On April 28, 2026, the NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) Commercial Data Program (CDP) issued a broad Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Space-Based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM) Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) acquisition vehicle. This acquisition seeks commercial near-real-time satellite-based environmental observations to pilot, operationalize, and expand the use of commercial data. NOAA's use of commercial data lowers costs and drives innovation, thereby improving weather forecasting and modeling, space weather prediction, and decision support services across its mission areas.
Key Details of the SBEM IDIQ Acquisition:
- The IDIQ has a total estimated value of $2.35 billion over 10 years.
- The IDIQ supports two distinct purposes: Piloting and Operational Deliveries. The CDP uses pilot efforts to evaluate the utility and value of commercially available satellite data before transitioning data purchases to operational service.
- Eligibility: Companies that do not yet have an asset on-orbit may enter a contract with a plan to have an asset on orbit to meet the requirements.
- Proposals are due May 22, 2026. NOAA posted the RFP to SAM.gov at: SAM.gov
Functional Categories of Data Solicited:
- Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO)
- Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R)
- Microwave Sounders (MWS)
- Multispectral Imagery
- Infrared Sounders
- Thermospheric Neutral Density measurements
- Active Sensors
- Future Environmental data as needed by NOAA
NESDIS CDP is conducting this work in pursuance of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Weather Act, Public Law 115-25, as amended), 15 USC § 8532, and the Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow Act (PROSWIFT Act, Public Law 116-181), 51 USC § 60607. These statutes direct NOAA to assess, utilize, and, where appropriate, procure commercial weather and space weather data to enhance forecasting capabilities.
The latest updates and activities on NOAA/NESDIS’ CDP are available at https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/data-research-services/commercial-data-program