Commercial Alternatives for GOES Rebroadcast (GRB) and High Rate Information Transmission (HRIT) / Emergency Managers’ Warning Information Network (EMWIN) Services
Closed Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- RFI-NOAA-GRB-2026-001
- Agency
-
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of Commerce
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 517410 Satellite Telecommunications
- Place of performance
- Suitland, Maryland 20746, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a Request for Information (RFI-NOAA-GRB-2026-001) on August 17, 2026, seeking commercial market solutions to replace government-operated GOES Rebroadcast (GRB) and HRIT/Emergency Managers' Warning Information Network (EMWIN) broadcast services with a commercially managed "Data-as-a-Service" model. Responses are due August 31, 2026, at 3:00 PM EDT. This RFI is for market research and planning purposes only and does not constitute a formal solicitation or guarantee of future contract award.
NOAA seeks information on the feasibility, technical approach, and cost-effectiveness of transitioning from government-owned RF broadcast infrastructure, aligning with the Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) program targeting 2032 implementation and potential deployment between 2028 and the 2050s. Respondents must provide a Capability Statement not exceeding 15 pages addressing technical approach, service delivery model, and Rough Order of Magnitude cost estimates.
Key performance requirements include data rates of 31 Mbps uncoded for GRB replacement and 400 Kbps uncoded for HRIT/EMWIN replacement; delivery latency under 5 seconds for high-priority emergency alerts and under 10 seconds for other products; 99.5% system availability; FISMA "High" or "Moderate" compliance; global reach via RF links without significant end-user capital expenditure; bit error rates of 1e-10 for GRB and 1e-8 for HRIT/EMWIN; and cyber/RF interference mitigation.
Clarification questions are due August 24, 2026, at 3:00 PM EDT. Submit responses in PDF format to Mark Brady (mark.e.brady@noaa.gov) or Toby Hutchings (toby.hutchings@noaa.gov).
Notice text
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)
Document Number: RFI-NOAA-GRB-2026-001
Title: Commercial Alternatives for GOES Rebroadcast (GRB) and High Rate Information Transmission (HRIT) / Emergency Managers’ Warning Information Network (EMWIN) Services
Summary & Purpose
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) solely for market research and planning purposes in accordance with FAR Part 10 and FAR 15.201(e). NOAA is seeking information from commercial industry partners regarding the feasibility, technical approach, and cost-effectiveness of replacing current GOES Rebroadcast (GRB) and HRIT/EMWIN broadcasts with a commercially managed "Data-as-a-Service" model. This strategy aligns with planning for future geostationary environmental observations under the Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) program (targeting a ~2032 transition), as well as potential commercial capabilities during the GOES-R operational timeframe (2028–2050s).
Key Technical Objectives
NOAA is seeking market feedback on commercial solutions capable of meeting or exceeding target performance parameters: Data Rates: GRB replacement ≥ 31 Mbps uncoded; HRIT/EMWIN replacement ≥ 400 Kbps uncoded. Delivery Latency: < 5 seconds for high-priority emergency alerts; < 10 seconds for all other products. Availability & Security: System availability ≥ 99.5%; compliance with FISMA "High" or "Moderate" standards. Global Reach: Ability to serve a global direct readout user base over radio frequency (RF) links without requiring significant end-user capital expenditure.
Submission & Schedule
RFI Release Date: August 17, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT
Clarification Questions Due: August 24, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT
Final Response Submission Deadline: August 31, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT
Submission Format: PDF Capability Statement not to exceed 15 pages.
Points of Contact
Contracting Specialist: Mark Brady (mark.e.brady@noaa.gov)
Technical Program Manager: Toby Hutchings (toby.hutchings@noaa.gov)
Disclaimer: This notice does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bids (IFB), or Request for Quotation (RFQ). The Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in responding to this notice. Please refer to the attached document (RFI-NOAA-GRB-2026-001.pdf) for complete submission instructions and detailed evaluation criteria.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| RFI-NOAA-GRB-2026-001.pdf |
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