U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Fact Sheet 2005-3010

January 2005

Commercial Remote Sensing Data Contract

General Information

The U. S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) 

Commercial Remote Sensing Data 

Contracts (CRSDCs) provide government agencies with access to a broad 

range of commercially available 

remotely sensed airborne and satellite 

data. 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. Experience shows that centralized procurement of remotely sensed data leads to 

considerable cost savings to the Federal 

government through volume discounts, reduction of redundant contract 

administrative costs, and avoidance of 

duplicate purchases. These contracts 

directly support the President’s Commercial Remote Sensing Space Policy, 

signed in 2003, by providing a centralized mechanism for civil agencies to 

acquire commercial remote sensing 

products to support their mission needs 

in an efficient and coordinated way. 

CRSDC administration is provided by 

the USGS Mid-Continent Mapping 

Center in Rolla, Missouri. 

The USGS has negotiated advantageous 

CRSDC terms on behalf of purchasing 

organizations, including highly competitive pricing and the most flexible and 

least restrictive licensing arrangements 

offered to date by the commercial satellite remote sensing industry. The USGS 

is committed to negotiating data license 

agreements that allow the distribution 

of data within the public domain wherever practical. These data will be made 

available through The National Map, 

where purchased data with appropriate 

licensing will be directly accessible and 

downloadable. 

Space-derived deliverables will include 

data listed in the contractor’s standard 

commercial catalog that meet or exceed 

the requirements specified in the 

contract, and a license to use that data. 

A variety of airborne data, including 

digital orthorectified photography and 

radar data, also are available. 

Contractors will process inquiries about 

data availability, process requests for 

data acquisitions, process orders for 

data products, and maintain up-to-date 

product documentation. 

Data providers were selected based on 

technical capability and past performance. Contracts were awarded to 

firms that offered competitive pricing 

and flexible licensing packages.

Benefits of CRSDC

The Commercial data contracts negotiated by the USGS provide mechanisms 

to procure both new acquisitions and 

existing “off-the-shelf” data, which are 

increasingly being collected on speculation by satellite remote sensing companies or for specific clients, and subsequently offered for resale. Vendors also 

are developing and refreshing robust 

archives of high-quality, multi-resolution remotely sensed data, especially 

for populated areas and other areas of 

interest, such as the coastal zones. 

Summary of CRSDC Advantages

• Single point access to obtain commercial aerial and satellite imagery.

• Technical analysis of customer 

requests, ensuring the right product 

the first time. 

• Cost savings and efficiency through 

eliminating the need for multiple 

agencies to establish, administer, and 

maintain remote sensing data-purchase contracts. 

• Lower cost structures, expanded 

licensing provisions, and other favorable terms and conditions for the 

Federal government and State and 

local government partners.

• Provides immediate access to quality-based data providers that are 

Industry Leaders. 

Contract Costs

Contract costs are negotiated with 

appropriate vendors. The USGS 

maintains resident expertise to ensure 

purchasing organizations receive fair 

market value for the products they 

acquire.

Points of Contact: 

Contracting Officer’s Representative

Mid-Continent Geographic Science 

Center (MCGSC)

Rolla, MO

573-308-3799

jduncan@usgs.gov

Customer Service Points of Contact– 

crsdc@usgs.gov

573-308-3500