SAN FRANCISCO – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration intends to dramatically increase commercial weather data purchases, Taylor Jordan, Commerce Department assistant secretary for environmental observation and prediction, said Jan. 28. The NOAA strategy being developed will give commercial data providers a longer-term view of NOAA’s needs than the current program, which relies primarily on five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts. “We’re looking at going as big as we can for as long as we can.”The budget for the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service Commercial Weather Program has risen in recent years. Credit: NESDIS Commercial Weather ProgramOpen CommunicationsAs part of its commercial strategy, NOAA will publicly discuss the types of datasets the agency will need in the future. We’ll look at fire detection, intensity monitoring and mapping.”Through its new strategy, NOAA seeks flexibility to respond quickly to emerging data providers and data products.