Boosting Innovative GEOINT - Science Technology Broad Agency Announcement (BIG-ST BAA)

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, through its Research Directorate, administers the Boosting Innovative GEOINT - Science and Technology Broad Agency Announcement, identified as HM047623BAA0001. NGA Research seeks to deliver future Geospatial-Intelligence capabilities with operational impact and supports national security by addressing difficult defense and intelligence problems for the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense. The general solicitation is published for the period December 15, 2023 through December 14, 2026. It establishes NGA's broad research interests, while individual Topic Calls issued during this period define the specific technology needs, budgets, submission dates, and other topic-specific requirements. No abstracts or proposals are accepted directly against the general solicitation. The BIG-ST BAA seeks innovative research concepts within three technical domains: Foundational GEOINT, Advanced Phenomenologies, and Analytic Technologies. Foundational GEOINT includes areas such as terrestrial and celestial reference frames, earth gravitational and magnetic models, positioning and navigation, geopositioning, feature extraction and modeling, infrastructure and environmental models, and maritime mapping. Advanced Phenomenologies includes novel sensing, target detection and tracking, source exploitation, collection technologies, space situational awareness, information assurance, error modeling, and multi-domain data aggregation. Analytic Technologies includes advanced geospatial processing, computer vision, automated target recognition, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, social media analytics, forecasting, knowledge modeling, automation, human-machine interaction, governance tools, and immersive GEOINT visualization. Work must fall within RDT&E Budget Activities 6.1 through 6.4 and Technology Readiness Levels 1 through 7 unless a Topic Call further limits the applicable scope. Anticipated awards may use procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, Research Other Transactions, prototype Other Transactions, and potentially follow-on production instruments where authorized. NGA anticipates multiple awards, subject to availability of funds, but the general solicitation does not establish an award floor, award ceiling, total program funding amount, or numerical award count. The Government may fund all or part of a proposal, fund awards incrementally, establish base and option periods, or make no award. Cost sharing is generally not required, but statutory conditions can make it applicable to Other Transactions. Research OTs have a resource-sharing requirement with a default starting position of 50 percent Government and 50 percent performer resources. Prototype OTs generally require at least one-third cost sharing when the proposing team does not satisfy the stated nontraditional defense contractor, nonprofit research institution, or small business participation alternatives, unless a waiver is justified. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit proposals for consideration, subject to the requirements of the applicable Topic Call and award instrument. FFRDCs and Government Entities are considered on a case-by-case basis and must establish their authority and eligibility to compete. FFRDCs must also demonstrate that the proposed work is not otherwise available from the private sector, provide required sponsor documentation, and disclose similar NGA work. Government Entities must likewise demonstrate that the work is not otherwise available from the private sector and provide documentation establishing their authority to compete. Foreign organizations and individuals may participate only when permitted by the applicable Topic Call, and foreign participation must be fully disclosed. Topic-specific security, controlled information, foreign ownership, and classified information requirements may also apply. Submission begins with a mandatory abstract in response to a specific Topic Call. The abstract is submitted electronically to the email identified in that Topic Call unless otherwise directed, and applicants must use the required Abstract Template. Proposed Research is limited to five pages. NGA attempts to respond to abstracts within 30 calendar days and provides feedback concerning scientific merit, contribution to the NGA Research mission, and affordability. An applicant may submit a full proposal regardless of whether NGA recommends doing so, but an applicant that did not first submit an abstract is ineligible to submit a proposal. Grant and cooperative agreement proposals follow the separate Appendix 5 instructions and are submitted through Grants.gov as applicable, with a courtesy copy of the complete Grants.gov submission provided to the email specified in the Topic Call. Exact abstract and proposal deadlines are established by individual Topic Calls and are enforced in Eastern Time. Abstract review considers whether the concept falls within the authorized research and development scope, fits the specific Topic Call, demonstrates scientific and technical merit and innovation, contributes to the NGA Research mission, and presents an affordable path based on the Topic Area budget. Full proposals proceed through compliance review, scientific and technical review, analysis of proposed resources, funding decision, security evaluation when applicable, cost and price evaluation, administrative and national policy review, and final award decision. Scientific and technical review emphasizes Scientific and Technical Merit and Mission Alignment. Reviewers consider innovation, realism and feasibility of the technical approach, alignment with NGA's mission and Topic Call, data rights and intellectual property provisions that promote adoption, and potential transition of deliverables to future Government needs. NGA assigns confidence ratings and makes funding recommendations. Selection notices are provided at the earliest practicable opportunity, and selected applicants are contacted by a Government Contracting Officer for negotiations and any additional information required for award. The anticipated project start date is determined during that process. Topic Calls are published through updates to the BIG-ST BAA General Solicitation on SAM.gov and Grants.gov, while classified topics are handled through the Classified IC-ARC with public notices directing interested parties to the appropriate system. Applicants are responsible for monitoring these sources for Topic Calls and deadlines. NGA acknowledges complete submissions by email, and applicants that do not receive confirmation within two business days should contact BIGSTBAA@nga.mil to verify receipt. The general program contact is BIGSTBAA@nga.mil. The solicitation does not provide a fixed performance period, award date, or recurring annual application cycle; those details depend on individual Topic Calls and negotiated awards. The current general solicitation remains published through December 14, 2026.

Ensure the concept is within the specific Topic Call and RDT&E scope; emphasize innovative or revolutionary advances over current practice; present a realistic and feasible technical approach supported by appropriate resources; demonstrate alignment with the NGA Research mission; propose data rights and intellectual property terms that promote technology integration or adoption; show transition potential for Government needs; justify labor, materials, equipment, software, travel, and other direct costs; provide a ROM cost that presents an affordable path based on the Topic Area budget; follow required templates and include all required documentation