The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is seeking innovative solutions through a solicitation for the Intelligence Community Data Consortium (ICDC) to address critical challenges in commercial data acquisition and management. This initiative aims to create a centralized platform that streamlines the procurement and storage of commercial data for the Intelligence Community (IC) while minimizing redundancy and costs associated with data replication. Respondents, particularly small businesses and nontraditional contractors, are invited to propose strategies for managing a consortium that facilitates data access, increases negotiation efficiency with commercial vendors, and adheres to privacy and civil liberties best practices. The project outlines specific goals, including identifying and assessing vendors, ensuring data quality, and effectively managing commercial data licenses. Proposals will undergo a multi-phased evaluation process focusing on technical merit, flexibility, and financial viability, ultimately aiming for a zero-copy solution to enhance data handling efficiency. The ICDC emphasizes unclassified systems, with successful prototypes potentially leading to further agreements. Key submission dates for white papers, mockups, and presentations are established, highlighting the government’s intent to foster partnerships that blend technical prowess with consortium management in the data acquisition landscape.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is soliciting proposals for the Intelligence Community Data Consortium (ICDC) to address the issues of fragmented commercial data acquisition within the Intelligence Community (IC). The initiative aims to create a centralized platform that allows for efficient access to commercial data while minimizing duplicative purchases and reducing storage costs. The solicitation targets small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors for an Other Transaction Agreement (OT) to manage a consortium that unifies commercial data access and fosters vendor negotiations. Respondents must possess expertise in data acquisition and management as well as software development to support a zero-copy data marketplace that ensures data compliance and privacy. The solicitation process is multi-phased, beginning with white papers due by April 28, 2025, followed by mockups and oral presentations. Successful respondents may be awarded agreements that lead to further development of the CIDS prototype. In addition to providing cost-effective solutions for data acquisition, the initiative emphasizes vendor vetting, data quality assessments, and privacy management while keeping all submissions unclassified. The overarching goal is to enhance the IC's acquisition methodologies to support better intelligence outcomes.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is soliciting proposals for the Intelligence Community (IC) Data Consortium (ICDC) to address issues surrounding commercial data acquisition and management. The initiative aims to unify fragmented data procurement, reduce duplicative purchases, and streamline access to commercially available information (CAI) across the IC. The project seeks partners, ideally small businesses or nontraditional defense contractors, who can assist in managing a consortium structure and developing a software interface for data access. Key challenges include agile acquisition processes, vendor evaluation, and building an unclassified data marketplace under a “zero copy” design that minimizes data duplication. Respondents must present their qualifications in a two-part submission by May 5, 2025. Proposals will be evaluated based on technical merit, understanding of project goals, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. The solicitation consists of multiple phases, starting with white papers, followed by prototype development and negotiations for potential agreements. The overarching goal is to enhance the IC’s data capabilities while ensuring compliance with privacy and civil liberties standards, thus fostering a more cost-effective and cohesive data acquisition model.

The document outlines the design and operational principles for the Intelligence Community Data Consortium (ICDC) at www.icdata.gov, aiming to create an innovative data interface. Key objectives include maintaining unclassified data access, implementing a "zero copy" approach to data management, and fostering an open-source software environment to avoid vendor lock-in. Respondents are encouraged to develop solutions that prioritize query access at vendor IT systems and limit data replication. Additionally, the project emphasizes continuous software updates following best practices, comprehensive API documentation, and effective metadata harmonization to facilitate diverse data type integration. Moreover, the system will support various user interaction modes, including bulk data access and automated feedback for data vendors to enhance data quality. The project seeks unique design strategies while maintaining flexibility and adhering to industry standards for software and API development. Ultimately, the goal is to build a streamlined and user-friendly platform for accessing and interacting with data across the intelligence community while assuring effective monitoring and management of resources. This initiative illustrates the government's focus on modernizing data access strategies within the operational framework of federal grants and RFPs.