What's Happening?
NASA has initiated the recompete process for a five-year, $425 million contract focused on fundamental and applied science research into Earth's water bodies. The Hydrosphere, Biosphere & Geophysics Support Services II (HBG II) contract is designed to procure
industry support for a wide array of research activities, including data product development and validation, instrument development, and numerical modeling. This contract is specifically reserved for small businesses and features a hybrid structure, allowing for both cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price task orders. The incumbent contract, won by Science Systems and Applications Inc. in 2020, has accumulated $484 million in task order obligations and is set to conclude on March 31, 2027. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center utilizes this contract to acquire industry expertise for conceiving, developing, and applying field-deployed and laboratory-based technologies to address societal issues related to Earth's water systems.
Why It's Important?
This $425 million contract is crucial for advancing the United States' understanding of Earth's hydrosphere, biosphere, and geophysics, directly impacting critical societal issues. The research supported by HBG II addresses challenges such as water resources management, weather forecasting, natural disaster prediction, agricultural sustainability, and the study of global and regional sea level changes. By reserving the contract for small businesses, NASA aims to foster innovation and provide opportunities for smaller enterprises to contribute to significant scientific endeavors. The continuity of this research is vital for developing informed policies, improving predictive models for environmental phenomena, and mitigating the impacts of climate change. The data and insights generated from this contract will be instrumental for various federal agencies, academic institutions, and the public in understanding and responding to environmental shifts.
What's Next?
Bids for the Hydrosphere, Biosphere & Geophysics Support Services II (HBG II) contract are due by 2 p.m. Eastern time on December 4. Following the submission deadline, NASA will evaluate proposals and select a small business to continue the critical research. The awarded contract will ensure uninterrupted support for the Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory at Goddard, which develops data processing systems and satellite-derived Earth science products. The ongoing research will continue to focus on areas like changes in the Earth’s cryosphere, gravity field, magnetic field, the solid Earth, and the terrestrial reference frame. The successful execution of this contract will enable NASA to maintain its leadership in Earth science and provide essential data for environmental monitoring and policy-making for the next five years.
Beyond the Headlines
The recompete of the HBG II contract highlights the long-term commitment required for comprehensive Earth science research. Beyond the immediate scientific outputs, this contract fosters a specialized ecosystem of small businesses and experts dedicated to environmental monitoring and analysis. The continuous collection and analysis of data on Earth's water bodies are foundational for understanding complex climate patterns and their impacts. This sustained investment in Earth science not only contributes to academic knowledge but also provides practical tools for disaster preparedness, resource management, and agricultural planning, directly benefiting American communities. The contract also exemplifies how federal agencies leverage private sector innovation to achieve public good, particularly in highly specialized scientific fields where continuous technological advancement is paramount.
