Gettyimages.com / Yuichiro Chino
NASA starts 2nd on-ramp for $476M Earth data contract
A total of 15 providers are involved in the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition program, which NASA uses to support its Earth science research and application activities.
NASA has opened a new proposal window in search of more companies to become part of a potential $476 million contract the agency uses to buy commercially available Earth observation data.
A total of 15 providers are involved in the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition program, which NASA uses to support its Earth science research and application activities.
Seven companies won the original round of awards in the fall of 2023, then another group of seven were chosen through an on-ramp one year later. Maxar Technologies was added to the contract in January.
NASA’s July 29 Sam.gov notice marks the official start of a second on-ramp process for the CSDA contract with bids due by 2 p.m. Eastern time on Aug. 29.
The space agency set up CSDA to place more emphasis on data acquired by commercial constellations as a way to complement NASA's Earth observations data with higher resolutions, increased temporal frequency or other novel capabilities.
Like with the two prior rounds, all offerors must sign onto non-negotiable end-user license agreements in order to help other agencies and partners share the data being provided.
NASA has obligated approximately $50.5 million in order volume to-date against the contract that runs through Nov. 15, 2028. GovTribe data lists the top five recipients as Planet Labs, Spire Global, Airbus DS, Ghgsat and Umbra Lab.