Summary of OSL RFI Inputs Received

1. Summary of OSL RFI Inputs Received 20 April 2011

2. Background • USGS Optical Science Laboratory (OSL) is faced with questions regarding consumables, costs, and rationale for existence • OSL Customer requirement review completed in Spring 2010 • Request for Information (RFI) issued early March 2011 • Six questions asked, plus opportunity for general comment • 34 total responses received • 20 – Flyers/camera owners • 6 - Consumers/contractors for aerial data • 8 – 3rd parties • Glass Plates required for continued operation

3. Answers • Do you, or your agency/company/business, have film mapping camera calibration requirements that could be provided by the Lab beyond September 2012? (29 answers) • Yes – 21 (72%) • No – 8 (28%) • no answer – 6 • Do you, or your agency/company/business, have film mapping camera calibration requirements that could be provided by the Lab beyond September 2016? (28 answers) • Yes – 13 (46%) • No – 11 (39%) • Uncertain – 4 (14%) • no answer – 6

4. Answers (cont.) • Do you know of an in situ camera calibration process that you could utilize as a replacement for the traditional Lab camera calibration method? • Yes – 5 (18%) • No – 21 (75%) • “Heard it might be possible” – 2 (7%) • no answer – 6

5. Answers (cont.) • If the USGS Lab stopped operation in the fall of 2012, what would be the impact to you, your agency/company/business, and industry? (28 answers) • Positive – 1 (4%) • None/little – 3 (12%) • Negative – 15 (58%) • Very Negative – 7 (27%) • no answer/irrelevant – 8

6. Answers (cont.) • Do you foresee an industry solution or alternative for the operation of the Lab or a comparable calibration facility available beyond 2012? Are you aware of similar services starting up or planning to start up? (28 answers) • Yes – 1 (4%) • No – 25 (89%) • Uncertain/mixed – 2 (7%) • no answer – 6

7. Answers (cont.) • Do you foresee an industry solution or alternative to obtaining the information provided by the Lab’s Report of Calibration for film mapping cameras after the closure of the Lab? (26 answers) • Yes – 4 (15%) • No – 20 (77%) • Possibly/something needs to be done – 2 (8%) • no answer – 8

8. Respondent comments • “Do you have any other comments on the Lab, the services they provide, or future operations?” • Many Good Commentsabout the great OSL service! • Continued value to current users was apparent • Small businesses had major “going out of business” issues • Some thought new research methods could be used in the future • Some thought we should research digital processes

9. Additional Learning • RST undertook effort to know industry in Spring ’10 • Contacted 75 existing OSL customers, rec’d input from 65 • Total of ~180 cameras existing • Not all being used • Dropping to ~100 in 5 yrs • Average 1/3 calibrated annually • Trend is declining

10. Summary • RFI confirmed previous customer requirement review that market is alive and active, and slowly declining over the next 5+ years • cameras/year; 2011 – 40-50; 2016 - 20-30; beyond - ? • Over 70% of the market still needs camera calibration services though 2012 • Approximately 50% of the market may use calibration in 2016 • Greater than 85% said, OSL closure would have a negative impact or be fatal to their business • Near term alternatives for analog camera calibration are not available

11. Summary • OSL Glass Plate issue • Current Plate supply available through approximately 2012 • Minimum order quantity of 1500 glass plate equivalents – cost of $144,440 • Another buyer for 25% of the minimum order • USGS cost is $101,108 (direct $) • Only 34 total responses and 20 flyer responses to RFI