SAM #80GSFC26R0044

NASA GSFC airborne lidar and hyperspectral snow data collection and processing services for THP Snow Program

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is seeking airborne lidar and hyperspectral snow data collection and processing services to support the Terrestrial Hydrology Program (THP) Snow Program. - Government Buyer: - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) - Vendors and OEMs: - Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc. (ASO, Inc.) is named as the intended sole source provider - No specific OEMs for equipment are mentioned - Products and Services Requested: - Airborne lidar and hyperspectral data collection flights - 12 flights during the 2027-28 winter season (primary requirement) - 3-6 optional flights during the 2026-27 dry-snow period - High-resolution mapping of snow variables: snow depth, snow water equivalent (SWE), snow reflectance, snow density, canopy products - Bare-earth digital elevation model (DEM) of watershed - Processed lidar and hyperspectral snow depth and albedo products (approx. 3 pts/m², optionally 8 pts/m²) - Modeled snow density and SWE product - Gridded geotiff data products - Classified point clouds (buildings and trees removed) - Summary report and snowpack state report (model) - Unique or Notable Requirements: - Data collection must be timed to coincide with NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite overpasses - Primary target location: East and Taylor Basin, Colorado; alternate locations in Colorado and California - Deliverables must be provided within one week of acquisition for near real-time analysis - Additional processing and updated products due by July 2028, three months after the 2027-28 snow season ends - Data supports validation of SWE algorithms using L-Band InSAR - No product part numbers specified; this is a service-based procurement

Description

NASA/GSFC has a requirement for commercially available flight and airborne lidar and hyperspectral data collection capabilities and processing in support of the NASA Terrestrial Hydrology Program (THP) Snow Program. The THP Snow Program requires high-resolution maps of snow variables, including snow depth and snow water equivalent (SWE), over watershed-scale study areas in the western United States. The contractor shall provide spatially distributed snow variables collected utilizing airborne lidar and hyperspectral instruments. Data collection must occur approximately every 12 days, precisely timed to be coincident with the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) overpasses to help validate SWE algorithms and retrievals using an L-Band InSAR approach. The primary target location is the East and Taylor Basin in Colorado. Alternate potential locations include the Blue River Basin (CO), Tuolumne River Basin (CA), and Truckee River Basin (CA), depending on site conditions, safe field crew access, and ongoing research objectives. 

NASA/GSFC intends to issue a sole source contract to acquire the services from Airborne Snow Observatories (ASO), Inc. under the statutory authority of 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." 

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Joel Rivera at joel.rivera@nasa.gov no later than 3:00 PM EST on August 11, 2026 . Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis. A decision by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. 

NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at : https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf. 

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