The National Reconnaissance Office has selected HEO, SatVu and Sierra Nevada Corp. as the first awardees under its Strategic Commercial Enhancements commercial solutions opening, or CSO, for remote sensing capabilities.
The agency said Tuesday that the CSO reflects its shift toward multi-phenomenology technologies that integrate electro-optical, hyperspectral imaging, radar, radio frequency, and light detection and ranging, also known as LIDAR.
Table of Contents
What Capabilities Will the Companies Provide to NRO?
The initial tranche covers a range of sensing capabilities to strengthen NRO’s multi-phenomenology portfolio.
- HEO, an Australian space company, will provide non-Earth imagery
- The United Kingdom-based SatVu will deliver medium-wave infrared imagery
- SNC, headquartered in Sparks, Nevada, will contribute radio frequency capabilities
According to the agency, if budget permits, additional awards will be made in the coming months to expand its multi-phenomenology capabilities.
What Is a CSO?
A CSO, or commercial solutions opening, is an alternative acquisition approach to traditional broad agency announcements, or BAAs, for the procurement of commercial technologies or services that directly address mission requirements.
“The CSO is a flexible contracting mechanism that enables us to bring in new ideas and technologies,” stated NRO Director Chris Scolese, a five-time Wash100 winner. “This helps ensure we have access to the latest technologies to advance our mission.”
The Strategic Commercial Enhancements CSO includes a two-stage award process. The first stage involves on modeling and simulation activities, while the second stage assesses on-orbit capabilities and capabilities for operational intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance applications.
NRO’s Previous Commercial Technology Procurement
The latest selections follow earlier Strategic Commercial Enhancements BAA awards across multiple sensing domains. In December 2023, NRO awarded five commercial electro-optical contracts to Airbus U.S. Space and Defense, Albedo Space, Hydrosat, Muon Space and Turion Space.
Earlier in 2023, six companies received study contracts for commercial hyperspectral imagery capabilities.
In 2022, NRO tapped five companies to develop commercial radar systems under the BAA.
Related Articles
The Department of War has finalized the realignment of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and the Defense Technology Security Administration under the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, or USW(A&S). What Is the Purpose of Realigning DSCA, DTSA Under the USW(A&S) Office? DOW said Tuesday the restructuring aims to consolidate acquisition, sustainment, security cooperation, defense sales, industrial base policy and arms transfer responsibilities under a single organizational authority to strengthen the U.S. industrial base and facilitate burden-sharing with allies and partners. The realignment, which supports the National Defense Strategy, also intends to establish a clearer
The Federal Communications Commission has announced plans to re-charter the Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council, or CSRIC, for a new two-year term and is soliciting nominations for membership. In a public notice published Monday, the FCC said it intends to re-charter the advisory committee on or before March 26, following consultation with the General Services Administration. The re-chartered body will represent the commission’s tenth CSRIC charter, CSRIC X, with the first meeting expected in June. Nominations for CSRIC X membership must be submitted no later than March 11. What Is the Purpose of CSRIC? According to the FCC, CSRIC
The Department of the Navy has issued a solicitation seeking an unmanned aerial system, or UAS, capable of conducting long-range strike operations from expeditionary locations or ships lacking large flight decks. Responses are due Feb. 27, according to the Defense Innovation Unit. Join senior naval decision-makers at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Navy Summit on Aug. 27 to explore cutting-edge technologies and strategies strengthening the U.S. Navy’s operational edge. Save your seat today. What Capability Is the Navy Seeking? Under the Runway Independent Maritime & Expeditionary Strike, or RIMES, solicitation, the Department of the Navy seeks a UAS capable of expeditionary