Request for Information (RFI) - Privately Operated Commercially Remote Sensing Satellites

This RFI is published for research purposes only. It seeks to obtain information from business concerns, including 8(a) or small business concerns of the U.S. space industry on all types (Electro-Optical, Synthetic Aperture Radar, Hyperspectral, LIDAR, etc.) of privately-operated commercially remote sensing satellites. The Government will not award a contract based on the responses to this notice, but wants to obtain information or capabilities for planning purposes. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Under the authority of The Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been delegated the responsibility for licensing privately-operated U.S. remote sensing satellites. National Security Presidential Directive 27 issued in 2003 states that "U.S. companies are encouraged to build and operate commercial remote sensing space systems whose operational capabilities, products, and services are superior to any current or planned foreign commercial systems." NOAA is engaging its government partners in a series of Interagency discussions on the most pragmatic approach to future licensing decisions. These discussions would be facilitated by inputs on the subject from U.S. industry, including those companies capable of developing remote sensing satellite and ground hardware as well as current, or future licensed commercial data providers. Given that appropriate protections must remain in place to mitigate national security and foreign policy concerns, the Interagency has asked what government/industry initiatives might best support a business case for privately-operated commercially remote sensing systems. The U.S. industry can inform and educate the Interagency on the business challenges in this arena by addressing the following questions: 1. Is industry fully aware of the current licensing conditions that have been drafted for privately-operated systems? If so, would eliminating or modifying any of these conditions provide sufficient incentive to warrant proceeding with a system? 2. It is widely recognized that there is substantial government involvement in all the foreign "commercial" satellite systems. Barring direct subsidies, what form of U.S. government involvement (e.g., pre-launch data buys, service level agreements, access to technology, etc.) would provide sufficient incentives for a U.S. provider to operate a system? 3. Given the current state of the commercial marketplace for data, products and services, what attributes of a system might be exploitable by a U.S. market entrant in the next 5 years? Would or should these attributes be of interest to U.S. civil, military and/or intelligence agencies? Do these particular attributes have genuine commercial applications? 4. Does industry have suggestions for protecting national security that does not place the U.S. commercial remote sensing industry at a competitive disadvantage with respect to foreign competitors? Responses should not exceed 20 pages. Please include a soft copy and include the following information: company name, address, point of contact, phone/fax/email, and business size and status (e.g., small business, 8(a) small disadvantaged business, women owned small business, etc.). Any questions regarding this announcement must be submitted in writing. No telephone inquiries will be accepted. NOAA's Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office (CRSRAO) is dedicated to maintaining an environment for licensing private remote sensing operators such that the goals articulated in NSPD-27 can be realized. If your response to this RFI requires special protection for company proprietary information, please indicate this clearly in your response. Please submit responses by 5:00 p.m. EST Friday, August 14, 2009 to: Robin Prather Robin.Prather@noaa.gov 1315 East-West Highway SSMC3 Room 10100 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Any questions regarding this announcement must be submitted in writing via email to Robin.Prather@noaa.gov.