Weekly GEOINT Community News

Parsons Acquires OGSystems

Parsons announced last week its acquisition of OGSystems. With its advanced hardware solutions, VIPER Labs, and immersive engineering techniques, OGSystems will expand Parsons’ presence in space, cyber, infrastructure, and other markets. This is the latest in a series of strategic investments for Parsons and the company’s third acquisition in 14 months.

SAIC and Engility Announce Approval of Merger

SAIC and Engility announced Friday that stockholders of each company overwhelmingly approved proposals related to the merger at their respective special meetings of stockholders. SAIC and Engility expect the closing of the transaction to occur promptly, subject to the satisfaction of all conditions.

NGA and SLU Partner on Geospatial Research

Saint Louis University (SLU) signed a collaborative research and development agreement with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) focused on geospatial research, training, and innovation. The university will provide NGA with subject matter expertise, professional development, and technical assistance in areas such as unmanned systems and predictive analytics. The partnership is part of SLU’s new GeoSLU initiative, which hopes to cultivate a leading research hub to benefit the geospatial community in St. Louis, Mo.

HHS Requests AI Proposals

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a request for proposals on a contract vehicle for automation and artificial intelligence products and services. Functional areas for the contract include systems design, engineering, modeling, and prototyping. Responses to the notice are due Jan. 30.

SSL to Define Requirements for EDF’s MethaneSAT 

Maxar’s SSL was awarded a contract to define requirements for the Environmental Defense Fund’s (EDF) MethaneSAT, a small satellite that will monitor and measure methane emissions from oil and gas facilities around the world on a weekly basis. To enhance the solution, DigitalGlobe will provide technical input on the satellite payload design and guidance on the overall mission plan. Following design development, EDF anticipates awarding a contract in 2019 for the manufacture of the satellite.

Iridium Completes Historic Satellite Launch Campaign

Iridium announced Friday that a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base and delivered the final 10 Iridium NEXT satellites to low earth orbit. All 10 satellites have communicated with the Iridium Satellite Network Operations Center and are preparing to undergo initial on-orbit testing. This was the eighth and final launch for Iridium’s historic launch campaign with SpaceX, seeing a total of 75 new satellites deployed in less than two years.

DoD Launches Talent Exchange Program

The Department of Defense (DoD) announced last week the launch of its Defense-Industry Talent Exchange Pilot Program. The six-month program brings 13 high-performing professionals with leadership potential into the DoD to learn about the department’s business operations and to share best practices with acquisition personnel.

General Atomics Awarded Air Force SMC Contract

The U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center awarded General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems the Hosted Payload Solutions Mission Delivery Order. Under the contract, General Atomics will launch a 110 kg test bed satellite and integrate an Argos data collection system. The program aims to facilitate the placement of government payloads aboard commercial satellites.

Peer Intel

Accenture announced that effective immediately, chairman and CEO Pierre Nanterme has stepped down for health reasons. Accenture’s Board of Directors appointed David Rowland, who has been Accenture’s chief financial officer, to become interim CEO, and to the board as a director of Accenture; and named lead independent director Marge Magner as the company’s non-executive chair of the board. The company also appointed KC McClure, who currently leads Accenture’s finance operations, as chief financial officer. Nanterme will continue at Accenture as advisor to the CEO.

Photo Credit: Environmental Defense Fund