Greenbelt, MD, 21 May 2007 – Arctic Slope Regional Corporation Management Services (ASRC MS) of Greenbelt, MD, managers of the Prime Vendor Contract (PVC) effort for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agriculture Service, Office of Global Analysis (OGA), announce Geospatial Data Analysis Corporation (GDA Corp.) as the latest addition to the Prime Vendor Contract.
GDA Corp. (State College, PA) has recently become a prime vendor on the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation Management Services Prime Vendor Contract for the USDA. GDA will be providing value-added data products derived from medium and high resolution satellite imagery to the USDA and other federal agencies. GDA will also support the development of advanced processing algorithms, expert systems, and web-based GIS mapping tools for various agency programs, as needed.
GDA Corp. is a woman-owned small business specializing in the processing, analysis, and modeling of GIS and Remote Sensing data and the development of the specialized GIS and Remote Sensing software. GDA Corp. provides geospatial information products and services from the majority of commercial and public remote sensing platforms and aids clients with their geospatial problems in the resource management, environmental monitoring, mapping, surveillance and intelligence domains, to name just a few. In particular, GDA develops cutting-edge technology for the automated, analytical processing of large volume remote sensing data for operational use, excels at the development of advanced feature and pattern extraction algorithms from remotely sensed imagery, and builds advanced spatial decision support and expert systems.
ASRC Management Services, a subsidiary of Alaska’s Arctic Slope Regional Corp., has several contracts in its portfolio for providing various management and support activities at various government agencies including USDA, NASA, and USGS. Global Marketing Insights, Inc. Cleveland, OH, is responsible for negotiating and managing the on-going prime vendor contract vehicle with ASRC MS.
ASRC Management Services is an 8(a) Alaskan Native-owned Corporation that provides a full array of GIS consulting and design services, ASRC Management Services specializes in enterprise needs assessments, and ongoing geodatabase and GIS maintenance, which requires extensive and specialized knowledge of the GIS software, computer networking, database systems and GIS-related technologies such as global positioning systems (GPS) and mobile mapping applications.
ASRC Management Services provides GIS business solutions that use the most appropriate and cost effective technologies to achieve both short and long term goals for clients and works with clients to continually identify improvements that will positively affect their business operations.
The Office of Global Analysis of the USDA FAS is responsible for global crop condition assessments and estimates of area, yield, and production for grains, oilseeds, and cotton. The primary mission of OGA is to target, collect, analyze, and disseminate timely, objective, useful, and cost-effective global crop condition and agricultural market intelligence information. One of OGA’s key missions is to provide unbiased commodity estimates and forecasts to create a marketing edge for U.S. producers in world markets. (Source: USDA and NASA) The Prime Vendor Contract vehicle allows them to obtain agriculture analysis solutions using satellite imagery and ancillary information quickly and cost effectively.
Brad Doorn, remote sensing coordinator for the FAS’ Crop Assessment Division stated, “The premise of this contract is to promote efficiency. We are trying to make the best use of every dollar the taxpayer gives us.” FAS requests from ASRC MS which type of imagery solution information they need. Then ASRC MS obtains quotes from the vendors on the Prime Vendor Contract list for the imagery or solutions required. “The Prime Vendor Contract helps the USDA achieve our goal – which is to have a contract in place that allows us to access products provided by the commercial industry and get the best price and performance possible. The Prime Vendor Contract managed by ASRC MS provides the USDA FAS with the best possible global agriculture analysis solutions at the best possible prices and meet our stringent delivery specifications,” states Brad Doorn.
Established in 2002 through a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) award out of NASA’s Stennis Space Center, GDA Corp. has grown over the years into a full-service GIS and Remote Sensing R&D and product/service firm on the cutting-edge of geospatial technology. GDA core activities focus on development of innovative software and spatial products & services, and has particular expertise is developing software for operational, automated processing of large image datasets, automated extraction of features and patterns from imagery, and building spatial decision support and expert systems. For more information contact Stephanie Hulina at stephanie@gdacorp.com or call 814-237-4060.
Established in 1972 Arctic Slope Regional Corporation provides a wide range of capabilities in the commercial and government sectors with lines of business in: Aerospace, Base and Range Operations, Construction, Security, Engineering, Professional Services, Communications, Information Technology Services, Field Services and GIS and Geospatial Services. For more information contact Don Brown at donald.brown@asrcms.com or call 202-720-6593
Established in 1997, Global Marketing Insights Inc. provides a wide range of geospatial industry based business planning and market research services, including targeted product/service market studies and competitive market research. For more information contact Sherry Loy at sherryloy@globalinsights.com or call 216-525-0600.