Global Satellite-Based Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) Composites

**Revised March 7, 2013** This is a Sources Sought ONLY for ANY Small Business! Please respond via email to the Points of Contact stated for this request, with your corporate capabilities and any other relevant information as they pertain to being able to support the stated requirement and would allow USDA to determine your ability to perform the following type of requirement. 1:0 BACKGROUND Satellite imagery transformation products are essential sources of data and information to the primary mission of FAS-OGA-IPAD of Global Crop Production Intelligence System (GCPIS). USDA FAS OGA is seeking the acquisition of Global Satellite-Based Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) Composites for Monitoring Global Vegetation Conditions for a period of performance of twelve (12) months from April 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014. Key performance indicators are measured by timely distribution and receipt of requested satellite imagery-based NDVI. The FAS/IPAD requests a delivery schedule that ensures the NDVI composites imagery shall be delivered within 72-hours of successful collection from the satellite. A delivery schedule based on business days is not preferred, as NDVI imagery delivery should not be delayed later than 72-hours after collection, regardless if the delivery date falls on a weekend and/or holiday. All the global10-day NDVI maximum value composites and the 10-year NDVI historical archive with average NDVI composite values for 36 dekads will be delivered by the vendor to the USDA's Crop Explorer and other Decision Support Systems as needed. 2:0 OBJECTIVE The objective of the Contract is to acquire and process global 10-day NDVI composites with at least 1-kilometer spatial resolution, as well as provide a 10-year average NDVI archive (2001-2010) that can be used by the FAS/IPAD for global vegetation and crop condition monitoring and according to the FAS requirements listed in the Performance of Work Statement for a period of performance of twelve (12) months from April 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014. The base coverage Area of Interest (AOI) is the entire globe (earth land surface). 3:0 SCOPE OF WORK The Scope of Work is to acquire, process and deliver global 10-day NDVI composites, as well as provide a 10-year average NDVI archive (2001-2010) that can be used by the FAS/IPAD for global vegetation and crop condition monitoring and according to the requirements specified below. a. Product Type: 1. 10-day NDVI maximum value composites with global coverage and having at least 1-kilometer spatial resolution. That is a total of 36-dekads of 10-day NDVI composites provided within 72-hours after imagery is acquired from the satellite 2. 10-year NDVI historical archive with average NDVI composite values for 36 dekads (or 36*10-day periods=365-366 days/year) to be provided at the start date of the subscription contract b. Coverage: The NDVI composites should be global, covering the eastern and western hemispheres, and extending to 65-degree north latitude and 65-degree south latitude. c. Pixel Resolution: The horizontal ground resolution or ground sample distance (the area of the ground represented in each pixel in x and y components) of the NDVI composite pixels should not be greater than 1.1-kilometer. In addition, the pixels should not be resampled to meet these resolution requirements. d. Time period for NDVI composites: The NDVI composite time period should be 10-days (or dekad), with the third dekad of the month comprising of 8-, 9-, 10- or 11-days, for a total of 36 dekads per year. e. NDVI Calculations: Daily raw digital imagery from the red and near-infrared (NIR) channels should be collected, calibrated over time for radiometric sensor decay, and clouds and shadows removed from the daily red and NIR bands. f. Maximum Value NDVI Composites: As a method of cloud and haze screening, 10-day Maximum Value NDVI Composites should be produced where the highest NDVI pixel value within the 10-day time period (i.e., dekad) is retained under the assumption it represents the maximum vegetation "greenness" during the 10-day time period. g. Geo-referencing: Orthorectification to a CE90 (Circular Error of 90%) or within one pixel of image ground sample distance is desired. h. Product Accuracy and other Characteristics: NDVI imagery vendors should provide two quotes that clearly states license descriptions for: (1) Minimum USDA-wide license use only, and ((2) US Federal/Civil-wide license use. The FAS/IPAD at minimum requires USDA-wide agency use, but another price quote for US Federal/Civil use should be included. i. Delivery Schedule: The FAS/IPAD requests a delivery schedule that ensures the NDVI composites imagery shall be delivered within 72-hours of successful collection from the satellite. A delivery schedule based on business days is not preferred, as NDVI imagery delivery should not be delayed later than 72-hours after collection, regardless if the delivery date falls on a weekend and/or holiday. j. The place of performance for this project (Solicitation Number: AG-3151-SS-13-GlobalSatellite-BasedNormalizedDifferenceVegetationIndex) will be the contractor's office location. But: All NDVI products for the SOW will be delivered by the satellite vendor to the USDA's SIA and other Decision Support Systems as described in the SOW, and the imagery later distributed to subscribing USDA agency members through the AE (Archive Explorer) system.