NGA exercises ClearView option

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency exercised the first of two option years under its $500 million ClearView contract last week by awarding $24 million contracts to DigitalGlobe and Space Imaging and a $12 million contract to Orbimage.

NGA awarded the ClearView contract in 2003 to buy high-resolution satellite imagery from commercial companies. The contract covered three years with two option years and represented a new way of doing business because it allowed the agency to buy capacity on commercial satellites, instead of ordering specific imagery, and share it with federal agencies, allied countries and nongovernmental organizations.

Formerly called the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, NGA primarily processes and analyzes images from the military’s spy satellites, reconnaissance aircraft, and air and ground sensors. It also creates maps for warfighters.