The US government, through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), commissioned a comprehensive assessment to quantify the economic value of GPS to the nation and estimate potential losses from service disruptions. The methodology included

• Industry Case Studies: The study examined a range of industries to reflect the unique ways GPS contributes to value creation.

• Mixed-Methods Research: The approach combined qualitative and quantitative methods

• Data-Driven Valuation: The study leveraged historical adoption trends, current usage patterns, and available alternatives to GPS to estimate its economic contribution.

• Scope and Focus: The analysis was limited to civilian and commercial uses of GPS, with an emphasis on how GPS supports private-sector needs for precise positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services

Prerequisites:

• Identify PNT products and services to be evaluated

• Determine the evaluation framework and methodology

• Identify and engage with industry experts and other stakeholders to gather insights and validate market assumptions

• Procurement pathway

• Partner support as needed

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 50k–250k

• Includes: literature review and baseline study, stakeholder consultations, expert advisory, report drafting and validation

Timeframe:

• Overall: 6–12 mo

• Phase: scoping (1–2 mo), consultation (2–4 mo), drafting (2–4 mo), validation (1–2 mo)

Pros:

• Informed Decision-Making - Clarifies which path (buying data/services, buying a satellite, or building in-house) offers the best value, reducing risk of investing in a suboptimal or overly expensive solution.

• Strategic Alignment - Ensures the PNT solution aligns with long-term business or national security goals, helping position your organization competitively within the sector

• Stakeholder Buy-In - Provides evidence-based justification for executive or investor decisions, supporting cross-functional discussions between finance, engineering, and leadership.

• Cost Control - Identifies hidden costs, scalability issues, or unexpected dependencies before committing.

• Capability Mapping - Highlights internal strengths/weaknesses and potential partnership opportunities.

Considerations:

• Time and Resource Intensive - Gather data across technical, financial, and strategic domains—an effort that can delay decision-making if not well-scoped or supported.

• Uncertainty in Assumptions - Rely on forecasts, vendor quotes, or incomplete market data that may shift rapidly, introducing risk into planning outcomes.