NGA - Boosting Innovative GEOINT - Science & Technology Broad Agency Announcement (BIG-ST BAA): Topic # 07 – Lidar Analysis for Surface & Environmental Reconnaissance (LASER)

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is soliciting proposals under its Boosting Innovative GEOINT-Science & Technology Broad Agency Announcement (BIG-ST BAA) for Topic 07, Lidar Analysis for Surface & Environmental Reconnaissance (LASER), with proposals due December 21, 2026 and questions due October 8, 2026. NGA intends to award one contract valued at $854,000 for a 15-month Phase 2 performance period beginning February 15, 2027, with the award instrument to be either a Procurement Contract or Other Transaction Agreement at the Contracting Officer's discretion.

The procurement seeks development of automated artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to detect and characterize three-dimensional signatures of surface and subsurface objects using NASA's space-based lidar systems (ICESat-2 and GEDI). Offerors must deliver prototype AI/ML detection capabilities with detection accuracy within 1 meter for underwater targets and centimeter-scale accuracy for above-ground targets, achieving Probability of Detection greater than 75% and Probability of Error less than 25%. Work will be performed at the contractor's facility and NGA's facility in Springfield, Virginia, at the Unclassified/FOUO classification level. NAICS 541715; PSC AC13.

All contractor personnel performing unclassified work with Controlled Unclassified Information access must obtain favorable HSPD-12 adjudication within 60 days of contract start; foreign nationals require prior written Contracting Officer approval. Contractors must implement NIST SP 800-171 cybersecurity standards and ensure cloud service providers meet FedRAMP Moderate baseline standards. Cyber incidents affecting covered defense information require notification to the DoD Cyber Crime Center and Contracting Officer Representative within 72 hours.

Proposed travel costs cannot exceed 8% of total contract price. The project will progress from Technology Readiness Level 4 to TRL 5, with potential to achieve TRL 6. Key deliverables include automated object detection algorithms, AI/ML prototype software with containerized deployment capability (GitHub and OpenShift preferred), comprehensive technical documentation, test plans, transition plans, and final demonstration. Abstracts are due October 28, 2026; abstract feedback will be provided within 30 calendar days before proposal submission.

Evaluation weighs scientific and technical merit and mission alignment using a confidence-rating methodology. Proposers must comply with Research Security Training requirements, NSPM-33 foreign influence mitigation, Common Disclosure Forms submission upon award selection, and Program Protection Implementation Plan development. Government will furnish the SCuBA algorithm, preliminary ICESat-2 data, and a list of target objects and collection areas at contract kickoff.