Guidelines for Procurement of Professional Aerial Imagery,

Photogrammetry, Lidar and Related Remote Sensor Based Geospatial

Mapping Services

Developed by

In Consultation With:

Background

• Existing document, “Guidelines for Procurement of Photogrammetric Services from Private Professional Sources” adopted in 1986, published in 1987

• May 2006: ASPRS Board votes to update existing Guidelines

• Professional Practices Division (PPD) tasked with leading ad hoc work group

• October, 2006: Ad hoc committee formed to includefederal/state government, MAPPS and ACSM

Procurement Guidelines Committee• ASPRS Committee Members

• Chair (Asst. PPD Director): Doug Smith, David C. Smith & Associates, Inc.

• Co-chair (PPD Director): Dan Paulsen, Wilson & Company

• Federal government: George Lee, USGS

• State government: John Tull, Washington Dept. of Transportation

• MAPPS Representatives• Marvin Miller, Aerometrics

• Mike Ritchie, Photo Science, Inc.

• ACSM Representatives

• John Matonich, ROWE Engineering, Inc.

• Curt Sumner, ACSM Executive Director

Charter

Deliver an updated, revised document which:

• Includes updated technological references;

• Maintains consistency with references to “professional services” included in recent modifications to the NCEES Model Law and Model Rules;

• Addresses professional services vs. products;

• Includes guidance for organizations procuring mapping services to assist in determining when qualifications-based selection processes should be used

Work to Date

• Numerous meetings

• Initially focused on defining characteristics of “professional service” related to photogrammetry/remote sensing

• Submitted initial draft summary at ASPRS Tampa conference

• Introduced draft to Excom, Board and at “Hot Topic” session

• Feedback from conference received through early summer

• Re-initiated meetings in Fall ’07 to incorporate feedback and resolve key issues

DRAFT

Current Status• Revised Executive Summary to address key issues:

• Better address NCEES distinction between survey/not survey

• Include supporting matrices with a specific list of “professional” vs. “technical” services

• Address Best Value and other procurement methods that include qualifications as a primary selection criteria

• Seeking Feedback from this session

• Has not been reviewed by ASPRS Board

DRAFT

Current Status

Schedule• Submit full draft at ASPRS Spring Conference in Portland

• Board/Excom review

• Similar Panel Discussion in Portland

• Incorporate feedback and submit final draft for Board approval

• Send out accepted/approved document for review by broader geospatial mapping community

• Target: Final submitted for Board approval at ASPRS Fall conference

• Publish in PE&RS and distribute to educate agencies and procurement personnel

Licensure/NCEES Considerations

• Initially considered issues related to Licensure

• State licensing laws vary too widely to serve as a guide

• National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Model Law and Model Rules

• National Multi-Organizational Task Force (MAPPS, ACSM, ASPRS, NSPS, URISA, others)

• “Authoritative Location” – Final word and basis on which all other determinations are made

Professional Services• Determined “Professional Services” for procurement purposes is

much broader in scope than for Licensed Services

• Licensing:

• Minimum level of competence

• Serious harm / Public health, safety and welfare

• Procurement Guidelines:

• Recommendations / guidelines, not law or policy

• Need to consider broader scope of public interest, not just serious harm

• Goal is to provide guidance to help organizations best meet project needs

Professional Services

• “Professional Services” require:

• Specialized knowledge/skill

• Independent judgment

• Expectation of overall ethical conduct and quality of performance to protect public or recipient’s best interests

Professional Services

• Includes all photogrammetry or remote sensing services that:

• Interpret, process or analyze remotely sensed imagery to determine geospatial positions or produce maps; and

• Have an expectation of accuracy that could influence decisions that affect public welfare/interests

• Focused primarily on measurement science, though recognize professional nature of other analytical remote sensing work

• “Professional services” does not include technical services or product sales

Matrix Attachments• Matrix attachments compare Professional Services, Technical

Services and Products

• Distinguishes between NCEES surveying/not surveying to address concerns and feedback from Spring conference

• Vast majority of photogrammetry/remote sensing geospatial mapping services are listed as “professional services”

• IMU/GPS and geo-referenced aerial photography/imagery

• Orthophotography

• LiDAR, IFSAR

• Feature extraction

• Digitizing or cadastral mapping if interpretation is required

Matrix Attachments• Standardized / automated processes still considered professional

• Ultimately a professional is responsible for the reliability of the information

• Technical Services include:

• Conventional or resource photography that is not geo-referenced

• Image mosaics for display only purposes

• Direct digitizing / no interpretation

• Products include “off the shelf” and other products where provider offers a set of standard features and sets specifications

• Definition of Product is from MAPPS Product vs. Services Matrix

Matrix Attachments

• Example: Orthophotography

• Rectification/processing imagery for representation as an orthophoto is a professional service

• Imagery rectified to existing USGS DEM, solely for referential/GIS overlay purposes and accompanied by an appropriate disclaimer is not surveying by NCEES definition

• Orthophotography produced to meet a specific stated or implied accuracy is surveying by NCEES definition

Matrix Attachments• Example: Feature Extraction

• Always a professional service

• Features digitized or extracted to meet a specific accuracy statement are surveying by NCEES definition

• Inventory maps, GIS centerlines, resource management boundaries and similar features when used solely for referential purposes are not surveying by NCEES definition

• Example: LiDAR, Radar and Terrain Modeling

• Always professional service

• Surveying if represented to meet a specific accuracy

• May be exceptions, but could not identify any reasonable examples where a stated / authoritative accuracy would not be required

QBS Procurement

Current revised Executive Summary:

• Qualifications, not cost, should always be the primary factor

• Recommends Brooks Act as best procurement model

• Recognizes Brooks Act is not always required by law; local jurisdictions and others will use other methods

• Recommends Brooks Act as only appropriate method for services that meet definition of surveying

• Provides minimum guidelines for qualifications as primary selection criteria if best value or other processes are to be used

Other Recommendations

• Research and comply with State licensing laws

• Research and comply with State mini-Brooks Act laws

• Consider NCEES Model Law/Model Rules as best definitive guideline for determining surveying vs. not surveying

• Apply general principals outlined for all future technologies

• Apply principals outlined to all mapping procurement, including “incidental” or subcontracted services

We Want Your FeedbackSUMMARY

• Broad definition of professional services not limited to licensed services. Includes vast majority of geospatial mapping services.

• Professional Services vs. Technical Services vs. Products(Matrix attachments)

• Brooks Act is only appropriate method for NCEES “surveying”

• Brooks Act is endorsed for all professional services

• Low bid is never appropriate; minimum guidelines needed to ensure qualifications is primary if other process is used

• Guidelines/QBS also apply to subcontracts