GEO Ground System SE Industry Day QA Final.pdf

GEO Ground System Sustainment & Evolution RFI Q&A 1

GEO Ground System Sustainment & Evolution Industry Day Q&A

Questions & Answers (Q&A)

1. Are multi-cloud capabilities a requirement for the system?

No. Cloud agnosticism is a general design principal NESDIS strives for. GEO intends to leverage the NESDIS Common Cloud Framework (NCCF), which is based on Amazon Web Services (AWS). The Ground System has functional and performance requirements that require architectural hosting implementation recommendations from the vendor.

2. Will there be a remote option? I am definitely interested in attending but have a potential conflict.

No. This event is in-person only.

3. What is the relationship between this Ground System and the Space Weather Next Ground System?

Currently the SWFO-L1 ground software is hosted on the GEO Ground System infrastructure and the SWFO-L1 ground system resides within the NOAA5050 GEO Ground System security boundary. As a guiding principle, NESDIS programs are utilizing enterprise assets to the maximum extent possible, however, the relationship between the ground systems for the two programs, to include future SWO missions, are being assessed at this time.

4. What is vision and relationship between SWX and GEOXO ground system?

Currently the SWFO-L1 ground software is hosted on the GEO Ground System infrastructure and the SWFO-L1 ground system resides within the NOAA5050 GEO Ground System security boundary. As a guiding principle, NESDIS programs are utilizing enterprise assets to the maximum extent possible, however, the relationship between the ground systems for the two programs, to include future SWO missions, are being assessed at this time.

5. Are there specific aspects of this program that you are setting aside for small business interests?

NOAA is in the very early stages of market research and acquisition planning. Decisions on set aside or small business participation goals will be made at an appropriate time in the future.

6. Are you engaging the services of the Commerce Acquisition Innovation Lab when planning this procurement?

& Evolution RFI Q&A 2

NOAA is in the very early stages of market research and acquisition planning. The techniques and tools that will be used have not yet been defined.

7. What types of software and hardware challenges is NOAA having with GEO Ground System?

Please refer to the draft RFI documents included in this notice for additional insight on system challenges and evolution needs. This includes a PDF copy of the presentation from the Industry Day event.

8. We would like to understand the Government's intentions and processes to ensure meaningful socioeconomic set-aside/small business participation in this procurement.

NOAA is in the very early stages of market research and acquisition planning. Decisions on set aside and/or small business participation goals will be made at an appropriate time in the future.

9. Will AWS be the required cloud provider for GMSE or will the bidders be allowed to propose other FedRAMP approved cloud solutions?

Yes, AWS is the primary cloud service provider (CSP) for GEO Ground System services. The GEO Ground System services will have an interface to the NESDIS Common Cloud Framework, which is based on AWS services.

10. Will a list of all software products (COTS, GOTS, and others) be made available in advance of a GMSE draft RFP?

Yes

11. What size are your existing Tri Band Antennas?

16.4m (source: https://www.goes-r.gov/ground/facilities-antennas.html)

12. Will these bands change? If so, then what bands are expected/planned for?

No, but additional antennas may be purchased to accommodate increased capacity demand and those antennas may not all be tri-band but a mixture of tri-band and dual-band antenna.

13. While GeoXO launches are planned in 2032, what are the expected baseline and surge data processing requirements?

Please refer to the Background Information attachment to the draft RFI information which included launch schedules for the new imager (GeoI) and sounder (GeoS) spacecraft to determine the dates of data increases and projected volume differences.

14. How do you plan to "gracefully" expand these data processes as more satellites/capabilities become available?

As discussed at the Industry Day, at the end of the GGSS contract GEO anticipates having the Data Operations element operating in AWS. While on-prem data centers have fixed capacity and may not be able to scale gracefully with increased demand, the cloud affords new opportunities to scale horizontally and/or vertically for whatever compute or storage capacity is required.

15. When will the RFI come out?

& Evolution RFI Q&A 3

Within a few weeks after the GEO Ground Industry Day event.

16. What are some of your issues, concerns, and challenges with the existing system?

Please refer to the draft RFI documents included in this notice for additional insight on system challenges and evolution needs. The updated Industry Day Notice on SAM.gov now includes a PDF copy of the presentation from the Industry Day event.

17. Is there an expected cost profile associated with this acquisition?

No cost profile has been determined as we are early in the market research phase of the acquisition.

Decisions on the cost profile will be made at the appropriate time in the future.

Reference: SAM.gov Industry Day Notice