Government as Customer of Space Commerce
Commercial Space-Based Earth & Space Weather Observations
In December 2007, NOAA posted a Request for Information (RFI) in an effort to identify interested parties capable of providing commercial solutions to meet U.S. Government requirements for space-based earth and space weather observations.
The primary areas of interest included: the availability of space and resources on commercially manifested satellite missions (i.e., hosted payloads); commercial satellite systems that complement or meet U.S. Group on Earth Observations (USGEO) observing requirements; and potential commercial earth and space weather observation data buys.
The information gathered through this process is being used to facilitate future government mission and resource allocation planning.
View the NOAA RFI... Read more about hosted payloads... Read more about data buys...Industry Day
To facilitate the preparation of RFI responses by interested parties, NOAA hosted an Industry Day at the Department of Commerce. Several dozen industry attendees participated, representing large, medium, and small firms. The Industry Day served as a venue for government representatives to present agency missions and goals as they relate to earth observing capabilities, and examples of space-based earth and space weather observation requirements.
Requirements Set A
On August 4, 2008, NOAA issued a Request for Quote (RFQ) for price validation and feasibility studies for the use of commercial services to meet space-based earth and space weather observation requirements. The RFQ described twelve data collection requirements and offered contracts to study ways to meet five of them ("Set A") using commercial sources.
View the RFQ for Requirements Set A...On September 17, 2008, NOAA awarded eight study contracts with a total value of $200,000 to five U.S. companies, including:
- Iridium (2 contracts, $50,000), to study the feasibility of commercial provision of solar irradiance and GPS radio occultation data;
- Space Services Inc. (2 contracts, $50,000), to study the feasibility of commercial provision of solar wind and coronal mass ejection data;
- Orbcomm (2 contracts, $50,000), to study the feasibility of commercial provision of solar irradiance, GPS radio occultation, and coronal mass ejection data;
- Microsat Systems ($25,000), to study the feasibility of commercial provision of solar irradiance data; and
- GeoOptics ($25,000), to study the feasibility of commercial provision of GPS radio occultation data.
Requirements Set B
On March 20, 2009, NOAA issued a solitication for additional technical and cost feasibility studies covering the following observation requirements ("Set B"):
- Total and Clear Sky Radiative Flux
- Sea Surface Height/Topography
- Geostationary High Spectral Atmospheric Profiles
- Ocean Color
On June 8, 2009, NOAA announced the award of ten study contracts with a total value of $250,000 to eight U.S. companies and universities, including:
- Iridium (2 contracts, $50,000), for studies validating the price and technical feasibility of commercial sea surface topography measurements and earth radiation budget measurements;
- ITT Space Systems (2 contracts, $50,000), for studies validating the price and technical feasibility of commercial geostationary atmospheric soundings and ocean color measurements;
- GeoEye ($25,000), for studies validating the price and technical feasibility of commercial ocean color measurements;
- Space Systems/Loral ($25,000), for studies validating the price and technical feasibility of commercial geostationary atmospheric soundings;
- Mississippi State University ($25,000), for studies validating the price and technical feasibility of commercial ocean color measurements;
- Orbital ($25,000), for studies validating the price and technical feasibility of commercial earth radiation budget measurements;
- Sierra Nevada Corporation ($25,000), for studies validating the price and technical feasibility of commercial earth radiation budget measurements; and
- Surrey Satellite Technology US ($25,000), for studies validating the price and technical feasibility of commercial earth radiation budget measurements, sea surface topography measurements, and geostationary atmospheric soundings.
Requirements Set C
On August 6, 2009, NOAA issued a third solicitation covering the following three observation requirements ("Set C").
- Atmospheric Constituents (Ozone Profiles)
- Atmospheric Constituents (Aerosol Polarimetry)
- Wind Speed and Direction Profiles (Tropospheric and Stratospheric)
On September 29, 2009, NOAA announced the award of four study contracts with a total value of $100,000 to three U.S. companies, including:
- Iridium ($25,000), for studies validating the price and technical feasibility of commercial monitoring of ozone profiles;
- Orbital (2 contracts, $50,000), for studies validating the price and technical feasibility of commercial monitoring of ozone profilles and aerosol particles; and
- Sierra Nevada Corporation ($25,000), for studies validating the price and technical feasibility of commercial monitoring of ozone profiles.
Air Force Space Weather Data Requirements
On April 8, 2009, the U.S. Air Force issued a Request for Information (RFI) on cost-effective ways to fulfill its requirements for space weather observations and other space environmental data. According to the RFI, "The Air Force is evaluating all possible solutions sets, including the employment of commercial systems as a data provider with sensors already on-orbit or hosting sensors on future platforms."
Due date for response was May 7, 2009.
View the Air Force RFI...
