The National Weather Service (NWS) is preparing for commissioning the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) within the next two years beginning with the completion of the Build 4 series software loads. AWIPS will form the center of operations at the field offices in the NWS' Stage 2 modernization effort. AWIPS will be the primary integrator of all data products and services at all NWS field sites while providing capacity for local modeling and applications.
In preparation for commissioning AWIPS, the NWS will conduct an extensive Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) encompassing system performance, communications, maintenance, and forecaster acceptance during the second half of 1999. The Commissioning OT&E will evaluate the system against the commissioning criteria to determine whether the system is ready for commissioning. This paper will describe the process that the OT&E will follow in assessing the system performance in field operations and its readiness for commissioning.