Automated Vertical Obstruction Identification and Detection (AVOID)

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is seeking innovative contractor capabilities under the Automated Vertical Obstruction Identification and Detection (AVOID) program to enhance low-altitude aviation mission planning through advanced computer vision and machine learning technologies. The contractor must develop and deliver automated systems capable of rapidly detecting, characterizing, and geolocating vertical obstructions—both natural and manmade—using high-resolution imagery and elevation data, with a focus on dense urban and rural environments. The solution must achieve a minimum detection rate of 90% for obstructions 50 feet or greater above ground level, maintain a false positive rate of no more than 5%, and meet stringent accuracy thresholds of ≤5 meters horizontal circular error and ≤20 feet vertical linear error. Deliverables must be provided in standardized geospatial formats including CSV, KML, SHP, TFADS-O, and GPK, and transmitted via secure USG-specified channels such as AWS S3, APIs, or WFS, with non-complex environments requiring delivery within 4 hours and complex environments within 48 hours. The system must support continuous, real-time or near-real-time operational use, integrate with existing NGA enterprise workflows, and be auditable using PKI credentials while ensuring all data remains unclassified. The contract has a 12-month base period with four optional 12-month periods, potentially extending performance to five years, and requires the contractor to maintain TOP SECRET/SCI security clearances for all personnel who will access classified government facilities under a DD Form 254. Foreign nationals are strictly prohibited from direct involvement, and any use of foreign subcontractors or data must be disclosed through SF 328, with restrictions on handling U.S. government source materials unless publicly available. Proposals must be submitted as a single, unclassified white paper not exceeding 10 pages in Microsoft Word format, with strict word limits per section, and must include the respondent’s Unique Entity ID and CAGE code. Responses are due by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on August 19, 2026, via email to the designated point of contact. While no contract value is disclosed, the solicitation structure and stringent technical thresholds suggest a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation approach, with acceptance criteria strictly defined and no trade-offs permitted between cost and performance. The government retains full oversight with a 21-day window to inspect and accept deliverables at its facilities in Springfield,