ATON Battery Packs

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking to purchase ATON battery packs from Warehouse Battery Outlet, Inc. on a sole source basis. The battery packs are used in real-time ocean current measurement systems that are installed on U.S. Coast Guard aids-to-navigation buoys. The systems use an acoustic Doppler current profiler sensor to measure ocean currents and provide real-time data to NOAA's Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services. The purchase is for existing stations in CO-OPS' network of environmental monitoring stations. * The ATON battery packs have been the standard battery pack used by CO-OPS for over 20 years. * The battery packs were tested by CO-OPS to ensure they can power the systems through a full deployment and are not adversely affected by harsh environmental conditions. * Significant engineering effort was utilized to ensure all interior components fit in the space available and are of appropriate materials and quality. * Implementing different components will result in additional cost and resources, as well as delays for testing, training, and purchase of support equipment.