INDUSTRY DAY: NOAA'S Commercial Data Program 2026

Other / Unclassified

This document is a presentation from the NOAA NESDIS Commercial Data Program (CDP) Industry Day held on April 9, 2026. It outlines the NESDIS mission, its reliance on satellite data, and its strategy for acquiring commercial weather data through "buy, partner, build" approaches. The presentation details current and future NOAA observing systems, near-term priorities for preventing data gaps, and the CDP's mission to acquire commercial space-based environmental observation data.

This document is relevant to potential bidders interested in providing commercial satellite data to NOAA. It highlights:

• NOAA's Strategy: Emphasizes a hybrid architecture incorporating government-owned systems, commercial data, and international partnerships.
• Commercial Data Program (CDP) Mission: Aims to acquire commercial space-based environmental observation data to diversify and improve NOAA's observations.
• Key Data Types and Pilots: Details ongoing and planned pilots and data purchases for various data types, including:
  • GNSS-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) for Ocean Surface Winds
  • Microwave Sounder (MWS)
  • Wildfire Imagery
  • Radio Occultation (RO) and Total Electron Content (TEC)
• ProTech Program: Introduces the ProTech program, a portfolio of mission-aligned domains for scientific and technical capabilities, including the Space-Based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM) domain.
• Acquisition Strategy: Outlines the SBEM IDIQ contract, which allows for piloting and operational purchases, a Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) model, and continuous onboarding of new vendors.
• Timeline and Milestones: Provides a planning overview for 2026-2027, indicating upcoming pilot evaluations, data buys, and the SBEM IDIQ.
• Points of Contact: Lists key personnel for inquiries regarding the CDP and ProTech program.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document contains questions submitted by industry participants and the corresponding answers provided by NOAA NESDIS CDP during an industry day event, along with some follow-up clarifications.

• Hurricane Forecasting: NOAA prioritizes hurricane forecasting and considers it when piloting and purchasing data.
• CSDA Program: NOAA NESDIS CDP collaborates with NASA CSDA and other agencies, leveraging their evaluations and pilots. Vendors should actively pursue new RFPs and reference the CSDA program.
• Data Availability: Slide decks and answers to unanswered questions will be posted on sam.gov.
• NOAA Contracts: Previously awarded NOAA contracts cannot be converted to the new ProTech IDIQ DaaS model; new requirements need to be resubmitted.
• Pricing Rationale: NOAA evaluates pricing at the IDIQ level to satisfy FAR requirements for price reasonableness and competitive baseline, while allowing for mission-specific discounts at the Task Order level.
• Task Order Extensions: Task orders for missions with limited lifespans may be extended or require a new solicitation, depending on the wording.
• SBEM IDIQ: The SBEM IDIQ is for both pilots and purchases, and vendors on-boarded into a Functional Category are eligible to bid on all task orders.
• Proposals: The ProTech Domain and IDIQ are accepting proposals from new vendors. Information can be found on the NOAA acquisition website.
• Commercial Data Use: NOAA NESDIS CDP encourages commercial providers to engage with a broad customer base and does not advise on specific business models.
• Hyperspectral Data: NOAA is interested in hyperspectral data, particularly for microwave sounding, and is evaluating its use for WildFire applications.
• Data Focus: The current contract is focused on actual satellite data, not analytic or derived data, though Level 2 products may be considered in the future.
• Cal/Val: NOAA maintains its role in oversight and independent validation/verification of vendor Cal/Val efforts, establishing a standardized framework.
• Cancellation Ceilings: To minimize costs and maximize budget for data, vendors are encouraged to keep cancellation fees low in multi-year contracts.
• Space-Based Definition: The SBEM IDIQ specifically solicits space-based capabilities from on-orbit sensors. Platforms must be orbiting Earth.

This Q&A document provides clarifications and insights into NOAA's requirements, evaluation processes, and future plans, which may influence how vendors prepare their proposals for related solicitations.

Other / Unclassified

This document announces an upcoming online Commercial Data Program (CDP) Industry Day hosted by NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) Office of Systems Architecture and Engineering (SAE). The event will provide a status update on the CDP and future plans for the program. Presenters will discuss CDP objectives, including support for NOAA's observational requirements, data pilot projects (microwave soundings, wildfire imagery), and expansion of operational data purchases.

This event is relevant for potential bidders interested in NOAA's Commercial Data Program. It offers an opportunity to receive updates on program objectives and future plans directly from NESDIS leadership. The industry day will include a Q&A session. Interested parties can register via the provided Adobe Connect link. Presentation slides will be posted after the event.