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

The Boosting Innovative GEOINT – Science and Technology Broad Agency Announcement (BIG-ST BAA), issued by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), invites proposals addressing national security challenges through geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) research and development. As part of NGA’s Research Directorate, this program supports the National Security Strategy by accelerating science and technology innovations that can be transitioned into operational GEOINT capabilities. The BIG-ST BAA offers a flexible framework for soliciting and selecting research aligned with three key technical domains: Foundational GEOINT, Advanced Phenomenologies, and Analytic Technologies. These domains encompass a wide range of research topics, from modeling earth properties and sensor design to artificial intelligence and activity forecasting. The solicitation is structured as a General BAA with rolling Topic Calls issued throughout the open period, from December 15, 2023 through December 14, 2026. Interested applicants must monitor SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and the Intelligence Community’s Classified IC-ARC platform for specific Topic Calls, which will define technology areas of interest, submission deadlines, and unique requirements. Applications are not accepted under the General BAA itself—only under open Topic Calls. Proposals may be awarded as procurement contracts, cooperative agreements, grants, or Other Transactions (OTs) for prototyping. The type of award instrument is at the discretion of NGA and may be influenced by the nature of the proposed work, organizational type, and statutory authority. Eligibility for this BAA is broad, encompassing all responsible sources capable of fulfilling NGA's requirements. This includes academic institutions, industry (including for-profit and small businesses), nonprofit organizations, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and government entities, though FFRDCs and government labs must meet specific eligibility demonstrations and legal authority requirements. Foreign participation is generally restricted and governed by specific Topic Call guidance. Where allowed, foreign organizations must disclose potential Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) issues and comply with all applicable classified or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) handling protocols. The application process is two-staged: first, the submission of an abstract is mandatory. Abstracts are evaluated for technical merit, relevance to NGA’s mission, and cost realism. Only those who submit an abstract are eligible to submit a full proposal, regardless of whether the abstract receives a favorable response. Proposals must follow a strict formatting template with separate volumes for technical approach, cost/pricing, administrative details, and security. Each volume must be submitted as a separate PDF with clearly labeled file names per the naming convention outlined in the BAA. Abstract and proposal templates are posted separately on SAM.gov and Grants.gov. NGA uses an eight-step evaluation process that includes technical merit, mission alignment, resource realism, cost reasonableness, and security readiness. Some proposals, particularly those involving fundamental research or classified efforts, may require additional documentation such as Program Protection Implementation Plans (PPIP) and Common Disclosure Forms after selection. NGA reserves the right to partially fund, incrementally fund, or negotiate terms prior to award. Selected proposals may begin negotiation after notification; however, award is only authorized upon final signature by a Contracting Officer. Although no fixed funding floor or ceiling is stated, the solicitation clarifies that funding is subject to availability and the merit of each proposal. No cost sharing is required, though it is encouraged where applicable. Some OT awards may require matching unless specific criteria are met (e.g., small business participation). The period of performance varies by project but must fall within Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1 through 7, aligning with research phases from basic research through component demonstration. The program anticipates annual or recurring Topic Calls, and interested organizations should anticipate future cycles by referencing the most recent due dates and aligning submissions accordingly.

Submit abstract first; follow format exactly; proposals without prior abstract submission are ineligible; use required templates; attach volumes separately