NOAA Guidance for Engagements with the Commercial Sector on Space-Based Commercial Data Buy Opportunities

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has long met its mission through collaboration and partnerships with the broader enterprise, including academia, the private sector, and international partners, both using and providing data that supports open science and enables a vibrant downstream private sector. In order to respond to an ever-growing supply of and demand for environmental information, NOAA recognizes the opportunity to complement its existing observation capabilities by harnessing the potential of the rapidly-expanding private environmental data sector.

The NOAA Observing Systems Council (NOSC) established a task team to develop recommendations for commercial data purchasing, and has developed the Guidance for NOAA Commercial Data Buys, a Framework for NOAA Programs and Offices Conducting Commercial Data Buys. This framework document describes considerations for NOAA program and office response to opportunities to buy commercial data from all sources that contribute to environmental intelligence. This guidance is essential to ensure data quality and technical requirements are met, mission and supply chain risks are mitigated, and current data sharing commitments with national partners, international partners, and downstream private sector entities are honored. Ensuring consistency across the agency in working with commercial data providers is also important to maintain the high fidelity of NOAA services and to clearly communicate NOAA’s plans to industry.

This guidance also takes into consideration best practices and lessons learned from the NOAA NESDIS Commercial Data Program (CDP), which assesses and acquires value-added space-based commercial environmental observation data to augment existing data streams in support of NOAA's operations and research.

The authors will discuss key guidance to be considered by NOAA programs and offices when engaging in space-based commercial data buys. There will be a specific focus on mission and supply chain risk, data rights and potential implications on sharing, and data management and quality.