What Exchange Network does

Exchange Network is a collaborative federal-state-territorial-tribal environmental data sharing infrastructure platform, established in 1998 through the State/EPA Information Management Workgroup and formally governed since December 2015 as part of E-Enterprise for the Environment. The platform connects the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), all 50 U.S. states, 14 operational tribal partners, and 3 territorial agencies via 69 operational Network Nodes and 21 operational Node Clients, enabling standardized, automated exchange of environmental data across six Communities of Interest (Air, Waste, Water, Cross-Program, Health, Natural Resources).

The core technology is XML-based web services conforming to Node 1.1 and 2.1 specifications, deployed through four open-source node implementations (OpenNode2, EN-Node, CGI Node 2.0, and Next Generation Node), the EPA-hosted Virtual Exchange Service (VES) cloud platform, and the EN Services Center web client. Supporting infrastructure includes the Exchange Network Discovery Service (ENDS) for service cataloging, Shared CROMERR Services for regulatory-compliant electronic signatures, the Facility Registry System REST API for bi-directional facility data, and integrations with EPA's Central Data Exchange (CDX), ECHO, AIRNow, EDG, and Substance Registry Services.

The business model is non-commercial: all tools, nodes, and services are provided at no cost to network partners. Operations are funded through the EPA Exchange Network Grant Program, which anticipated approximately $9.2 million in FY25 grants distributed to states, tribes, and territories. Exchange Network is not a traditional corporate entity but rather a cooperative governance initiative with no equity ownership, structured under E-Enterprise Leadership Council, E-Enterprise Executive Committee, and the E-Enterprise and Exchange Network Management Board.

Name

Exchange Network

Legal name

Exchange Network

Website

https://exchangenetwork.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Exchange Network is a federally-funded cooperative platform that enables U.S. EPA, all 50 states, 14 tribes, and 3 territories to exchange standardized environmental data via XML-based web services, with all tools and services provided free of charge to government partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Data Exchange

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Data Sharing, Data Exchange & Data Marketplace Platforms (HDAEABAH)

Keywords

• Environmental data exchange
• Government data sharing
• XML web services
• Regulatory data reporting
• Environmental compliance data

Headquarters

HQ city

Kings Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. EPA Grant Funding: The Exchange Network is funded through EPA's Exchange Network Grant Program, which provides funding to states, tribes, and territories for developing technical infrastructure to support the Network. Since 2002, EPA has supported implementation through grants. In FY25, approximately $9.2 million in grants was anticipated, with individual applicants able to request up to $400,000 and partnerships up to $600,000.
2. Free Services to Partners: All Exchange Network tools and products, including Nodes, Node Clients, and the Virtual Exchange Service, are provided at no cost to all EN Partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Exchange Network is a collaborative environmental data sharing infrastructure that connects the U.S. EPA, states, tribes, territories, and other partners through standardized XML web services and REST APIs. It delivers open-source node software, cloud-hosted shared services, and discovery and registry services that allow partners to electronically report, discover, and access environmental regulatory data. All tools and services are provided at no cost to participating government partners.

Product overview

The Exchange Network is a collaborative environmental data sharing infrastructure platform connecting EPA, States, Territories, and Tribes. The offering consists of: (1) Node Software products - OpenNode2, EN-Node, CGI Node 2.0, and Next Generation Node (NGN) - which are open source solutions enabling Partners to deploy nodes that securely initiate and respond to data requests via XML web services; (2) Virtual Exchange Service (VES) - a cloud-based alternative eliminating local software deployment; (3) EN Services Center - a web-based Java client for data submission; (4) Shared Services including Shared CROMERR Services for compliance, ENDS for service discovery, Facility Registry System REST API, and Substance Registry Services; and (5) Exchange Network Grants Program funding. The platform supports data exchanges across multiple environmental domains (Air, Water, Waste, Health, Natural Resources, Cross-Program) using XML-based web services conforming to Node 1.1 and 2.1 specifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tribal Exchange Network Group (TXG): A group of Tribal professionals that works to advocate for tribal inclusion in the Exchange Network, provide mentorship on data management, and collaborate with tribal, EPA, and other partners.

Products and services

• OpenNode2
• EN-Node
• CGI Node 2.0
• Next Generation Node (NGN)
• Virtual Exchange Service (VES)
• EN Services Center
• Shared CROMERR Services Shared services that provide CROMERR-compliant electronic signature authentication for partners submitting environmental data over the Exchange Network.
• Exchange Network Discovery Service (ENDS) Discovery service that allows partners and users to find and access environmental data, services, and nodes available across the Exchange Network.
• Facility Registry System REST API REST API service that provides facility identification information to support consistent identification of regulated facilities across Exchange Network data exchanges.
• Substance Registry Services (SRS) Service that maintains substance identification information used by Exchange Network partners to ensure consistent reporting of chemicals and other regulated substances.
• Exchange Network Grants Program Funding program that awards grants to eligible partners to support participation in and adoption of the Exchange Network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced data exchange costs through elimination of manual data entry and custom interfaces
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• E-Enterprise for the EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015In December 2015, Exchange Network Governance merged with E-Enterprise for the Environment. E-Enterprise adopted the Exchange Network's model of cooperative governance and now manages the E-Enterprise technology portfolio alongside EN's traditional role of maintaining standards for environmental data exchange.
• Territorial Environmental AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Territories including Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa participate in the Exchange Network. The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands established the first Territory Node in 2007.
• Tribal Environmental ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Tribal partners participate through the Tribal Exchange Network Group (TXG), with the first Tribal Node established by St. Regis Mohawk Tribe in 2005. The TXG advocates for tribal inclusion and provides mentorship on data management.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998EPA serves as the primary federal coordinating agency for the Exchange Network, providing Central Data Exchange (CDX) infrastructure, grant program funding, and technical support. The Exchange Network Grant Program has provided funding since 2002 to support implementation across states, tribes, and territories.
• State Environmental AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998All 50 U.S. states and DC participate as core partners, establishing Network Nodes to exchange environmental data with EPA and other states. States benefit from automated data exchange and standardized XML formats.
• Environmental Council of the States (ECOS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECOS serves as a key governance partner, with Kurt Rakouskas as the primary contact. ECOS owns and maintains OpenNode2 and EN-Node open source software solutions.
• Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITEP at Northern Arizona University collaborates with the Tribal Exchange Network Group (TXG) to facilitate information-sharing among Tribes and other EN Partners through the TXG website.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CGI Federal: Owns and maintains CGI Node 2.0 as an open source Exchange Network implementation and is a major federal IT contractor with deep EPA and state environmental agency relationships. Comparable as both a technology contributor to the Exchange Network ecosystem and a broader federal environmental IT services provider.
• ECHO (Enforcement and Compliance History Online): EPA's public-facing compliance data system integrated with the Exchange Network. Shares the environmental regulatory data domain and overlapping user base of state environmental agencies, but operates as a public reporting portal rather than a peer-to-peer data exchange.

Emerging players

• Windsor Solutions: Co-developed OpenNode2 with State Partners and ECOS as an open source Node implementation. Serves state environmental agencies with environmental data management and exchange tools, representing a private-sector peer operating in the same niche.
• enfoTech & Consulting: Co-developed EN-Node with State Partners and ECOS as an open source Exchange Network Node implementation. Specialized environmental IT consulting firm serving state environmental agencies with data exchange and compliance systems.

Direct peers

• E-Enterprise for the Environment: Merged with Exchange Network Governance in December 2015 and now manages the E-Enterprise technology portfolio alongside EN's data exchange standards. The closest institutional peer as it shares governance and overlapping mission of modernizing environmental protection through collaborative technology.
• EPA Central Data Exchange (CDX): EPA's central data exchange hub that Exchange Network nodes connect to for submitting and receiving environmental data. Operates as the federal coordination point for the same environmental data exchange mission, making it the most directly comparable peer within the same ecosystem.
• AIRNow: Federal-state-tribal-territorial air quality data sharing partnership developed by EPA, NOAA, NPS, and other agencies. Directly comparable as a collaborative environmental data exchange network serving the same partner types with real-time environmental data.

Others

• Environmental Council of the States (ECOS): Governance partner that owns and maintains OpenNode2 and EN-Node open source software solutions. Comparable as a membership organization of state environmental agency leaders that drives collaborative environmental data initiatives across states.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Exchange Network