The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Geospatial Products and Services Contracts (GPSC) is a suite of contracts used by federal, state, and municipal governments, as well as non-profits, Tribes, and private entities to partner with the USGS to fulfill their geospatial data requirements.
Photogrammetric and mapping services are primarily awarded under the umbrella of Architect-Engineer (A&E) contracting. Broad in scope, the contracts can accommodate any activity related to standard, nonstandard, graphic, and digital cartographic products. Services provided include, but are not limited to: imagery and lidar data acquisition; photogrammetric mapping; and aerotriangulation; orthophotography; thematic mapping; geographic information systems development; surveying and control acquisition; image manipulation, analysis, and interpretation; map digitizing; data manipulations; primary and ancillary data acquisition; metadata production and revision; and the production or revision of geospatial products defined by formal and informal specifications and standards.
The contracts are Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) and task orders are negotiated directly with selected firms to provide contract services. The GPSC can accommodate the mapping and photogrammetric requirements of all USGS offices and is also available to any federal, state, or local agency, as well as non-profits, Tribes, and private entities.
USGS provides assistance to agencies who wish to use the GPSC. The USGS Commercial Partnership Team (CPT) drafts task orders based on an agency's specific product requirements, conducts negotiations with the contracting firms, and manages each task throughout its lifecycle. The USGS National Geospatial Technical Operations Center (NGTOC) assists in validation of contractor-produced data.
Administrative oversight of the GPSC is managed by the Contracting Officer's Representative and CPT staff located at the NGTOC. Technical points of contact are located in Denver, CO, and Rolla, MO. The National Map Liaisons perform partnership related functions in support of data acquisition. National Map Liaisons are associated with each state to assist federal, state, and municipal government partners with accessing the GPSC for their geospatial needs.
The GPSC gives customers quick-access one-stop shopping to the professional geospatial services they require. Selected through a competitive, quality-based selection process, the GPSC contractors are highly skilled, with the full gamut of geospatial and cartographic products. They are industry leaders with product-specific expertise who maintain technical liaisons with the USGS.
Customers seeking nonstandard products, or those requiring singular applications of geospatial data, have ready access to the same pool of certified firms. The Commercial Partnerships Team's familiarity with each contractor coupled with the breadth of USGS technical expertise create an environment whereby detailed products are accurately described and appropriately assigned.
The combination of qualified contractors and an experienced Government contracting staff with access to broad-ranging subject matter experts ensures obtaining the desired product or service expeditiously at the best possible price.
Contract costs are negotiated with QBS contractors. The USGS maintains resident expertise to ensure partners and purchasing organizations receive fair market value for the products they acquire. A six-percent administrative charge is assessed on all contracts.
These contracts were established to support The National Map partners, other federal civilian agency programs, and Department of Defense programs that require data for the United States and its territories.
