SAM #RFI-NOAA-GRB-2026-001

NOAA RFI for Commercial Alternatives to GOES Rebroadcast and HRIT/EMWIN Services

This opportunity is a Request for Information (RFI) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) seeking commercial alternatives to its current satellite broadcast services. - NOAA is exploring a transition from government-operated GOES Rebroadcast (GRB) and HRIT/EMWIN satellite data services to a commercially managed 'Data-as-a-Service' model. - The agency is interested in solutions that: - Deliver GRB replacement at data rates of at least 31 Mbps (uncoded) - Deliver HRIT/EMWIN replacement at at least 400 Kbps (uncoded) - Provide delivery latency under 5 seconds for emergency alerts and under 10 seconds for other products - Achieve system availability of at least 99.5% - Comply with FISMA 'High' or 'Moderate' security standards - Offer global reach via radio frequency links without significant end-user capital expenditure - No specific OEMs, vendors, or products are named; the focus is on service-based solutions. - Respondents are asked to submit capability statements (PDF, max 15 pages) outlining technical approach, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness. - This RFI is for market research and planning for future geostationary environmental observations (GeoXO program) and potential commercial capabilities during the GOES-R operational timeframe. - No procurement of specific products or services is occurring at this stage; this is not a formal solicitation.

Description

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Document Number: RFI-NOAA-GRB-2026-001

Title: Commercial Alternatives for GOES Rebroadcast (GRB) and High Rate Information Transmission (HRIT) / Emergency Managers’ Warning Information Network (EMWIN) Services

Summary & Purpose

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) solely for market research and planning purposes in accordance with FAR Part 10 and FAR 15.201(e). NOAA is seeking information from commercial industry partners regarding the feasibility, technical approach, and cost-effectiveness of replacing current GOES Rebroadcast (GRB) and HRIT/EMWIN broadcasts with a commercially managed "Data-as-a-Service" model.  This strategy aligns with planning for future geostationary environmental observations under the Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) program (targeting a ~2032 transition), as well as potential commercial capabilities during the GOES-R operational timeframe (2028–2050s).

Key Technical Objectives

NOAA is seeking market feedback on commercial solutions capable of meeting or exceeding target performance parameters:  Data Rates: GRB replacement ≥ 31 Mbps uncoded; HRIT/EMWIN replacement ≥ 400 Kbps uncoded.  Delivery Latency: < 5 seconds for high-priority emergency alerts; < 10 seconds for all other products.  Availability & Security: System availability ≥ 99.5%; compliance with FISMA "High" or "Moderate" standards.  Global Reach: Ability to serve a global direct readout user base over radio frequency (RF) links without requiring significant end-user capital expenditure.

Submission & Schedule

RFI Release Date: August 17, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT

Clarification Questions Due: August 24, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT

Final Response Submission Deadline: August 31, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT

Submission Format: PDF Capability Statement not to exceed 15 pages.

Points of Contact

Contracting Specialist: Mark Brady (mark.e.brady@noaa.gov)

Technical Program Manager: Toby Hutchings (toby.hutchings@noaa.gov)

Disclaimer: This notice does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bids (IFB), or Request for Quotation (RFQ). The Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in responding to this notice. Please refer to the attached document (RFI-NOAA-GRB-2026-001.pdf) for complete submission instructions and detailed evaluation criteria.

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