OER - NOAA Ship Telepresence (FY27 - FY30)

The OER NOAA Ship Telepresence contract, forecasted for fiscal years 2027 through 2030, provides critical video and imagery telepresence support for the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, its replacement the NOAA Ship Discoverer, and various other platforms. Managed by the Department of Commerce, the project focuses on the satellite upload and download of large data volumes and live video streams to facilitate real-time communication between ships and shore-based subject matter experts, universities, and outside agencies. This capability is designed to expand the understanding of the ocean environment and ensure the immediate distribution of scientific findings to the global ocean community. Beyond live communications, this mechanism establishes a publicly viewable access point for images and video acquired during missions, filling a gap in existing archival systems by providing a portal for global experts to identify and analyze findings. The performance of the contract is centered in Seattle, falling under NAICS code 541511. The initiative ensures that annotated video data from multiple platforms is accessible, promoting collaborative exploration and transparency in oceanographic research.