Request For Information (RFI): National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commercial Enterprise Operations and Ground System Service
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- NOAA_C-EOGSS_RFI
- Agency
-
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of Commerce
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541330 Engineering Services
- Place of performance
- Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
NOAA is seeking market research through this Request for Information (RFI) to explore commercial satellite operations and ground system services for three critical satellite constellations: the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES-R), and Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1). The agency aims to reduce operational costs by transitioning current on-orbit operations responsibilities to a commercial satellite operations service, including command and control functions, launch support, early orbit activation, and future mission support for JPSS spacecraft planned for fiscal years 2028 (NOAA-22) and 2033 (NOAA-23). Respondents must provide detailed information on reference architectures, concept of operations, business models, transition processes, potential risks, and rough order of magnitude cost estimates while maintaining specific operational performance metrics such as data downlink latency, mission availability, and continuous sensor data collection. The procurement will be conducted under FAR Part 12 for commercial products and services, with responses limited to 30 pages and targeting businesses under NAICS code 541330 (Engineering Services). The original questions deadline was September 12, 2025, with RFI responses now due November 3, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time following Amendment 001.
This opportunity carries no set-aside designation and is open to both large and small businesses, with small business size standards set at $15 million under the Engineering Services NAICS code. No incumbent vendor currently exists for this commercial satellite operations service, as NOAA is exploring this transition from government-operated systems to commercial solutions for the first time. The RFI does not specify an estimated contract value or budget range, requesting that vendors provide their own cost estimates and business models for supporting operations potentially through fiscal year 2040. The service timeline encompasses a 13-year ground system operations lifecycle, with vendors expected to propose transition processes that can move operations from government ground systems to vendor-provided solutions within a single calendar year. Respondents may address the full scope of all three satellite constellations or propose solutions for any subset of the scoped missions, though NOAA's preference is for a single commercial service provider capable of operating all current on-orbit constellations.
Notice text
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
Amendment 001 extends the due date for submissions and provides answers to questions received.
NOAA is looking for information on opportunities to reduce operational costs through commercialization of satellite operations, as well as satellite command and control functions, via procurements under FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services. This RFI outlines the potential activities for transitioning the current on-orbit operations responsibilities for the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)-R constellations, as well as Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) observatory, to a commercial satellite operations service. The Government also requests information on commercial services’ ability to support the launch, early orbit, and activation of future JPSS missions, including the new JPSS spacecraft planned to launch in Government Fiscal Year (FY) 2028 (NOAA-22) and FY2033 (NOAA-23). This RFI does not include scope for any other planned and/or forecasted NOAA Missions.
Additionally, the Government does not intend to prescribe or preclude specific technical solutions or combinations of solutions in response to this RFI. Furthermore, respondents may provide information on how they can facilitate commercial operations or ground system services for any subset of scoped missions. However, it is the Government's intent to gain market research on how commercial industry is capable of operating all current on-orbit constellations, specifically JPSS, GOES-R, and SWFO-L1, utilizing a single commercial satellite operations service.
Questions Due Date: September 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Please see the complete RFI for additional details.
Update #1 ·
NOAA is looking for information on opportunities to reduce operational costs through commercialization of satellite operations, as well as satellite command and control functions, via procurements under FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services. This RFI outlines the potential activities for transitioning the current on-orbit operations responsibilities for the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)-R constellations, as well as Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) observatory, to a commercial satellite operations service. The Government also requests information on commercial services’ ability to support the launch, early orbit, and activation of future JPSS missions, including the new JPSS spacecraft planned to launch in Government Fiscal Year (FY) 2028 (NOAA-22) and FY2033 (NOAA-23). This RFI does not include scope for any other planned and/or forecasted NOAA Missions.
Additionally, the Government does not intend to prescribe or preclude specific technical solutions or combinations of solutions in response to this RFI. Furthermore, respondents may provide information on how they can facilitate commercial operations or ground system services for any subset of scoped missions. However, it is the Government's intent to gain market research on how commercial industry is capable of operating all current on-orbit constellations, specifically JPSS, GOES-R, and SWFO-L1, utilizing a single commercial satellite operations service.
Questions Due Date: September 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Please see the complete RFI for additional details.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| NOAA C_EOGSS RFI_Amendment 001.pdf | ||
| NOAA C_EOGSS RFI_Amendment 001_Questions and Answers.pdf | ||
| NOAA C_EOGSS RFI.pdf | ||
| NOAA C_EOGSS RFI Pricing Attachment.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet |
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| Opportunity | Agency | Set-aside | Responses due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Station as a Service | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | No set-aside |
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