FPS SERVICES

FPS staff provides all-inclusive "Direct Facility Support" for EOL-managed NSF facilities as well as "User Support" services to scientists participating in NSF-funded field campaigns.  All support is done in close collaboration with staff from other EOL facilities.

Pre-Project Planning Services

• Observing Facilities Assessment Panel (OFAP) -related tasks

Provision of facility use advice. Contribution to and review of request documentation.  Preparation of facility feasibilities and cost estimates. Conduct and support of OFAP meetings.

• Preparation and submission of supplemental project proposals

Establishment of a project office and overall project support. Operations Center space. Command and Control Center support. Special funds for instruments and platforms not covered by the NSF Deployment Pool.

• Meetings (working groups, planning meetings, science meetings, data meetings)

Initial agency coordination meeting. Meeting logistics. Creation of program web sites and program-specific mailing lists. Provision of translators. Multi-national and multi-agency project planning. Meeting report preparation and distribution.

• Requirements assessment including questionnaires

Operations Center. PI requirements. Logistics. Data ingest and archival.

• Documents

Summary reports. Science and implementation plans. Operations plan. Data management plan. Project logistics books/Project information bulletins. Project newsletters/Memorabilia.

• Field site surveys

Facility sites, airports, and operations center space. Immigration/customs. Banking/financial services. Medical facilities. Communications (phones, internet). Supplies (gases, dry ice, diesel, aircraft fuel). Purchased support services (heavy equipment, transportation). Weather-related issues (cold-weather gear, flooding, etc.). Accommodations. Rental cars.

Implementation

• Data management

Establish data management strategy, data policy, and protocol. Define program data needs and identify data sources.    Establish data centers and data exchange procedures. Design project web pages, discussion forms, wikis. Image viewers, format converters, and software development.

• Diplomatic arrangements

Coordination and application of research permits. Coordinate diplomatic and military clearances. Conduct embassy briefings and interactions. Customs and shipping arrangements including waiver of import duties. Negotiate aircraft landing fees.  Indemnification insurance.

• Contracts

Site negotiations and leases. Site preparations and purchased services. Non-NCAR platform negotiations and leases.    Purchase of expendables/supplies (including aircraft). Accommodations. Travel arrangements. Rental vehicles. Project personnel (forecasters, special support staff).

• Operations center

Identify operations center space. Layout of office space. Furniture and supplies procurement. Design and installation of Local Area Network. Provision of computers, projectors, printers, fax, etc.. Physical setup of operations center. Arrangements for utilities (power, heat, cleaning).

• Communications

Arrangements for phones, fax numbers. Arrangements with local internet providers (T1 lines, sat comm. etc.). Provision of radios. Frequency allocations approvals.

• Project infrastructure

Construction (operations center, runway, docks, etc.). Provision of laboratory and storage space. Cable/satellite reception.    Conditioned power, battery backup. Freezers/refrigerators/air conditioning. Portable toilets.

• Fixed base operator services

Space (offices and hangar). Logistics and arrangements. Aircraft fuel price negotiations and supply. Equipment and services (ground power, air conditioning units, sanitary services, etc.)

• Aircraft preparations

Data system installation and preparations. Air traffic control coordination. Dropsonde approvals. Payload assessment, integration, and installation .    Aircraft modifications, upgrade to aircraft infrastructure .    Floor load analyses, EMCs, test flights .    Aircraft coordination meetings and flight planning .    Radio and satellite communications . Real-time display of facility data (ION) .    Sensor calibrations.

• Facility site preparations

Road improvements.  Brush and tree removal. Site preparations (leveling, grading, gravel, compacting). Lightning protection. Power, communications, shelters. Insect and pest control. Security measures (fences, guards).

• Ground-based observing facilities/instrumentation

Facility setup and testing. Packing and shipping. Hazardous material declarations. Instrument design. Hardware manufacturing.

• Health/Safety

International country safety reviews and issues. Operational safety assessment (instrument and hazardous material).   Arrangements for immunizations and medical supplies. Identification of hospitals and emergency services, medical evacuations. Supply of bottled water. Safety briefings/safety bulletins/safety websites. Hazardous materials. Identification and provision of project safety officer.

• Project personnel

Personnel schedules. Students/local personnel hire. Provision of training. Flight certification for NRL P-3. Medical clearances.   Flight waivers, diplomatic clearances. Assistance with visas and travel arrangements.

• Supplies

Gas (helium and calibration gases e.g., nitrogen and oxygen). Chemicals and dry ice. Food and water supply . Diesel fuels for generators. Hardware/machine shop services.

• Transport

Trucks, cranes, barges. Charter flights, helicopters, boats. Cars, vans, bikes, motor scooters.

• Security

Security questionnaire/database. Airport/military base arrangements. Badging. Parking permits. Facility protection (guards, fences).

Field operations

• Operations center

Project/facility coordination and direction. Coordinate special project operations (fixed/mobile). Daily planning process. Set up chat rooms for facility coordination. Data management activities in the field. Air Traffic Control briefings and file flight plans.    Real-time data ingest and archival. Network support (system administration) . Satellite receiving system. Configuration of displays (ZEBRA, IDV). Field catalog (reports, project summaries, data products). Forecast/nowcast services. Daily operations messaging (phones/internet alerts). Science review meetings. Administrative support. Coordination with project scientists/managers. Coordination of staff schedules.

• Meetings

Forecasting meeting. Project/facility status monitoring. Daily planning meeting. Mission evaluation, debriefing/reporting.    Aircrew briefings and debriefings.

• Public relations

Project brochures. Press releases. Visitor, press visit, and tour coordination. Organize project .open house. (i.e. media days). Educational activities. Interactions with local organizations and agencies.

• Facilities

Operations and upgrades. Repairs and maintenance. Pre-, during, and post-field calibrations. Data collection and processing. Staffing and personnel adjustments.

Post-field activities

• Facility wrap-up

Arrangement for heavy equipment required for teardown. Facility teardown. Packing and shipping. Customs. Site restoration. Return of rental equipment (including cars). Post-field calibrations.

• Data management

Data calibration questions and other support. Reprocessing of data sets. Collection of metadata for all program data. Coordination of distributed data archive. Data quality control and assurance. Collection of supporting data. Data processing.    Special data set generation (.composites.). Data integration. Special media products (CD, DVDs). Program long-term data archival and distribution. Organization of data workshops. Data stewardship.

• Post Project Wrap-up

Project evaluations. Thank you letters. Facility debriefings. Reconciliation of budgets. Reports to funding agencies. Organize scientific meetings. Preparation of "white papers". Publications (special issues). Education and outreach. Maintain project web pages.