The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency awarded a $7.3 million order to EarthData International LLC for imagery and data models describing the Earth’s surface, the Defense Department said today.

The Defense Department is one of the agency’s primary customers and a major source of funding.

Frederick, Md.-based EarthData, which specializes in airborne imaging and mapping using a fleet of aircrafts and sensors, will provide the agency with orthorectified imagery and digital elevation model data sets. Orthorectified images are digitally corrected to account for uneven terrain.

NGA has made a practice out of buying commercial imagery to augment its own geospatial data. Last fall the agency awarded a five-year $500 million contract to Longmont, Co.-based DigitalGlobe Inc. for commercial satellite imagery. It expects to place a similar order in September. (For more, read “Intel office wants industry secrets.” [link to: http://www.washingtontechnology.com/news/19_4/emerging-tech/23578-1.html ])

In addition, NGA issued a broad agency announcement seeking “proposals for innovative, high-risk, non-traditional Geospatial Intelligence concepts, technologies and products.” It expects to award $1 million in contracts during the Geospatial Intelligence Symposium 2004, held October 12-14 in New Orleans.

NGA will hold a preproposal conference June 17 to discuss the opportunity. Proposals are due July 12.

For more information about the broad agency announcement, you can download it at http://www.nga.mil/NGASiteContent/StaticFiles/OCR/2004IGI_BAA%20ACT_GC_v71.pdf .