NGA - Boosting Innovative GEOINT - Science & Technology Broad Agency Announcement (BIG-ST BAA)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has issued the Boosting Innovative GEOINT - Science & Technology Broad Agency Announcement (BIG-ST BAA), a general solicitation for innovative research and development concepts. This BAA seeks solutions to challenging GEOINT problems across three technical domains: Foundational GEOINT, Advanced Phenomenologies, and Analytic Technologies. The BAA operates through specific Topic Calls, with the overall solicitation open until December 15, 2026. Currently, Topic 6 (Magnifying University Science Expertise 2 - MUSE 2) is open exclusively for Grant Applicants, with its Q&A session now closed and an updated document available on Grants.gov.
Purpose & Scope
NGA aims to acquire cutting-edge R&D concepts that align with its research interests, focusing on efforts within RDT&E Budget Activities 6.1 to 6.4 and Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1-7. The technical domains of interest include:
- Foundational GEOINT: Creating accurate, high-resolution, and continually updated representations of Earth's properties.
- Advanced Phenomenologies: Employing novel methods for improved spatial, spectral, radiometric, polarimetric, and temporal data.
- Analytic Technologies: Enhancing GEOINT definition and utility through new data sources and novel analytic techniques (e.g., AI, computer vision, NLP).
Process & Submission
This is a "BAA with Topic Calls" process; no submissions are accepted directly to the general solicitation. Interested parties must respond to specific Topic Calls, which will be published separately on Sam.gov, Grants.gov, and potentially the Classified IC-Acquisition Research Center. Abstracts are mandatory prior to full proposal submission for each Topic Call. Offerors must register in SAM.gov. Grant applicants for Topic 6 must use Grants.gov.
Contract Details
Anticipated awards may include Procurement Contracts, Grants, Cooperative Agreements, or Other Transactions (OTs). The Government reserves the right to select the most appropriate award instrument. There is no set-aside designation; all responsible sources are eligible. Specific eligibility requirements apply to FFRDCs, Government Entities, and OTs. Foreign participation will be defined per Topic Call.
Evaluation
Proposals submitted in response to Topic Calls will undergo an 8-step evaluation process, including Conformance Review, Scientific/Technical Review, Analysis of Proposed Resources, Funding Decision, Security Evaluation, Cost/Price Evaluation, Administrative and National Policy Requirements, and a Final Award Decision.
Key Documents & Guidance
Proposers should utilize the provided templates: Appendix 1 Abstract Template and Appendix 2 Proposal Template. For grants and cooperative agreements, Appendix 5 Grants Coops provides specific instructions for Grants.gov submissions. Additionally, the Research and Technology Protection document outlines compliance with NSPM-33 regarding research security and foreign influence, requiring robust internal programs and transparent disclosure.
Response Deadline
The overall BIG-ST BAA is open until December 15, 2026. Specific abstract and proposal due dates will be detailed in individual Topic Calls.