Our bespoke Satellite Data Vendor Management Service is designed to support defence clients in the strategic acquisition, coordination, and governance of satellite-derived data from commercial satellite operators. We offer a structured, secure, and mission-aligned approach to managing vendor relationships, ensuring low latency access to high-quality data while maintaining compliance with defence standards and operational requirements.
Service Objectives
We optimise data acquisition by identifying client requirements and ensuring the relevant data is sourced from the correct vendors at the right time and cost. At the same time, we streamline vendor engagement, managing contracts, tasking, and performance across multiple satellite operators and data providers.
We also ensure data integrity and security through quality control and compliance checks, maintaining the consistency and reliability of every delivery. This underpins operational readiness, as vendor capabilities are aligned with mission timelines and intelligence needs.
Core Service Components
Vendor Landscape Analysis
- Mapping of global and regional satellite data providers
- Assessment of vendor capabilities (e.g., EO, SAR, IR, RF, hyperspectral)
- Evaluation of licensing models, delivery formats, and latency profiles
- Risk analysis including geopolitical, legal, and technical factors
Procurement and Contract Management
- Development of procurement strategies aligned with defence objectives
- Support for RFI/RFP processes and vendor selection
- Contract negotiation and performance-based agreements
- Compliance with defence acquisition and export control regulations
- Tasking and Data Delivery Coordination
- End-to-end management of satellite tasking requests
- Scheduling and prioritisation based on mission urgency
- Monitoring of delivery timelines and data quality
- Integration with defence PED (Processing, Exploitation, Dissemination) workflows
- Data Governance and Assurance
- Validation and verification of vendor-supplied data
- Metadata management and traceability
- Security vetting and access control for sensitive datasets
- Alignment with MOD data standards and interoperability frameworks
- Strategic Vendor Relationship Management
- Ongoing engagement with vendors to align capabilities with evolving defence needs
- Performance reviews and continuous improvement initiatives
- Coordination with allied and coalition data-sharing agreements
- Support for innovation and emerging data sources (e.g., AI-enhanced analytics, HAPS)
Benefits to Defence Clients
Operational efficiency is delivered by providing streamlined, rapid access to mission-critical satellite data, while maintaining cost control through optimised procurement and effective vendor performance management. At the same time, we ensure data assurance, supplying high-quality, validated datasets that are fully aligned with defence standards.
Our approach also provides strategic flexibility, enabling a seamless pivot between vendors in response to mission demands or shifting geopolitical contexts. With sovereign oversight built in, clients retain full visibility and control over vendor engagements and data flows at every stage.
Use Cases
- Identifying multi-vendor / multi-sensor / multi-operator EO data sources
- Supporting MOD procurement teams with vendor selection and contracting
- Managing multi-vendor EO data acquisition for ISR missions
- Coordinating data delivery for situational awareness
- Ensuring compliance and security in coalition data-sharing environments
Security and Compliance
All vendor management activities are conducted in accordance with MOD security protocols, data protection regulations, and export control laws.
