2QFY25 NOAA Commercial Satellite Data General RFI.pdf

Posting Type: Request for Information

Posting Date: March 14, 2025

Response Date: April 15, 2025 [2:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time]

Title: NOAA NESDIS Commercial Satellite Data-as-a-Service (Including Weather and Space Environmental Data) Request for Information

Contracting Officer: Suzanna Espinoza

This is a Request for Information (RFI). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) is soliciting information on commercial satellite environmental data and related capabilities available in the FY2026 through FY2032 timeframe that are currently on-orbit or planned to be on-orbit. This RFI is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a request for proposals or solicitation for a contract or grant award, nor does it obligate the Government in any way. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with responding to this request.

Background

The NOAA Commercial Space Policy and the NESDIS Commercial Space Activities Assessment Process call for NOAA to explore and, where appropriate, pursue demonstration projects to assess the viability of assimilating commercially-provided satellite data and products to improve weather forecasting and diversify NOAA’s portfolio of data collection capabilities. The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Weather Act) authorized a Pilot Program for the purchase and evaluation of commercial weather data. Additionally, the Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow Act (PROSWIFT Act) directs NOAA to improve the nation's ability to predict and prepare for space weather events and encourages the development of new space weather modeling and simulation tools to improve the accuracy of space weather forecasts.

Consequently, NOAA initiated the Commercial Weather Data Pilot (CWDP) projects to facilitate such efforts. NOAA’s strategy is to issue General RFIs to gain actionable information from the commercial sector on new data types and emerging technologies.

Purpose

The purpose of this RFI is to solicit information from the industry to support U.S.

Government agencies in planning the use of commercial space-based environmental observation capabilities. NOAA is requesting information on commercial satellite environmental data and related capabilities available from FY2026 to FY2032, either https://www.noaa.gov/organization/administration/nao-217-109-noaa-commercial-space-policy https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/s3/2021-10/NESDIS_Commercial_Space_Activities_Assessment_Process_Final_1.6.17.pdf https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/s3/2021-10/NESDIS_Commercial_Space_Activities_Assessment_Process_Final_1.6.17.pdf https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/353/text https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/353/text https://www.congress.gov/116/plaws/publ181/PLAW-116publ181.pdf https://www.congress.gov/116/plaws/publ181/PLAW-116publ181.pdf currently on orbit or planned to be on orbit, that contribute to NOAA’s diverse mission objectives. Responses to this RFI will be used to inform the NOAA NESDIS Commercial Data Program (CDP) of the industry capabilities for Commercial Weather Data Pilot (CWDP) projects, operational data purchases, and other applications in the areas of terrestrial weather and space weather. NOAA may use the results of the RFI in future Requests for Proposals (RFPs). Each RFP will contain the data quality, timeframe, test data periods, and other details as outlined in the respective Statement of Work.

Scope of Information Requested

I. NOAA provides satellite data and products today within the Thematic Product Areas and Product Categories (REQ-001) listed in the NESDIS Level Requirements (NLR) Document. NOAA is interested in augmenting current capabilities with commercially-provided space-based data and related capabilities.

Table 1 illustrates the Thematic Product Areas and Product Categories from the NLR and designates those which are higher priority.

Table 1. Product and Priority Breakdown:

Product Area/Category/Product Priority

Atmosphere

● Atmospheric Composition and Air Quality

● Atmospheric Water Vapor Higher Priority

● Atmospheric Temperature Higher Priority

● Clouds Higher Priority

● Lightning

● Precipitation Higher Priority

● Radiation Budget

● Tropical Cyclone Characteristics Higher Priority

● Volcanic Eruption Characteristics

● Winds Higher Priority

Cryosphere

● Lake and Sea Ice https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/sites/g/files/anmtlf151/files/2021-08/NESDIS-Level-Requirements_V2.0%20DUSO%20Signed_e-signed_12-28-20.pdf https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/sites/g/files/anmtlf151/files/2021-08/NESDIS-Level-Requirements_V2.0%20DUSO%20Signed_e-signed_12-28-20.pdf https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/sites/g/files/anmtlf151/files/2021-08/NESDIS-Level-Requirements_V2.0%20DUSO%20Signed_e-signed_12-28-20.pdf

● Snow and Glaciers

Land and Surface Hydrology

● Fires Higher Priority

● Flood

● Surface Moisture

● Surface Temperature

● Vegetation

Oceans, Freshwater, and Coasts

● Biology and Biogeochemistry

● Surface Height

● Topography and Bathymetry

● Water Pollution

● Water Temperature and Salinity

Space

● Heliosphere

● Ionosphere Higher Priority

● Thermospheric Density

● Magnetosphere Higher Priority

● Solar

II. In addition to the Product areas specified in Table 1, NOAA is also interested in

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) radio occultation (RO) capabilities.

The NOAA NESDIS CDP currently procures GNSS-RO data from solicitations through the Radio Occultation Data Buy 2 (RODB-2) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) vehicle, providing neutral atmosphere and Ionospheric products as specified in the RODB-2 IDIQ SOW. NOAA is especially interested in low latency, highly accurate GNSS-RO-derived Ionospheric products such as total electron content (TEC) and scintillation. In addition, NOAA is interested in obtaining these data from various orbits and local time windows, including those other than the 0900-1100 and 2100-2300 equatorial crossing times.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eK19qp4yA8zRQ8Be1x0Lifc7TOUhtwC8/view?usp=drive_link

Submission Instructions

Vendors are requested to submit capability statements describing their company’s qualifications, expertise, products, and data delivery methods addressing one or more of the Product Areas listed above in Table 1. Please include the following key elements:

I. Business Information A. Company Overview: A brief introduction to the company including its name, address, office locations, mission, years in business, company size, number of employees, annual revenue, parent company if any, and core values.

B. Corporate Data: Business information such as:

1. D-U-N-S Number

2. NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes

3. Unique Entity ID (UEI) number

4. Cage Code

5. Any current SBA small business designations

6. Any certifications, like ISO, Minority-Owned, Veteran-Owned, Women-

Owned Business, etc.

C. Core Competencies: A description of the company’s primary products, services, and specialized skills.

D. Differentiators: What sets the company apart from competitors, such as unique strengths, specialized technologies, methodologies, or customer service excellence.

E. Corporate Leadership: A brief overview of corporate structure, leadership, and key team members and their qualifications, highlighting their expertise.

F. Past Performance: Examples of previous work, including successful projects, notable clients, relevant contracts or partnerships, and at least three years of past revenue streams. Include descriptions of the following:

1. Corporate history

2. Resources

3. Affiliations

4. Other Markets being served

5. Other information that demonstrates the viability to provide sustainable operations and data services.

G. Contact Information: Key points of contact within the company, such as the primary contact person’s name, title, email, and phone number.

II. Capability Information A. A description of the capabilities or plans to establish capabilities for each category or product from Table 1 above, or other category of product if applicable. Ensure each category is properly prioritized. This includes satellite instruments and assets currently on-orbit or planned to be on-orbit, the spacecraft provider, launch dates, launch vehicle, orbit configuration, inclination, ground system architecture (including service providers), operational status timeline, and a schedule for sustaining/replenishing the capabilities to support a Pilot demonstration of the category or product in the FY 2026-2027 timeframe.

B. Projected costs and associated business models, including the degree of government commitment required and what non-government markets are currently utilizing or purchasing the services.

C. Business risks to the proposed approach and the means for mitigating those risks.

D. Price models for proposed services, and associated licensing terms for redistribution by NOAA to partner agencies (to include US and foreign) and academia for the purpose of forecasting and research. Attachment 1 provides examples of licensing options for which NOAA is interested in understanding costs. However, respondents may include other licensing options - including geographically dependent licensing.

E. Measures taken to ensure service reliability through data supply contracts, in case of technical failures (such as issues with the launch, spacecraft, payload, or data transmission, etc).

F. Approaches to conform with complex data requirements associated with the category or product, such as precise and accurate calibration, end-to-end latency, orbital parameters including equatorial crossing time (ECT) and local time of ascending node (LTAN), global or regional coverage, revisit rate, spatial resolution, data quality, spectral band characteristics, continuity between system generations, quality assurance, independent verification and validation, and structuring data/metadata to facilitate fusion with other sources.

Responses shall be limited to 20 pages, including a one-page executive summary, supporting appendices, title page(s), tables, graphics, images, and figures. Each page should be formatted to fit an 8.5 by 11-inch document, with content area not exceeding 6.5 by 9 inches. Use a 12-point proportional font aligned to the left.

Information must be submitted in Microsoft Word DOCX or Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

Capability statements must be received via email by the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist at the address provided below no later than 2:00 pm Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Late submissions will not be considered. The Government is not obligated to review responses received after the deadline.

Use of Information Received

This RFI is for informational purposes and does not guarantee the Government will issue an RFP or award a contract for supplies or services. The information received could impact the Government’s decision to release an RFP or multiple RFPs in the future, but does not obligate the government in any way. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with responding to this request.

Proprietary information will be handled in accordance with the applicable government regulations. Vendors are advised to clearly mark proprietary information as ‘Proprietary’ on each page to ensure proper handling. Any unmarked information will be considered public domain. The Government is not liable for any damages resulting from proprietary information not properly identified.

Respondents are hereby notified that as part of this evaluation process, NOAA intends to share the information obtained with the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology Working Group for Interagency Coordination of Commercial Weather Data (OFCM/WG-ICCWD) to facilitate interagency coordination. This information may also be shared with NOAA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the Department of the Interior for the purpose of evaluating potential future procurement. Respondents are also informed that during the RFI evaluation process, agencies may involve Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, Cooperative Institutes, and support contractors to assist with the evaluation.

Participation in this RFI is not a requirement for future procurement opportunities. Vendors who do not submit a response to this RFI are still eligible to submit proposals in response to any future RFP(s) that NOAA may release.

Points of Contact Suzanna A. Espinoza Contracting Officer Email: suzanna.espinoza@noaa.gov

Cherron Bennett-Pettus Contract Specialist Email: cherron.bennett-pettus@noaa.gov

Comments and Questions

Comments and questions regarding this RFI shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist at the email addresses provided above by March 27, mailto:cherron.bennett-pettus@noaa.gov

2025 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time. Respondents are advised that questions submitted and Government responses may be posted publicly on SAM.gov, although the identity of the requesting organization will be withheld.

Attachment 1: Licensing Options

Option 1:

Unlimited right to distribute all data to any entity immediately after receipt at NOAA, with no restrictions on their use or further distribution (distribution rights included in the unlimited data rights definition at FAR 52.227-14). Option 1 is the preferred licensing option for NOAA operational commercial data contracts.

Option 2:

Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, WMO-designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers, members of the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites, non-profit entities and academic entities, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non-commercial use but not for further distribution. Option 2 is a preferred licensing option for NOAA Commercial Weather Data Pilot contracts.

Option 2A:

Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, WMO-designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers, members of the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites, non-profit entities and academic entities, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non-commercial use but not for further distribution. Right to distribute all data to any entity with no restriction on use or further distribution 24 hours after receipt at NOAA. Option 2a is a preferred licensing option for NOAA Commercial Weather Data Pilot contracts.

Option 3:

Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, WMO-designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers, and members of the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non-commercial use but not for further distribution.

Option 3A:

Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, WMO-designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers, and members of the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non-commercial use but not for further distribution. Right to distribute all data to any entity with no restriction on use or further distribution 24 hours after receipt at NOAA.

Option 4:

Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non-commercial use but not for further distribution (except to others to use on their behalf, including contractors and grantees).

Option 4A:

Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non-commercial use but not for further distribution (except to others to use on their behalf, including contractors and grantees). Right to distribute all data to any entity with no restriction on use or further distribution 24 hours after receipt at NOAA.

Option 5:

No right to distribute any data outside NOAA immediately after receipt at NOAA (except to others to use on its behalf, including contractors and grantees).

Option 5A:

No right to distribute any data outside NOAA immediately after receipt at NOAA (except to others to use on its behalf, including contractors and grantees). Right to distribute all data to any entity with no restriction on use or further distribution 24 hours after receipt at NOAA.