U.S. NGA selects 10 vendors for satellite imagery and analytics

The U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has selected ten Earth observation companies to compete for orders as part of its Luno A programme.

It will be acquiring “unclassified commercial GEOINT-derived computer vision and analytic service capabilities,” said the agency. The contract – a five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) agreement – has a maximum value of $290 million.

Luna A seeks to improve the intelligence agency’s geospatial information, expanding access to data and services. The aim is to bolster NGA analysts’ ability to quantify worldwide economic and environmental activity (and military capabilities). Basically, acquiring and integrating products, data, and services from commercial, unclassified sources.

The NGA writes:

“Luno A will provide National Security Community users with access to commercial data and analytic services that add new context to analytic assessments by characterizing things such as worldwide economic, environmental, and military activities.”

“Luno A will leverage industry’s commercial computer vision and artificial intelligence capabilities to augment existing unclassified and classified capabilities and integrate directly into analytic workflows for operational use. Vendors will identify areas of activity and monitor infrastructure for everything from smaller city-sized requirements to a global scale. Deliverables will be driven by validated user requirements, mission-specific, and responsive to the community’s needs.”

The ten commercial entities selected are:

• Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc.
• Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation
• BlackSky Geospatial Solutions, Inc.
• BlueHalo, LLC
• CACI, Inc. Federal
• Electromagnetic Systems, Inc.
• Maxar Intelligence, Inc.
• NV5 Geospatial, Inc.
• Royce Geospatial Consultants, Inc.
• Ursa Space Systems, Inc.

You can find more information about Luno A at SAM.gov

The original contract solicitation took place in April 2024.

NGA

The NGA specialises in geospatial intelligence, also known as GEOINT.

It describes itself as “a unique combination of a Department of Defense combat support agency and a principal member of the U.S. intelligence community”. This means it contributes to the state of readiness of the United States military forces. It also ensures safety of navigation in the air, on land and sea.

Image: Maxar Intelligence – Maxar 300 series satellite

See also: NGA, NRO and USSPACECOM agree framework to protect space assets