OCTOBER 25, 2025 Amendment: Industry Q&A (also included as an attachment):
1. Do you have any template for submitting a proposal? I found the “Response Requirements” in “REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND VENDOR DEMONSTRATIONS AUTOMATED IMAGE ANALYSIS SOFTWARE” document. Is it the only information about the desired proposal format?
No mandatory template required. The response requirements include the minimum requested information but vendors are free to provide more input.
2. Should we provide “Written confirmation of the organization’s registration in SAM” in the proposal or can it be postponed?
Proof of SAM registration is not required to respond to this RFI.
3. Could you please point us to any publicly available datasets for Fish, Aerial/Mammals, Benthic projects? We are especially interested in a dataset with stereo data and satellite imagery support. Do you have a document which describes data annotation requirements for such datasets (good and bad samples to annotate images, required labels and attributes)? It will help us better understand requirements for these projects.
Unfortunately, one of the issues is that the labeled image libraries are generally firewalled behind laboratory networks and security. Thus the data are generally inaccessible for more broad application and use. Some smaller efforts have been made to provide access via portals such as GitHUB, however in general those are limited by size and are not always straightforward (SEAMAPD21 dataset). One goal of the OSI working group is to work towards increasing accessibility by directly serving this data in centralized repositories and linking to portals such as FathomNet. To date software to handle stereo-camera systems, calibrations, and work flow has not been available. So there are no existing labeled image libraries with stereo-imagery available. None of the projects funded in this SI deal with Satellite imagery, however the Remote Sensing SI is funding projects that deal with that kind of data and we will advertise this broadly to our Remote Sensing collaborators to ensure communication.
4. Could you please share some most important open-source components which are used by Fish, Aerial/Mammals, Benthic, and Plankton projects? For example, deep learning frameworks, ML/DL models (e.g. YOLOv8, mmDetection, etc.), data annotation tools, etc. Thus we will understand which integrations are critical to implement.
CoralNet, VIAME, YOLO, onefishtwofish (sp?), TagLab, EventMeasure, Sebastes, GoogleCloud, MetaShape, ArcGIS. Bounding box, segmentation and keypoint models in standard formats, and with easily reparameterized output. Stereo vision libraries. Multispectral imagery. Would prefer if contractors could work together or with these projects to standardize inputs/outputs to facilitate interoperability and reusability.
5. Is there an incumbent currently performing this work? If so, who?
No, this is a new requirement and there is no existing award
6. Are you seeking both technology and services?
Both, as the anticipated work includes development
7. Where is the data stored—on servers, cloud infrastructure, etc.?
Both - some projects have imagery stored locally on servers while others have cloud storage.
8. Do you currently have any metadata? If so, where is it stored?
Metadata is going to be project specific and the scope across participating projects is large. For instance metadata likely exists across a range of needs from planning, to acquisition, data processing, POC’s, and tracking information and across the survey types (i.e. fish, plankton, benthos, mammals/aerial). Given the scope of OSI, this is best handled on a project by project question and probably best handled during industry days qa/qc.
9.How do you define success, and what is your timeline for achieving it?
We envision a suite of cloud-based automated image analysis pipelines across a range of resource survey applications (e.g. fish, mammals/aerial, plankton, benthos). Image acquisition > upload to cloud > label process > model development > human-in-the-loop QA/QC > output to analytical software. Two existing Quarto style documents highlight some recent fish examples including SEFSC and SWFSC Cloud based pipelines.
10.Does this technology need to run in an air-gapped environment?
While we do not have high security requirements, it is the case that many of our users operate “in the field”, where internet connectivity may not be available. Furthermore, in future, we will want to deploy some of the developed models (but not annotation software) on “the edge”, which may mean underwater and so without inter or intra net connectivity.
Certain types of data in NOAA are proprietary and would need secure environments in which to label, develop, and process information. For instance, for electronic monitoring efforts of commercial fishing activity are proprietary and need to be protected. Most of the resource monitoring efforts that are independent of commercial activity (e.g. Fisheries Independent Monitoring) there are fewer restrictions on data accessibility.
11. Do vendors have to be Small Businesses to respond to this RFI?
No! We are looking for feedback from all potential solutions and industry partners.
12. Is it NOAA's goal to label their imagery themselves using commercial platforms, or to leverage industry's existing labeling resources with input from NOAA experts?
As with other other answers the sweep of projects funded here have a range of entry points from beginners to experts. Some of these projects will have limited personnel and thus a labeling resource would be useful. Other projects have image libraries stood up, so more help might be necessary on model creation and validation. Thus the needs will vary by project and this is best dealt with during industry day qa sessions.
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION FISHERIES
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND VENDOR DEMONSTRATIONS
AUTOMATED IMAGE ANALYSIS SOFTWARE
This is a Request for Information (RFI) requesting industry input for market research purposes in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 10 Procedures. This is not a solicitation, nor does it guarantee a solicitation will be issued. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. This is not a request for proposals and it does not obligate the government in any manner.
The Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Optic Strategies Initiative Working Group (OSI) is seeking information related to operationalizing large-scale image collection, processing, and storage; complement, optimize, and replace existing ship- and aircraft-based surveys; automate data processing pipelines; and provide novel, mission-improving metrics. Specifically, OSI intends to fund projects to increase the accessibility and functionality of machine learning assisted image processing pipelines, and hybrid cloud processing capacity. OSI envisions developing a suite of transformational technologies that enable end-to-end automation of optical sampling methods. Those technologies will be implemented in demonstration surveys (i.e. fish, plankton, benthos, aerial/mammals) selected for their topical relevance to the agency and perceived differences in the image analysis problem being addressed.
The OSI will facilitate development of automated end-to-end, acquisition to analysis pipelines for the main NMFS optical data domains (fish, benthic, aerial, plankton). Please see the attached Problem Statement for additional details regarding the desired functionality and current state of technology. OSI represents all Fisheries Science Centers and the Office of Science and Technology.
Software investments should consider scalable solutions that empower full implementation of automated image analysis into post-processing workflows across domains. Solutions should seek to provide end-to-end solutions across a range of user levels, improve usability and functionality, provide relevant diagnostics for model tuning and evaluation, and generally seek to lower the barrier of entry for this critical toolset.
Vendors are encouraged to submit responses/proposed solutions for any or all of the Four focal pipelines (fish, benthic, aerial, plankton) included in the attached Problem Statement. OSI anticipates multiple awards with approximate values between $250-$500k. OSI intends to fund projects to improve access to optical survey and analysis tools, including investments in low-cost acquisition hardware, edge AI bearing payloads and UxS platforms, machine learning assisted image processing pipelines, hybrid cloud processing capacity, and a portfolio of high-TRL applications of these tools. Priorities include expanding and optimizing broadly applicable platforms and software pipelines, especially those that enhance capabilities for data-poor regions and emerging missions. OSI envisions developing a suite of transformational technologies that enable end-to-end automation of optical sampling methods.
The Government is especially interested in responses from SBA certified small business concerns that are capable of performing the work described within this notice.
The NAICS code for this requirement is anticipated to be 541511 or 541519, each with a size standard of $30,000,000.00.
The OSI is conducting a workshop November 5-6 and intends to schedule one-on-one virtual vendor demonstrations with industry partners based on the results of this RFI. One-on-ones will last approximately one hour via Google Meets, with vendors answering questions and providing additional details about how their solution can be applied to OSI’s mission Demonstrations are not required/expected to target specific use cases at this time.
Response Requirements
Responses to this notice shall be limited to five pages, not including cover page/letter if applicable:
- Organization Information.
- The organization name and address, and a point of contact name, telephone number and e-mail address. The organization point of contact shall have the knowledge and authority to clarify responses with Government representatives.
- The organization’s UEI number, CAGE code, and organization/company structure (corporation, LLC, partnership, joint venture, etc.).
- Written confirmation of the organization’s registration in SAM (www.sam.gov), if applicable. Offerors need not be registered to be considered as a source, but must be active to participate in any subsequent solicitations, if issued.
- The size classification of the organization under the appropriate NAICS code, and if the organization is classified as a small business, HUBZone small business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned small business, Woman-owned small business and/or 8(a) certified small business.
- General statement providing the organization’s relevant experience and/or capability to provide the described services, with an emphasis on the following information:
- Anticipated timeline for tailoring software for specific business processes/pipelines
- Software description(s)
- Rough Order of Magnitude for initial development
- Experience with DOC systems, within NOAA or other Bureaus
- Availability November 5-6 and any information needed to plan demonstration
Capability statements and other responses shall be submitted to Sarah Waugh at sarah.waugh@noaa.gov no later than 2:00 PM Pacific Time on Tuesday, October 29th. Please do not call regarding this RFI. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via e-mail to the above e-mail address not later than 2:00 PM Pacific Time on Tuesday, October 22nd. An amendment may be posted if necessary, so firms are encouraged to “follow” this announcement for future actions. OSI intends to notify vendors by Friday, November 1st.
This request is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the submission of contractor's information. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for proprietary information not properly identified. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.
NOAA anticipates requesting vendor demonstrations, at no cost to the Government. Information obtained as a result of this announcement may be reflected in the subsequent solicitation, if issued. This announcement is Government market research and may result in revisions in both its requirements and its acquisition strategy based on industry responses.
