Golden, Colo. – September 16, 2026 -- PlanetiQ has been named an industry partner under NOAA's new Space-Based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM) Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract, a vehicle running from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2036, with a five-year base period and a five-year option.
NOAA opens new decade-long contract vehicle for commercial satellite data
The SBEM IDIQ, established by NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) through its Commercial Data Program, will let PlanetiQ compete for task orders covering two data types: Global Navigation Satellite System-Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO) observations for atmospheric and ionospheric monitoring, and thermospheric neutral density data for satellite orbit prediction.
PlanetiQ adds thermospheric neutral density as new commercial product
The thermospheric data marks a new offering for NOAA NESDIS, intended to support satellite orbit prediction and space-weather applications. PlanetiQ's existing GNSS-RO data already provides high-resolution atmospheric profiles for numerical weather prediction along with ionospheric measurements including Total Electron Content and scintillation.
Deliveries under SBEM will draw on PlanetiQ's current satellite constellation plus additional satellites the company plans to launch later this year.
Selection extends a contracting relationship dating to 2025
PlanetiQ currently supplies GNSS-RO data to NOAA NESDIS under the agency's prior commercial data contract vehicle. A task order announced in August, covering GNSS-RO and ionospheric data, bridges the transition to SBEM. In 2025, PlanetiQ was awarded NOAA's largest-ever contract for satellite weather data, valued at $24.3 million.
"This selection builds on our long-standing partnership with NOAA and expands the ways our data can support the agency, from high-resolution atmospheric and ionospheric observations to thermospheric neutral density for satellite orbit prediction," said Ira Scharf, CEO of PlanetiQ.
NOAA cites expanded push into commercial weather and space-weather data
NOAA has stated it is broadening procurement of commercial environmental satellite data streams to strengthen weather forecasting and space weather monitoring, positioning the SBEM IDIQ as a core piece of its effort to expand U.S. forecasting capacity.