US Department of Agriculture Awards
Three YearCIR Contract to VARGIS

Sterling, VA, July, 2004 –In May 2004, VARGIS was awarded a three-year contract with the US Department of Agriculture for the National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP). VARGIS is one of ten contractors selected as a vendor for this program. In year one of the contract, VARGIS was awarded the State of Pennsylvania and will collect leaf-on color infrared (CIR) aerial photography of the entire State at a resolution of 1-meter.

The purpose of NAIP is to provide USDA Service Centers, as well as cost-sharing partners, current and timely digital imagery. The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), Aerial Photography Field Office (APFO) has provided analog aerial photography to Service Centers for over 60 years, and is now in the process of providing digital imagery for GIS implementation to the approximately 2,500 Service Centers nationwide. The program’s goal is to acquire imagery annually over large parts of the contiguous 48 states, and deliver it to users within a few months time frame. This is a national program with new opportunities for state government participation and partnering. This imagery will meet the needs of two primary requirements within USDA: Provide quick turn-around imagery to Service Centers for mandated annual compliance review; and when orthorectified, become the updated image base layer for GIS. For further information on the NAIP project contact VARGIS at 703-834-0225, or at varinfo@vargis.com.

About VARGIS LLC:
VARGIS is recognized in the industry as one of the most accomplished geospatial data and imagery providers in the United States. Founded in 1995, VARGIS is a premier provider of traditional aerial, digital aerial, satellite imagery, and GIS services. VARGIS has earned an outstanding reputation among mapping companies for its commitment to quality and customer service. This includes a 99% on time delivery and 98% first time delivery acceptance rate on over 1-million square miles of imagery delivered to more than 1,000 satisfied clients since 1995. VARGIS, a US subsidiary of Infotech Enterprises, is headquartered at 100 Carpenter Drive, Suite 200, Sterling, VA 20164.

About the US Department of Agriculture Farm Services Agency:
For over 60 years, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), Aerial Photography Field Office (APFO) has provided analog aerial photography to Service Centers and is now in the process of providing digital imagery for GIS implementation to approximately 2,500 Service Centers nationwide. For more information on USDA FSA www.fsa.usda.gov