NOAA's National Weather Service has awarded a five-year, $32.4 million contract (which includes a potential award fee) to Science Applications International Corp. to provide crucial technical services to NOAA's National Data Buoy Center at Stennis Space Center, Miss.

SAIC, headquartered in San Diego, will provide comprehensive technical services to the National Data Buoy Center in the areas of engineering, operations, data quality, information technology, property, transportation, quality assurance, safety and environmental compliance, among other technical support.

The National Data Buoy Center is responsible for developing, operating and maintaining a network of 68 moored buoy and 56 Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) stations in the deep ocean and coastal zone. These stations measure barometric pressure, wind speed, direction and gusts; air and sea-surface temperatures; and some measure wave heights. Each hour, these observations are relayed around the world through transmissions from NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites. Once the data reach the National Weather Service, the agency uses it to prepare forecasts, monitor forecast accuracy, and issue coastal marine warnings, which can save lives and property.