Copy of Response_to_NEI_RFI_Questions-v2.0.xlsx

XLSX spreadsheet 24 KB Posted Jul 16, 2024

Attached to: Commercial Non-Earth Imaging (NEI)
Solicitation number: HLL20240610
Issued by: Department of Defense National Geospatial Intelligence Agency

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Written by GovTribe AI · Jul 16, 2024

This document is a series of questions and answers related to a Request for Information (RFI) for Commercial Non-Earth Imaging (NEI) capabilities. The RFI is being issued by the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) to identify unclassified NEI capabilities, including image resolution, data format, data transmission, and processing, exploitation and dissemination (PED) capabilities. Vendors are asked to provide information on their sensor suite capabilities, ability to acquire imagery of non-vendor assets and uncooperative platforms, and their ability to ensure data quality and meet mission planning requirements. The responses to this RFI may inform future commercial NEI requirements and a potential future acquisition in fiscal year 2025.

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File	Type	Posted
NEI_Draft_Statement_of_Work_20240612.pdf	PDF	Jun 12, 2024
NEI RFI 20240612.pdf	PDF	Jun 12, 2024

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Sheet1

	Question/Comment	Document	Section	Question/Suggestion	NGA Answer
	1	RFI	2.2 Performance	Will NGA allow performance in a SCIF approved by another IC agency? And will NGA facilitate SCIF co-use agreements?	The Government is seeking information and feedback from industry to understand if there are any limiting factors that challenge a vendor(s) from satisfying the requirements. Informing the Government of existing SCIF co-use, need for SCIF co-use, existing SCIF, need for SCIF, or no SCIF is a benfitial response.
	2	Draft SOW	10.0 Data Rights	Given the Government is interested in commercial NEI solutions, is it the Government's intent to accept limited rights for data/analytic products, architecture designs, and related deliverables that are vendor proprietary and developed exclusively at private expense?	It's the Government's intenet to acquire commercial NEI solutions within the scope and terms and conditions as specified in Section 10.0 Data Rights. As a goal for this RFI, the Government is seeking information and feedback for the best approach to Data Rights/Ownership of Deliverables.
	3	RFI	4.1	Can the Government clarify page limits? RFI 4.1 states 'not to exceed six pages per capability,' and RFI 3.3 sub-sections state 250-750 word limits.	Microsoft Word for Office or compatible format and shall not exceed six (6) pages of technical writeup per capability, not including artifacts. An additional one (1) page is allotted for graphics. A page is defined as each face of an 8½” x 11” sheet with information contained within a one-inch margin on all sides. Font type shall be Times Roman 12-point. Each item under RFI 3.3 Proposed Concept of Operations is limited to the word count of that item - e.g., item 'a' has a limit of 750 words.
	4	Draft SOW	4.1 Requirements	Does the Government also have broader NEI requirements beyond those specified in the RFI - e.g., Resolution Validation/imaging distance? Would those broader requirements be covered in this draft SOW or a seperate acquisition?	The Government is seeking information and feedback from industry to understand existing, new, and future capabilities and technologies of commercial NEI. Responses to this RFI may inform commerical NEI requirements beyond those specified in the RFI - e.g., Resolution Validation/imaging distance. Responses received from this RFI will be evaluated for applicability to this draft SOW or to a future acqusition.
	5	RFI	3.2.2	May prior offers in response to RFI section 3.2 'Experience' include international agreements?	The Government is interested in receiving relevant information that is appropriate to what's described under 3.2.2, if it the response will help inform this acqusition.
	6	RFI	3.0, 4.3	Can the Government clarify whether proprietary information is permitted or not?	The Government is interested in receiving relevant information that is appropriate to what's described under sections 3.0 and 4.3. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned
	7	N/A	N/A	Are vendors expected to satisfy all requirements in the SOW or identify which requirements we can meet in our responses?	The Government is seeking information and feedback from industry to understand existing, new, and future capabilities and technologies of commercial NEI. Clearly identifying the requirements that can be satsified or partial satisfied, and/or identifying which requirements can be met will provide helpful responses.
	8	SOW	4.1.2	Please provide wavelength bands for the following:
a.	Panchromatic
b.	Visible Near Infra-Red (VNIR)
c.	Short-Wave Infra-Red (SWIR)
d.	Middle-Wave Infra-Red (MWIR)
e.	Long-Wave Infra-Red (LWIR)	These wavelengths bands within the electromagnetic spectrum are approximately:

a. Panchromatic (400-700 nm)

b. VNIR (400 - 1000 nm)

c. SWIR (1 - 2.5 μm)

d. MWIR (3 - 5 μm)

e. LWIR (8 - 14 μm)

9	SOW	4.1.2	Please clarify whether image and video are both required, and whether data must be provided for all bands. Alternatively, is the intent of the paragraph to require the specified formats for all imaging operations in whatever band is imaged? If the latter, how does this differ from the requirement in paragraph 4.2.1?	The Government is seeking information and feedback from industry to understand existing, new, and future capabilities and technologies of commercial NEI. Providing details whether a company's capabilities can satisfy image, video, and/or both requirement is a helpful response that may inform this acquisition, and specify the bands available for each. Helpful RFI responses will include details about formats available for imaging operations and to what band. Responses to this RFI will assist the Government in understanding the file format available.
10	SOW	4.5.1	Does the system need to image all faces at each distance listed in paragraph 4.1.1? If not, what distance is required for imaging all faces?	Providing details about the company's imaging capabilities is a helpful response that may inform this acquisition. The Government is seeking information and feedback from industry to understand existing, new, and future capabilities and technologies of commercial NEI.
11	SOW	4.7	Please define PED as it pertains to this requirement.	PED stands for processing, exploitation and dissemination. Exploitation may include annotation and mensuration of identifiable satellite features.
12	SOW	4.8	Imaging uncooperative targets requires at least two maneuverable spacecraft. Furthermore, capabilities and CONOPs of the uncooperative target are not specified. Since we may not have two spacecraft in the same orbit, can we demonstrate non-cooperative imaging instead of uncooperative imaging?	The Government is seeking information and feedback from industry to understand existing, new, and future capabilities and technologies of commercial NEI, including any limitations to satisfying the requirements.
13	SOW	Table 1	Performance Objectives. For the accuracy requirement, what does it mean to have a maximum accuracy of correct target in frame in 90% of the imagery? Should this requirement be interpreted as a min 70% threshold, 90% objective?	Yes, 70% threshold and 90% objective.
14	SOW	Table 1	For the quality objective, can you define SORS and provide examples of SORS 8 – 10 imagery and a rubric for interpreting it? Also, should the min/max requirement be interpreted as a minimum quality threshold/objective?	Currently the SORS standard document is U//FOUO making it unreleasable.
15	SOW	6	Can you give a rough estimate of ATP month? Our next launch is October 2024 so we want to verify we won’t be asked for imagery before that.	Responses to this RFI will assist in refining the commercial NEI requirements and inform the acquisition through the remainder of FY24 and into FY25.
16	SOW	8	The paragraph discusses GFP but doesn’t mention GFI. Are there any GFI tools or algorithms (e.g., NITF image conversion) that will be provided or recommended?	An unclassified NEI NITF standard in currently in review by NRO CSPO and will be provided upon request.
17	SOW	2.2.2	Is an NGA approved SCIF required for any work done at the contractor’s location, or only for classified work done at the contractor’s location? If the SCIF is under construction but not yet complete and approved, will that prohibit us from bidding on a proposal?	An NGA approved SCIF is required only for classified work done at the contractor's location; not any work done at the contractor's location. Lack of an approved SCIF at this point in time will not preclude your offer from being considered. Also see the response to the previous SCIF question.
18	SOW	4.1	How is a capability defined for purposes of a technical response?	Either a capability that is already on orbit and operational or one that is at a mature stage of design, along with the necessary manufacturing capabilities and a plan for securing rideshare or dedicated launch services.
19	N/A		What does NGA believe the timeline for an RFP to be?	TBD - Assuming NGA receives funding for this effort, it would not happen until later in FY25.
20	N/A		Can the responder choose not to answer select paragraphs in Section 3.3 Proposed Concept of Operations of the RFI?	Yes, that is up to each vendor's discretion on how you want to prepare a response.
21	N/A		Is a cover page excluded from the 6-page limitation?	A cover page will not count against the set page limitation.
22	SOW	4.7.1	What does the requester mean by “component identification and mensuration” in Draft SOW Section 4.7.1 “The contractor shall create analytic products to include target component identification and mensuration”?	Create a graphic product in which the contractor provides annotated imagery identifying and providing measurements for visible satellite components such as satellite bus, solar panels, antennas, telescopes, star trackers, radiators, etc.

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File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated Jul 16, 2024.