(D) one employed by a nonprofit organiza-
tion; 
(E) one employed by a university; and 
(F) four employed by a private geospatial 
firm. 
(b) TERMS.— 
(1) FEDERAL
OFFICIALS.—Each member ap-
pointed under subparagraphs (1) through (7) of sub-
section (a) shall be appointed for the life of the 
Commission. 
(2) MEMBERS
APPOINTED
BY
THE
PRESI-
DENT.—Each member appointed under subsection 
(a)(8) shall be appointed for a term of six years. 
(c) VACANCIES.—Any member appointed to fill a va-
cancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which 
the member’s predecessor was appointed shall be ap-
pointed only for the remainder of that term. 
(d) PAY AND EXPENSES.—Each member appointed 
under subsection (a)(8) shall be entitled to $100 a day 
when performing duties vested in the Commission and re-
imbursement for necessary expenses incurred in per-
forming those duties. 
(e) CHAIR AND OFFICERS.—The President shall des-
ignate the Chair of the Commission from among the non- 
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Federal members. The Commission may elect from among 
its members other officers as it considers desirable. 
(f) PERSONNEL.—The Commission may employ a Di-
rector, an executive officer, and other technical and ad-
ministrative personnel as it considers necessary. Without 
regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statues (41 U.S.C. 
5) and section 3109, chapters 33 and 51, and subchapter 
III of chapter 53, of title 5, the Commission may employ, 
by contract or otherwise, the temporary or intermittent 
(not more than one year) services of city planners, archi-
tects, engineers, appraisers, and other experts or organiza-
tions of experts, as may be necessary to carry out its func-
tions. The Commission shall fix the rate of compensation 
so as not to exceed the rate usual for similar services. 
TITLE 
III—CONTRACTOR 
PER-
FORMANCE 
OF 
FEDERAL 
GEOSPATIAL ACTIVITIES 
SEC. 301. POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States, consistent with 
the U.S. Commercial Remote Sensing Policy, to— 
(1) rely to the maximum practical extent on the 
private sector in the United States for the acquisi-
tion of geospatial data; and 
(2) develop a long-term, sustainable relationship 
with the private geospatial community. 
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SEC. 302. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title, the term ‘‘agency head’’ means the Sec-
retary, the Administrator, or head of a department, agen-
cy, or bureau of the Federal Government. 
SEC. 303. CONVERSION TO CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE. 
(a) CONVERSION
OF ACTIVITIES IDENTIFIED
BY 
COMMISSION.—Each agency head shall convert, to the 
maximum extent possible, to performance by private 
geospatial firms, all activities identified by the National 
Geospatial Policy Commission for conversion under section 
202(b)(2) that are performed by or for the agency. 
(b) SOLICITATION
OF OFFERS
FOR CONTRACTOR 
PERFORMANCE OF ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.— 
(1) NOTICE.—Each agency head shall issue a 
notice soliciting offers for the performance of each 
activity described in subsection (a). The notice shall 
include a description of qualifications and experience 
determined by the agency head to be necessary for 
performance of the activity, and such other criteria 
as the agency head determines to be appropriate. 
(2) SUBMISSION OF OFFERS.—To be considered 
for performance of an activity, a private geospatial 
firm shall submit to the agency head an offer that 
addresses the criteria described in paragraph (1), in-
cluding a statement of qualifications and perform-
ance data. 
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(3) SELECTION.— 
(A) 
FIRST
STAGE.—Of 
the 
private 
geospatial firms that submit offers under para-
graph (2), the agency head shall select the 
three (or more) private geospatial firms deter-
mined by the agency head to be most qualified 
for performance of the activity, based on the 
private geospatial firms’ offers and such other 
information related to the qualifications and ex-
perience of the private geospatial firms as the 
agency head determines to be appropriate. 
(B) SECOND
STAGE.—The agency head 
shall discuss with each private geospatial firm 
selected under subparagraph (A) different tech-
nologies and professional approaches to fur-
nishing the required services. Based on the dis-
cussion, the agency head shall rank each such 
private geospatial firm in order of most to least 
qualified. 
(C) THIRD STAGE.—The agency head shall 
negotiate with each private geospatial firm de-
termined to be the most qualified to perform 
the activity required by the agency, for a con-
tract for performance of the activity. 
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(D) FINAL SELECTION.—The agency head 
shall enter into a contract with each private 
geospatial firm that, in negotiations under sub-
paragraph (C), agrees to a price determined by 
the agency head to be fair and reasonable, 
based on the value of the services to be ren-
dered and the scope, complexity, and specialized 
nature of the activity. 
(E) SELECTION OF ADDITIONAL FIRMS.— 
If the agency head cannot enter into a contract 
with a private geospatial firm under subpara-
graph (D), the agency head shall determine the 
next most qualified private geospatial firms for 
performance of the activity in accordance with 
subparagraph (A) and enter into discussions 
and negotiations with such private geospatial 
firms under subparagraphs (B) and (C), respec-
tively. 
SEC. 304. REQUIREMENT FOR PERFORMANCE IN UNITED 
STATES. 
(a) FEDERAL CONTRACTS.—All Federal contracts for 
performance of a geospatial activity shall include— 
(1) a condition that the geospatial activity be 
performed in the United States; and 
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(2) a written certification that the funds will 
not be used for geospatial activities performed out-
side the United States. 
(b) EXCEPTIONS.—The requirements of this section 
shall not apply with respect to a geospatial activity— 
(1) that was converted to performance by a pri-
vate geospatial firm under section 303 and was pre-
viously performed outside the United States by the 
Federal Government; 
(2) required by law (including a treaty or trade 
agreement) to be performed outside the United 
States; 
(3) required by geographical necessity to be 
performed outside the United States; 
(4) determined by the Administrator after a 
competitive procurement process under section 
303(b) to be unavailable in the United States; or 
(5) for which the President has issued a deter-
mination in writing that performance outside of the 
United States is necessary for national security. 
TITLE IV—ENCOURAGING 
PRIVATE ENTERPRISE 
SEC. 401. FINDINGS; PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that the competitive 
enterprise system, characterized by individual freedom and 
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initiative, is the primary source of the economic strength 
of the United States, and the Federal Government should 
not perform geospatial functions better suited for perform-
ance by the private sector. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purpose of this title is to pro-
mote the establishment and growth of private geospatial 
firms in the United States by— 
(1) encouraging the use by the Federal Govern-
ment of geospatial data, products, technology, and 
services to accomplish national priorities; 
(2) encouraging the acquisition of geospatial 
data, products, technology, and services from private 
geospatial firms; 
(3) encouraging the development, and ensuring 
the continued employment, of a workforce that will 
meet future employment demands in the geospatial 
field; and 
(4) fostering an environment in which all pri-
vate geospatial firms may compete effectively and 
grow to their full potential. 
SEC. 402. STRATEGY FOR ENCOURAGING FEDERAL USE OF 
PRIVATE GEOSPATIAL FIRMS. 
(a) DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGY.—Not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator shall cooperate with private geospatial 
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firms, and any associations composed exclusively of such 
firms, to develop a comprehensive strategy to encourage 
and enhance the use of private geospatial firms by Federal 
agencies and other entities that receive Federal funds, in-
cluding State and local governmental agencies, univer-
sities, nonprofit organizations, and foreign governments. 
(b) INFORMATION GATHERING.—In developing the 
strategy described in subsection (a), the Administrator 
shall— 
(1) examine the current role of private 
geospatial firms, including small businesses, in the 
economy of the United States; 
(2) States expending Federal funds; 
(3) assess the contribution such firms may 
make in the future to the growth of the economy of 
the United States; 
(4) evaluate the efforts of each Federal agency 
to use private geospatial firms, including the pro-
curement strategies, policies, and methodologies of 
each Federal agency; and 
(5) assemble statistical information on the use 
of private geospatial firms by Federal agencies. 
(c) ENHANCEMENT OF FEDERAL AGENCY USE OF 
PRIVATE GEOSPATIAL FIRMS.— 
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(1) The Administrator shall develop and com-
municate to each Federal agency recommendations 
to encourage and enhance the use by the Federal 
agency of private geospatial firms. 
(2) The Administrator shall establish training 
programs and facilitate knowledge sharing among 
Federal agencies on the use of geospatial data, prod-
ucts, technology, and services and the process for 
procurement of such activities from the private sec-
tor. 
(3) The Administrator shall cooperate with pub-
lic and private agencies, businesses, and other orga-
nizations to disseminate information about the use 
and application of geospatial data, products, tech-
nology, and services, the capabilities of private 
geospatial firms, and the ways in which private 
geospatial firms may benefit Federal agencies. 
(d) ADVOCACY
AND
ASSISTANCE
FOR
PRIVATE 
GEOSPATIAL FIRMS AFFECTED BY FEDERAL POLICIES 
AND ACTIVITIES.— 
(1) The Administrator shall receive, and, as ap-
propriate, address or otherwise act upon complaints, 
criticisms, and suggestions from private geospatial 
firms regarding the policies and activities of Federal 
agencies. 
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(2) If the policies and activities of a Federal 
agency affect or may affect private geospatial firms, 
the Administrator shall represent the views and in-
terests of the private geospatial firms to the Federal 
agency. 
(3) The Administrator shall make counseling 
available to private geospatial firms on how to re-
solve questions and problems concerning the rela-
tionship of such firms to the Federal Government. 
(e) DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARD CLAUSES, CON-
TRACTS, AND FORM LICENSES.—The Administrator shall, 
in consultation with trade associations and public interest 
groups, develop and promote standard clauses, contracts, 
and form licenses for use by the Federal Government in 
the acquisition of geospatial data. 
(f) STANDARDS FOR ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS.— 
To evaluate and increase the effectiveness of the strategy, 
the Administrator shall develop standards (including 
metrics, benchmarks, and measures of performance) by 
which to assess— 
(1) the state of geospatial activities in the 
United States; and 
(2) progress in the development of private 
geospatial enterprise in the United States. 
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TITLE V—GEOSPATIAL 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 501. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this title are to encourage innovation 
and entrepreneurship in the geospatial field by— 
(1) promoting the advancement of geospatial 
products and technologies, and value-added services 
related to such products and technologies; 
(2) providing an avenue through which new and 
untested geospatial products and services may be 
brought to the marketplace. 
SEC. 502. DEFINITIONS. 
(a) In this title: 
(1) The term ‘‘Geospatial Research Plan’’ 
means the plan developed under section 503(a). 
(2) The term ‘‘research and development’’— 
(A) means— 
(i) a systematic study directed specifi-
cally toward applying new knowledge to 
meet a recognized need; 
(ii) a systematic application of knowl-
edge toward the production of useful mate-
rials, devices, and systems or methods, in-
cluding design, development, and improve-
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