NOAA notifies SECS of intent to renew contract

President Daniel G. Lester of Southeastern Communication Service, Inc. (SECS) has been notified by the National Oceanic and Administration of the agency’s intent to renew its service contract with the Sarasota based firm. The contract involves technical evaluation and support services for "life-cycle maintenance and catastrophic recovery" of radar towers essential to the national NOAA weather radio network. Since the weather radar towers are relied upon to carry on through storms, extreme temperatures and corrosive environments, they need to withstand a witch’s brew of potential problems — atmospheric corrosion, damaged structural components and tower substructure, and even fasteners loosened by alternating exposure to extreme heat and cold. Any of these can result in the system’s failure to carry out its lifesaving functions. It must therefore rely on the meticulous attention of a firm specializing in this vital maintenance operation. SECS is one of but a few national firms with the depth of experience and expertise needed. Says Lester, "We are proud to have earned NOAA’s confidence and to be a part of supporting the continued operation of this vital service." Among services performed for NOAA are detailed inspection, structural verfication and entire cleaning of frame structures towering some 75 meters (246 ft.) into the air. The towers, stairs and supporting structures are then coated with a specially formulated zinc/epoxy coating and must pass rigorous tests before being accepted as satisfactory. "While our primary focus has been the design, assembly and erection of radar and similar towers and systems used in a wide range of industrial applications, maintenance becomes every bit as important. That’s why we have kept highly trained crews available on a continual basis and almost on a moment’s notice to fulfill these obligations," adds Lester.