Since 1996, H-GAC has contracted for digital aerial imagery services on behalf of aerial cost share participants. Successive two-year contracts have been awarded through a Request for Proposals selection process. The last contract, in 2016, provided for approximately 7,100 square miles of high resolution, map quality imagery, cooperatively purchased with funds from thirty participating member organizations.

The imagery has also been made available to the public, through H-GAC websites. H-GAC and cost share members rely on aerial imagery for various mapping activities and to support program efforts that include: Regional Forecasting, Urban, Environmental, and Transportation Planning, 9-1-1 Next Generation map application, and Human Services.

On August 18, 2015, H-GAC's Board of Directors approved a contract with Surdex Corporation for a two-year period to deliver digital aerial imagery data product for the H-GAC region. The contract included at H-GAC’s discretion to extend the service up to three one year cycle if the following criteria are met:

1. Satisfaction with the product

2. Affordability of the product

3. Above-grade quality of the product.

On May 23, 2017, H-GAC and members of the Geographic Data Workgroup’s Aerial Technical Advisory Group voted to extend the 2016 contract with Surdex Corporation, citing all criteria are met.

Funds committed by participating cost share organizations

Yes

Request authorization to extend 2016 contract with vendor Surdex Corporation, for an additional two-year period, to deliver digital aerial imagery data products and services; amount not to exceed $700,000. (Staff Contact: Tanya Nguyen)