streams to NOAA’s telecommunications gateway for integration into operational decision‑support systems such as AWIPS, CIRRUS, and MRMS. Vendors are asked to submit a concise capability statement outlining their network, technical performance, prior experience, and any feedback on the draft Statement of Work. • Required coverage: CONUS (48 states) plus southern Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, DC, USVI, and up to 500 km offshore. • Performance metrics: ≤ 1 minute latency for 99 % of events, 2 km location accuracy (99 %), 0.001 s timing accuracy, detection efficiency ≥ 60 % over 90 % of CONUS, ≤ 2 % false detections, ≤ 20 % mis‑classification. • Delivery format: Encrypted (AES‑128) binary packets via secure‑shell TCP/IP to the NOAA Telecommunications Gateway; keep‑alive and heartbeat packets required. • Submission deadline: 23 Oct 2026, 1300 ET; no cost will be incurred by respondents.