Request for Information and Public Virtual Dialogues on Commercial Earth Observations and Geospatial Data and Services Practices, 28078-28080 [2021-10774]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 25, 2021 / Notices
completed by the time the IHA expires
and a Renewal would allow for
completion of the activities beyond that
described in the Dates and Duration
section of this notice, provided all of the
following conditions are met:
• A request for renewal is received no
later than 60 days prior to the needed
Renewal IHA effective date (recognizing
that the Renewal IHA expiration date
cannot extend beyond one year from
expiration of the initial IHA);
• The request for renewal must
include the following:
(1) An explanation that the activities
to be conducted under the requested
Renewal IHA are identical to the
activities analyzed under the initial
IHA, are a subset of the activities, or
include changes so minor (e.g.,
reduction in pile size) that the changes
do not affect the previous analyses,
mitigation and monitoring
requirements, or take estimates (with
the exception of reducing the type or
amount of take); and
(2) A preliminary monitoring report
showing the results of the required
monitoring to date and an explanation
showing that the monitoring results do
not indicate impacts of a scale or nature
not previously analyzed or authorized.
Upon review of the request for
Renewal, the status of the affected
species or stocks, and any other
pertinent information, NMFS
determines that there are no more than
minor changes in the activities, the
mitigation and monitoring measures
will remain the same and appropriate,
and the findings in the initial IHA
remain valid.
Dated: May 18, 2021.
Catherine Marzin,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–10955 Filed 5–24–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XG169]
Request for Information and Public
Virtual Dialogues on Commercial Earth
Observations and Geospatial Data and
Services Practices
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for
information.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY:
The United States Group on
Earth Observations (USGEO) is
SUMMARY:
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preparing a document containing best
practices for Federal government
procurement of commercial Earth
observation and geospatial data and
services, per the 2019 National Plan for
Civil Earth Observations. Information
from private sector providers and users;
academia, and the public is critical to
that effort, and therefore USGEO is
seeking public input. This notice invites
the public to submit written comments
on the topic generally and in response
to specific questions outlined below,
and to attend one of four virtual forums.
DATES: Comments: The agency must
receive comments on or before June 30,
2021.
Virtual Public Meetings:
1. June 2, 2021, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.,
Eastern Daylight Time.
2. June 9, 2021, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.,
Eastern Daylight Time.
3. June 16, 2021, 11 a.m. to 12:30
p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
4. June 23, 2021, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.,
Eastern Daylight Time.
Registration is limited to 250
individuals per session. All sessions
will present the same content so you
only need to attend one session.
Information on how to join the virtual
meetings will be available upon
registration at the following links.
Please register for the session you plan
to attend.
June 2, 2021, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. EDT:
https://usgeo2jun.eventbrite.com.
June 9, 2021, 1–2:30 p.m. EDT:
https://usgeo9jun.eventbrite.com.
June 16, 2021, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
EDT: https://usgeo16jun.eventbrite.com.
June 23, 2021, 1–2:30 p.m. EDT:
https://usgeo23jun.eventbrite.com.
For questions on registration, please
contact Wade.Price@noaa.gov.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this request for information (RFI),
identified by NOAA–NESDIS–2021–
0051, by any of the following methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and enter
NOAA–NESDIS–2021–0051 in the
Search box. Click on the ‘‘Comment’’
icon, complete the required fields, and
enter or attach your comments.
Instructions: Comments sent by any
other method, to any other address or
individual, or received after the end of
the comment period, may not be
considered by USGEO. All comments
received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted for public
viewing on www.regulations.gov
without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.),
confidential business information, or
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otherwise sensitive information
submitted voluntarily by the sender will
be publicly accessible. USGEO will
accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/
A’’ in the required fields if you wish to
remain anonymous).
This is a request for information only.
This RFI is not a request for proposals
(RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP or
a notice inviting applications. This RFI
does not commit the Department or
Federal Agencies to contract for any
supply or service whatsoever. Further,
we are not seeking proposals and will
not accept unsolicited proposals. The
Department or Federal Agencies will not
pay for any information or
administrative costs that you may incur
in responding to this RFI. The
documents and information submitted
in response to this RFI become the
property of the U.S. Government and
will not be returned.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Wade Price, USGEO Executive
Secretariat, telephone (202) 419–5409;
Email: Wade.Price@noaa.gov.
USGEO is
chartered as a subcommittee under the
National Science and Technology
Council (NSTC)—Subcommittee on
Environment. The USGEO
subcommittee’s purpose is to plan and
coordinate Federal Earth observations,
research, and activities; foster improved
Earth system data management and
interoperability; identify high-priority
user needs for Earth observation data;
and engage international stakeholders
by formulating the U.S. positions for,
and coordinating U.S. participation in,
the intergovernmental Group on Earth
Observations (GEO). Its membership
consists of 13 Federal Agencies and
components of the Executive Office of
the President.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. The National Plan for Civil Earth
Observation
The USGEO developed the 2019
National Plan for Civil Earth
Observations that was released by the
Office of Science and Technology Policy
in 2019. Read the full plan at https://
usgeo.gov/uploads/Natl-Plan-for-CivilEarth-Obs.pdf. The National Plan
includes the following two actions:
• Work with commercial data
providers and analytics companies to
develop a set of best practices for
commercial data buys.
• Work with commercial providers to
understand issues, agency practices, and
policies that foster develo p.m.ent of
small and medium businesses and startups.
E:\FR\FM\25MYN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 25, 2021 / Notices
B. United States Earth Observation
Enterprise
The 2019 National Plan for Civil Earth
Observations notes the U.S. Earth
Observation Enterprise is comprised of
Federal agencies; State, local, tribal, and
territorial governments; world-leading
colleges and universities; private
industries; non-profit organizations; and
Federal and National Laboratories.
Together, the Earth Observations
Enterprise, as it will hereafter be
referred, is collectively involved in the
acquisition, analysis, dissemination and
use of Earth observations; the operation
of enabling infrastructure; sustaining
and advancing the creation of data and
information products; maintaining
routine uses; and developing innovative
applications for societal, environmental,
and economic progress.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
C. Best Practices Guide
New observational technologies and
analytics from a broad array of entities
calls for a new way of doing business.
USGEO, representing all the
Departments and Federal Agencies, is
seeking input from all components of
the Earth Observation Enterprise on the
development of best practices to
understand the opportunities for and
barriers to the Federal government’s
acquisition of commercial Earth
observation and geospatial data and
services. USGEO also seeks to
understand the opportunities and
impacts of the Departments and Federal
Agencies moving to commercial Earth
observation and/or geospatial data,
analytics and services. Through the RFI
and public dialogues, USGEO will use
the inputs to develop a public document
intended to inform Federal agencies
about best practices they could consider
when purchasing commercial Earth
observations and/or geospatial data,
analytics and/or services.
A background document that has
more information about providing
inputs to this best practices guide is
provided at https://usgeo.gov/public_
engagement.html. In additional to
general comments, USGEO is seeking
comments on the following areas:
1. Using a consistent set of definitions
in solicitations and contracts will aide
in acquisition of Earth observation and
geospatial information. Please comment
on definitions for Commercial
Environmental Data; Commercial
Environmental Data Buys; Commercial
Earth observation services; Commercial
Geospatial Data and Information
Acquisition; and derived products.
(page 4 of the background document)
2. Data sharing (redistribution) rights
are a critical factor in these
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procurements. The government has
different Licensing frameworks, please
provide comments as to the feasibility of
a single framework across all purchases.
Please provide information on barriers
associated with the various licensing
frameworks. Specifically:
a. When considering data sharing
rights, how should the Federal
government consider the best value and
return on investment for the taxpayer?
b. What are useful categories of data
sharing rights, both within the Federal
government and externally? Categories
could be defined by user type (e.g.,
sharing with other Federal Government
agencies, foreign agency partners,
academia, the general public), by use
cases (e.g., commercial, noncommercial, scientific/research,
operational), others?
c. What are creative options for
expanding data sharing rights without
significantly increasing costs to the
Federal government? For example,
permitting sharing of data at a coarser
spatial resolution, at full resolution with
a time delay using sunsetting dates after
which data reverts to the public domain,
by permitting only non-commercial
reuse, or permitting public release data
used in scientific studies and
reproduction of scientific information?
d. How can contracts address the
Federal government’s use of products
derived from commercial data,
including for products for public
release?
e. If a contract allows some or all data
to be shared outside the Federal
government, are there challenges with
sharing such data under a standard open
license (such as those described at
https://resources.data.gov/openlicenses/), to ensure those third parties
understand their use rights?
f. How should the Federal government
solicit information about the cost of
different data sharing rights in the
context of a specific procurement?
3. If you have responded to Federal
government commercial Earth
observation and/or geospatial data
requests for proposal, please comment
on challenges faced in responding to the
requests.
4. Please identify acquisition
processes that would facilitate your
ability to respond to Earth observation
and/or geospatial information business
opportunities.
5. Are you aware of the various
Departmental and Agency roles related
to Federal Earth imagery acquisition?
What types of information would help
clarify those roles?
6. Do you prefer to work individual
procurements with multiple agencies
and programs of would you prefer to
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28079
interact through larger coordinated
multiple agency contracts?
7. The Departments and Agencies
increase their reliance on commercial
Earth observations and geospatial data,
services and analytics there may be
technical, scientific, legal, and other
impacts.
a. What are the ramifications for
academic researchers?
b. What are the ramifications for the
private sector, both provider and
downstream?
c. What are the ramifications for the
public?
d. What are the ramifications for the
international community?
8. Legal Issues.
a. Many standard commercial end
user license agreements include terms
that the Federal government is unable to
accept, including indemnification,
choice of law, dispute resolution, etc.,
many of which are replaced by
applicable parts of the Federal
Acquisition Regulations (FAR). Does
this create any legal issues for data
providers?
b. What is the industry perspective on
certification and validation of
commercial data?
c. What are the legal issues companies
are facing when providing commercial
data, analytics, information and services
to meet Federal agencies operational
missions? For example, regarding
liability?
9. What are the main, non-technical
barriers to increasing the Federal
government’s procurement of
commercial data? This could be barriers
due to acquisition practices, licensing
agreements, Federal government’s need
for technical information to understand
how data are collected and processed,
and/or needs/constraints of vendors.
a. Of these barriers, which would be
feasible to resolve in the near- or midterm?
b. How do these barriers or the
Federal government’s requirements
compare to non-governmental
customers? If significantly different,
does that make diversifying your
customer base more difficult, and/or
increase the prices offered to the Federal
government?
10. What can the Federal government
do to better foster the development of
businesses and start-ups that provide
commercial data or derived products?
11. What trends do you see in
commercial Earth observations and/or
geospatial information?
D. Public Comment
Every effort will be made to hear from
as many registered individuals during
the public dialogues. Individuals or
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28080
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 25, 2021 / Notices
groups making remarks during the
public comment period will be limited
to 3 minutes for each intervention.
Individuals or groups may attend more
than one dialogue session. These
sessions will be recorded for use in
writing the document. Submission of
written comments are also encouraged.
Dated: May 18, 2021.
Ajay N. Mehta,
Director, Office of Satellite Ground Services,
NOAA Satellite and Information Service, Cochair, U.S. Group on Earth Observations.
[FR Doc. 2021–10774 Filed 5–24–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–40–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Schedule and Agenda for the American
Samoa FEP AP Meeting
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XB124]
Western Pacific Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
AGENCY:
The Western Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council) will
hold meetings of its American Samoa
Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan
(FEP) Advisory Panel (AP), Mariana
Archipelago FEP-Guam AP, Noncommercial Fisheries Advisory
Committee (NCFAC), Fishing Industry
Advisory Committee (FIAC), Hawaii
Archipelago FEP AP, and Mariana
Archipelago FEP-Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) AP to
discuss and make recommendations on
fishery management issues in the
Western Pacific Region.
DATES: The American Samoa
Archipelago FEP AP will meet on
Tuesday, June 8, 2021 from 5 p.m.–7
p.m.; The NCFAC will meet on
Wednesday, June 9, 2021 from 1 p.m.–
4 p.m.; the Mariana Archipelago FEPGuam AP will meet on Thursday, June
10, 2021, from 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.;
the FIAC will meet on Thursday, June
10, 2021 from 1 p.m.–4 p.m.; the Hawaii
Archipelago FEP AP will meet on
Friday, June 11, 2021 from 9 a.m.–12
noon; and the Mariana Archipelago
FEP–CNMI AP will meet on Saturday,
June 12, 2021 from 9 a.m.–12 noon. All
times listed are local island times except
for the NCFAC and FIAC are Hawaii
Standard Time.
For specific times and agendas, see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: Each of the meetings will be
held by web conference via Webex.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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Instructions for connecting to the web
conference and providing oral public
comments will be posted on the Council
website at www.wpcouncil.org. For
assistance with the web conference
connection, contact the Council office at
(808) 522–8220.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director,
Western Pacific Fishery Management
Council; telephone: (808) 522–8220.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public
comment periods will be provided in
the agendas. The order in which agenda
items are addressed may change. The
meetings will run as late as necessary to
complete scheduled business.
Wednesday, June 8, 2021 from 5 p.m.–
7 p.m. (American Samoa Standard
Time)
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Review of the Last AP Meeting and
Recommendations
3. Council Issues
A. American Samoa bottomfish
Update
B. Territory Bigeye Specifications
C. Gear and Release Requirements to
Improve Post-Hooking Survivorship
of Oceanic Whitetip Sharks in
Longline Fisheries
4. American Samoa Reports
A. 2020 Annual Stock Assessment
and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE)
Report
B. Fisheries Research and Priorities
5. Report on American Samoa
Archipelago FEP AP Plan Activities
6. Fishery Issues and Activities
7. Public Comment
8. Discussion and Recommendations
9. Other Business
Schedule and Agenda for the NCFAC
Meeting
Wednesday, June 9, 2021 from 1 p.m.–
4 p.m. (Hawaii Standard Time)
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Review of Last NCFAC Meeting
3. Regional/National Non-Commercial
Fishing Efforts
A. Regional Roundtable
B. National Recreational Fishing
Summit 2022
C. Western Pacific Initiatives
4. 2020 Annual SAFE Report NonCommercial Modules
A. Pelagic Fisheries
B. Update on Development of NonPelagic Non-Commercial MUS
Module
C. Ecosystem Component NonCommercial Species
5. Legislative Update
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6. Monitoring and Management of
Hawaii Non-Commercial Uku
Fishery
7. Cultural Take of Green Sea Turtles
8. Public Comment
9. Discussion and Recommendations
10. Other Business
Schedule and Agenda for the Mariana
Archipelago FEP-Guam AP Meeting
Thursday, June 10, 2021, 6:30 p.m.–8:30
p.m. (Marianas Standard Time)
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Review of the Last AP Meeting and
Recommendations
3. Council Issues
A. Guam Bottomfish Update
B. Territory Bigeye Specifications
4. Guam Reports
A. 2020 Annual SAFE Report
B. Fisheries Research and Priorities
C. Shark Depredation Project Update
5. Report on Mariana Archipelago FEP
Advisory Panel Plan Activities
6. Fishery Issues and Activities
7. Public Comment
8. Discussion and Recommendations
9. Other Business
Schedule and Agenda for the FIAC
Meeting
Thursday, June 10, 2021 from 1 p.m.–4
p.m. (Hawaii Standard Time)
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Status Report on March 2021 FIAC
Recommendations
3. Hawaii Offshore Wind Energy
4. Offshore Aquaculture
A. Ewa Beach Offshore Aquaculture
Proposal
B. Federal Offshore Aquaculture
Management
5. Council Actions for 186th Meeting
A. Gear and Release Requirements to
Improve Post-Hooking Survivorship
of Oceanic Whitetip Sharks in the
Longline Fisheries
B. Bigeye Tuna Catch Limit and
Allocation
C. Hawaii Update to the Deep 7
Bottomfish Annual Catch Limits
D. Developing Draft Tori Line
Specifications for the Hawaii DeepSet Longline Fishery
6. Hawaii Legislative Report
7. Marianas Shark Depredation Project
8. MAFAC Seafood Recommendations
9. ESA Issues
A. Consultations Updates
B. Shortfin Mako ESA Listing Petition
10. Other Issues
11. Public Comment
12. Discussion and Recommendations
Schedule and Agenda for the Hawaii
Archipelago FEP AP Meeting
Friday, June 11, 2021, 9 a.m.–12 noon
(Hawaii Standard Time)
1. Welcome and Introductions
E:\FR\FM\25MYN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28078-28080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-10774]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XG169]
Request for Information and Public Virtual Dialogues on
Commercial Earth Observations and Geospatial Data and Services
Practices
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The United States Group on Earth Observations (USGEO) is
preparing a document containing best practices for Federal government
procurement of commercial Earth observation and geospatial data and
services, per the 2019 National Plan for Civil Earth Observations.
Information from private sector providers and users; academia, and the
public is critical to that effort, and therefore USGEO is seeking
public input. This notice invites the public to submit written comments
on the topic generally and in response to specific questions outlined
below, and to attend one of four virtual forums.
DATES: Comments: The agency must receive comments on or before June 30,
2021.
Virtual Public Meetings:
1. June 2, 2021, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
2. June 9, 2021, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
3. June 16, 2021, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
4. June 23, 2021, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
Registration is limited to 250 individuals per session. All
sessions will present the same content so you only need to attend one
session. Information on how to join the virtual meetings will be
available upon registration at the following links. Please register for
the session you plan to attend.
June 2, 2021, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. EDT: https://usgeo2jun.eventbrite.com.
June 9, 2021, 1-2:30 p.m. EDT: https://usgeo9jun.eventbrite.com.
June 16, 2021, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. EDT: https://usgeo16jun.eventbrite.com.
June 23, 2021, 1-2:30 p.m. EDT: https://usgeo23jun.eventbrite.com.
For questions on registration, please contact [email protected].
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this request for information
(RFI), identified by NOAA-NESDIS-2021-0051, by any of the following
methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-NESDIS-2021-0051 in the Search box.
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered by USGEO. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily
by the sender will be publicly accessible. USGEO will accept anonymous
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
This is a request for information only. This RFI is not a request
for proposals (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP or a notice inviting
applications. This RFI does not commit the Department or Federal
Agencies to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, we
are not seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals.
The Department or Federal Agencies will not pay for any information or
administrative costs that you may incur in responding to this RFI. The
documents and information submitted in response to this RFI become the
property of the U.S. Government and will not be returned.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wade Price, USGEO Executive
Secretariat, telephone (202) 419-5409; Email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USGEO is chartered as a subcommittee under
the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC)--Subcommittee on
Environment. The USGEO subcommittee's purpose is to plan and coordinate
Federal Earth observations, research, and activities; foster improved
Earth system data management and interoperability; identify high-
priority user needs for Earth observation data; and engage
international stakeholders by formulating the U.S. positions for, and
coordinating U.S. participation in, the intergovernmental Group on
Earth Observations (GEO). Its membership consists of 13 Federal
Agencies and components of the Executive Office of the President.
A. The National Plan for Civil Earth Observation
The USGEO developed the 2019 National Plan for Civil Earth
Observations that was released by the Office of Science and Technology
Policy in 2019. Read the full plan at https://usgeo.gov/uploads/Natl-Plan-for-Civil-Earth-Obs.pdf. The National Plan includes the following
two actions:
Work with commercial data providers and analytics
companies to develop a set of best practices for commercial data buys.
Work with commercial providers to understand issues,
agency practices, and policies that foster develo p.m.ent of small and
medium businesses and start-ups.
[[Page 28079]]
B. United States Earth Observation Enterprise
The 2019 National Plan for Civil Earth Observations notes the U.S.
Earth Observation Enterprise is comprised of Federal agencies; State,
local, tribal, and territorial governments; world-leading colleges and
universities; private industries; non-profit organizations; and Federal
and National Laboratories. Together, the Earth Observations Enterprise,
as it will hereafter be referred, is collectively involved in the
acquisition, analysis, dissemination and use of Earth observations; the
operation of enabling infrastructure; sustaining and advancing the
creation of data and information products; maintaining routine uses;
and developing innovative applications for societal, environmental, and
economic progress.
C. Best Practices Guide
New observational technologies and analytics from a broad array of
entities calls for a new way of doing business. USGEO, representing all
the Departments and Federal Agencies, is seeking input from all
components of the Earth Observation Enterprise on the development of
best practices to understand the opportunities for and barriers to the
Federal government's acquisition of commercial Earth observation and
geospatial data and services. USGEO also seeks to understand the
opportunities and impacts of the Departments and Federal Agencies
moving to commercial Earth observation and/or geospatial data,
analytics and services. Through the RFI and public dialogues, USGEO
will use the inputs to develop a public document intended to inform
Federal agencies about best practices they could consider when
purchasing commercial Earth observations and/or geospatial data,
analytics and/or services.
A background document that has more information about providing
inputs to this best practices guide is provided at https://usgeo.gov/public_engagement.html. In additional to general comments, USGEO is
seeking comments on the following areas:
1. Using a consistent set of definitions in solicitations and
contracts will aide in acquisition of Earth observation and geospatial
information. Please comment on definitions for Commercial Environmental
Data; Commercial Environmental Data Buys; Commercial Earth observation
services; Commercial Geospatial Data and Information Acquisition; and
derived products. (page 4 of the background document)
2. Data sharing (redistribution) rights are a critical factor in
these procurements. The government has different Licensing frameworks,
please provide comments as to the feasibility of a single framework
across all purchases. Please provide information on barriers associated
with the various licensing frameworks. Specifically:
a. When considering data sharing rights, how should the Federal
government consider the best value and return on investment for the
taxpayer?
b. What are useful categories of data sharing rights, both within
the Federal government and externally? Categories could be defined by
user type (e.g., sharing with other Federal Government agencies,
foreign agency partners, academia, the general public), by use cases
(e.g., commercial, non-commercial, scientific/research, operational),
others?
c. What are creative options for expanding data sharing rights
without significantly increasing costs to the Federal government? For
example, permitting sharing of data at a coarser spatial resolution, at
full resolution with a time delay using sunsetting dates after which
data reverts to the public domain, by permitting only non-commercial
reuse, or permitting public release data used in scientific studies and
reproduction of scientific information?
d. How can contracts address the Federal government's use of
products derived from commercial data, including for products for
public release?
e. If a contract allows some or all data to be shared outside the
Federal government, are there challenges with sharing such data under a
standard open license (such as those described at https://resources.data.gov/open-licenses/), to ensure those third parties
understand their use rights?
f. How should the Federal government solicit information about the
cost of different data sharing rights in the context of a specific
procurement?
3. If you have responded to Federal government commercial Earth
observation and/or geospatial data requests for proposal, please
comment on challenges faced in responding to the requests.
4. Please identify acquisition processes that would facilitate your
ability to respond to Earth observation and/or geospatial information
business opportunities.
5. Are you aware of the various Departmental and Agency roles
related to Federal Earth imagery acquisition? What types of information
would help clarify those roles?
6. Do you prefer to work individual procurements with multiple
agencies and programs of would you prefer to interact through larger
coordinated multiple agency contracts?
7. The Departments and Agencies increase their reliance on
commercial Earth observations and geospatial data, services and
analytics there may be technical, scientific, legal, and other impacts.
a. What are the ramifications for academic researchers?
b. What are the ramifications for the private sector, both provider
and downstream?
c. What are the ramifications for the public?
d. What are the ramifications for the international community?
8. Legal Issues.
a. Many standard commercial end user license agreements include
terms that the Federal government is unable to accept, including
indemnification, choice of law, dispute resolution, etc., many of which
are replaced by applicable parts of the Federal Acquisition Regulations
(FAR). Does this create any legal issues for data providers?
b. What is the industry perspective on certification and validation
of commercial data?
c. What are the legal issues companies are facing when providing
commercial data, analytics, information and services to meet Federal
agencies operational missions? For example, regarding liability?
9. What are the main, non-technical barriers to increasing the
Federal government's procurement of commercial data? This could be
barriers due to acquisition practices, licensing agreements, Federal
government's need for technical information to understand how data are
collected and processed, and/or needs/constraints of vendors.
a. Of these barriers, which would be feasible to resolve in the
near- or mid-term?
b. How do these barriers or the Federal government's requirements
compare to non-governmental customers? If significantly different, does
that make diversifying your customer base more difficult, and/or
increase the prices offered to the Federal government?
10. What can the Federal government do to better foster the
development of businesses and start-ups that provide commercial data or
derived products?
11. What trends do you see in commercial Earth observations and/or
geospatial information?
D. Public Comment
Every effort will be made to hear from as many registered
individuals during the public dialogues. Individuals or
[[Page 28080]]
groups making remarks during the public comment period will be limited
to 3 minutes for each intervention. Individuals or groups may attend
more than one dialogue session. These sessions will be recorded for use
in writing the document. Submission of written comments are also
encouraged.
Dated: May 18, 2021.
Ajay N. Mehta,
Director, Office of Satellite Ground Services, NOAA Satellite and
Information Service, Co-chair, U.S. Group on Earth Observations.
[FR Doc. 2021-10774 Filed 5-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-40-P
