News

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has issued a request for information (RFI) seeking input from the private sector regarding the challenges faced by commercial remote sensing data providers when conducting business with the intelligence community and the Department of Defense (DoD). The deadline for responses is September 22.

In the RFI, the ODNI acknowledges the rapid growth of the commercial remote sensing industry, which has introduced new capabilities, improved image quality, and enhanced revisit rates over the past decade. Despite the US government’s policy to eliminate obstacles to the timely delivery of space capabilities and promote the use of commercial capabilities, the RFI highlights that commercial industry still encounters difficulties in working with government agencies. In particular, spending on commercial analytic products remains relatively low compared to spending on commercial satellite data.

The Director of National Intelligence has directed a study to explore ways to overcome the barriers to the use of commercial remote sensing, space-based data, and analytic services within the intelligence community and the DoD. The purpose of the RFI is to identify specific challenges faced by commercial data providers, including imagery, signals, and analytic services. The information gathered from the responses will aid in identifying systemic barriers, developing solutions, and informing funding decisions.

Commercial remote sensing encompasses various forms of satellite imagery as well as non-imagery derived geospatial information, such as automated identification system (AIS) data, radio frequency-derived data, and finished analytics and products.

The ODNI’s move has been viewed as a positive step in the right direction by experts in the field. A white paper by the Center for Strategic and International Studies emphasized that intelligence and defense agencies are not fully capitalizing on commercial remote sensing innovation. The co-author of the paper, Todd Harrison, believes that the RFI is asking the right questions to enhance the government’s approach to accessing commercial capabilities. Harrison also pointed out that the ODNI’s effort could potentially benefit the newly established Space Force as it seeks to leverage commercial space remote sensing capabilities. He suggested that the ODNI may conclude that agencies need to provide contract on-ramp opportunities more frequently and work with Congress to ease regulatory and licensing restrictions hindering US companies in this field.

In conclusion, the ODNI’s RFI aims to address the challenges faced by commercial remote sensing data providers, and the information gathered will aid in developing solutions and informing funding decisions to encourage greater utilization of commercial capabilities within the intelligence community and the DoD.

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