1QFY24 NOAA Commercial Satellite Data General RFI

Amendment#2: Extending response date until February 6th, 2024. ************************************************************************************ Amendment #1: Provided responses to submitted questions. ************************************************************************************ This is a Request for Information (RFI). NOAA is soliciting information on existing or planned on-orbit commercial satellite environmental data and related capabilities that will be available in the FY2024 through FY2032 timeframe. This RFI is for informational purposes only; it is not a request for proposals or a solicitation for a contract or grant award and it does not obligate the Government in any way. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with responding to this request. Background The NOAA Commercial Space Policy and the NESDIS Commercial Space Activities Assessment Process call for NOAA to explore and, where appropriate, pursue demonstration projects to assess the viability of assimilating commercially-provided satellite data and products to improve weather forecasting and diversify NOAA's portfolio of data collection capabilities. The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Weather Act), authorized a Pilot Program for the purchase and evaluation of commercial weather data. Additionally, the Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow Act (PROSWIFT Act) directs NOAA to improve the nation's ability to predict and prepare for space weather events and encourages the development of new space weather modeling and simulation tools to improve the accuracy of space weather forecasts. Consequently, NOAA initiated the Commercial Weather Data Pilot (CWDP) program to facilitate such projects. NOAA's strategy is to issue a General RFI at least once per year to gain actionable information from the commercial sector on new data types and emerging technologies. Purpose The purpose of this RFI is to solicit additional information from industry to inform U.S. Government agency plans for use of commercial space-based environmental observation capabilities. In response to the Administration's priority for use of commercial data and services, NOAA seeks information on existing and planned on-orbit commercial environmental data and related capabilities that will be available in the FY2024 through FY2032 timeframe and that may help NOAA meet its diverse mission objectives. Responses to this RFI will be used to inform potential Commercial Weather Data Pilot (CWDP) projects for terrestrial weather applications, as well as future pilots for space weather and other applications. NOAA may use the results of the RFI to inform multiple future Requests for Proposals for acquisition of commercial data and related capabilities. Information Requested Vendors are invited to submit capability statements describing their offerings. NOAA will consider arrangements where the contractor builds and operates satellite sensors or constellations of satellites/sensors and provides the Government the resulting data with a specified quality, reliability, and timeliness. NOAA provides satellite data and products today within the following thematic product areas and product categories, as outlined in the NESDIS Level Requirements (NLR) Document. NOAA is interested in commercially-provided data and related capabilities to augment NOAA's capabilities in these areas as listed in Table 1. Furthermore, the indicated product areas below are of high priority and interest to NESDIS. Table 1. Geophysical Data Product Areas: Product Area Priority Atmosphere ? Atmospheric Composition and Air Quality Higher Priority ? Greenhouse Gas Higher Priority ? Atmospheric Water Vapor Higher Priority ? Atmospheric Temperature Higher Priority ? Clouds Higher Priority ? Lightning ? Precipitation Higher Priority ? Radiation Budget ? Tropical Cyclone Characteristics Higher Priority ? Volcanic Eruption Characteristics ? Winds Higher Priority Cryosphere ? Lake and Sea Ice Higher Priority ? Snow and Glaciers Higher Priority Land and Surface Hydrology ? Fires Higher Priority ? Flood ? Surface Moisture ? Surface Temperature ? Vegetation Oceans, Freshwater, and Coasts ? Biology and Biogeochemistry ? Surface Height Higher Priority ? Topography and Bathymetry ? Water Pollution ? Water Temperature and Salinity Space Heliosphere Solar Wind velocity Higher Priority Magnetic Fields (Sun-Earth Line) Higher Priority Ionosphere Magnetosphere Particle Flux Higher Priority Solar White Light Imagery Higher Priority X-Ray Irradiance Higher Priority Submission Instructions Capability statements should address one or more of the product categories listed above using space-based commercial satellite environmental data and should include the following information: Business information including: Company name Address Identifiers including Unique Entity ID (UEI) number, CAGE Code, NAICS code(s), and any current SBA small business designations Point of contact with email and phone number Size of company including number of employees, revenue for the last three years, and parent company if applicable Office locations 2. A description of the offering for each category from the above product category list, or other if applicable. This should include a description of any current or planned on-orbit satellite instruments and assets, including launch dates and operational status, with a schedule for sustaining, replenishing and/or establishing capabilities to support a Pilot demonstration in the FY 2024-2025 timeframe. 3. A description of the corporate history, resources, affiliations, other markets being served, and any other information to demonstrate the viability of providing sustained operations and stable data services. 4. Projected costs and associated business models, including the degree of government commitment required and the extent of non-government markets for the services. 5. Business risks to the proposed approach and the means for mitigating those risks. 6. Cost models for proposed services, and associated licensing terms for redistribution by NOAA to partner agencies (to include US and foreign) and academia for the purpose of forecasting and research. Attachment 1 provides examples of licensing options for which NOAA is interested in understanding costs, however, respondents may include other licensing options - including geographically dependent licensing. 7. Proposed provisions for providing service assurance with data supply contracts against technical (e.g., launch, spacecraft, or payload) failures and business risks. 8. Approaches to meeting complex data requirements associated with the capability statements provided, such as precise and accurate calibration, latency (including processing time), orbital parameters including equatorial crossing time (ECT) and local time of ascending node (LTAN), repeat coverage (swath size), resolution, data quality, spectral band characteristics, continuity between system generations, quality assurance, independent verification and validation, and to structuring data/metadata to facilitate fusion with other sources. Capability statements must be received via email by the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist at the address provided below no later than 2:00 pm Eastern Time on January 24, 2024. The Government is not obligated to review responses received after the deadline. Responses shall be limited to 20 pages, including a one-page executive summary, supporting appendices, title page(s), tables, graphics, pictures, and figures. A page is defined as an 8.5 by 11-inch area with information contained within an image area of 7 by 9 inches. Type size shall be 12-point proportional font. Information shall be submitted in Microsoft Word DOCX or Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Use of Information Received This RFI does not guarantee that the Government will issue a request for proposal (RFP) or award a contract for supplies or services. No specific RFP is planned to follow this RFI; however, the responses could impact the Government's decision to release an RFP or multiple RFPs in the future. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable government regulations. Any material received will be considered to be public domain unless clearly marked (on each page) as proprietary. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for proprietary information not properly identified. Respondents are hereby notified that as part of this evaluation, NOAA intends to share the information obtained from this market research with the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology Working Group for Interagency Coordination of Commercial Weather Data (OFCM/WG-ICCWD). The OFCM/WG-ICCWD intends to use this information to foster interagency coordination on approaches to purchasing space-based commercial weather data for operational use within the Federal Weather Enterprise. NOAA may also share the information obtained with representatives from NOAA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the Department of the Interior. Respondents are also notified that in the process of evaluation, agencies may use Federally Funded Research and Development Centers and support contractors. Not responding to this RFI will not preclude an entity from submitting a proposal to any subsequent NOAA solicitations. Point of Contact Suzanna A. Espinoza Contracting Officer Email: contact@example.gov Cherron Bennett-Pettus Contract Specialist Email: contact@example.gov Comments and Questions Comments and questions regarding this RFI shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist at the email addresses provided above by January 4, 2024 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time. Respondents are advised that questions submitted and Government responses may be posted publicly on SAM.gov, although the identity of the requesting organization will be withheld. Attachment 1: Licensing Options Option 1: Unlimited right to distribute all data to any entity immediately after receipt at NOAA, with no restrictions on their use or further distribution (distribution rights included in the unlimited data rights definition at FAR 52.227-14). Option 1 is the preferred licensing option for NOAA operational commercial data contracts. Option 2: Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, WMO-designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers, members of the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites, non-profit entities and academic entities, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non-commercial use but not for further distribution. Option 2 is a preferred licensing option for NOAA Commercial Weather Data Pilot contracts. Option 2A: Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, WMO-designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers, members of the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites, non-profit entities and academic entities, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non-commercial use but not for further distribution. Right to distribute all data to any entity with no restriction on use or further distribution 24 hours after receipt at NOAA. Option 2a is a preferred licensing option for NOAA Commercial Weather Data Pilot contracts. Option 3: Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, WMO-designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers, and members of the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non-commercial use but not for further distribution. Option 3A: Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, WMO-designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers, and members of the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non-commercial use but not for further distribution. Right to distribute all data to any entity with no restriction on use or further distribution 24 hours after receipt at NOAA. Option 4: Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non-commercial use but not for further distribution (except to others to use on their behalf, including contractors and grantees). Option 4A: Right to distribute all data to U.S. Government agencies, immediately after receipt at NOAA, for non-commercial use but not for further distribution (except to others to use on their behalf, including contractors and grantees). Right to distribute all data to any entity with no restriction on use or further distribution 24 hours after receipt at NOAA. Option 5: No right to distribute any data outside NOAA immediately after receipt at NOAA (except to others to use on its behalf, including contractors and grantees). Option 5A: No right to distribute any data outside NOAA immediately after receipt at NOAA (except to others to use on its behalf, including contractors and grantees). Right to distribute all data to any entity with no restriction on use or further distribution 24 hours after receipt at NOAA.