ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial announcement

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: BAA-09-01-RIKA

CFDA Number: 12.800

DATES: It is recommended that white papers be received by the following dates to maximize the possibility of award: FY 09 should be submitted by 03 Dec 08; FY 10 by 01 Nov 09; and FY 11 by 01 Nov 10. White papers will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on 30 Sep 11, but it is less likely that funding will be available in each respective fiscal year after the dates cited. FORMAL PROPOSALS ARE NOT BEING REQUESTED AT THIS TIME. See Section IV of this announcement for further details.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION:

The overall technical objectives of this BAA are to research innovative, disruptive technologies and methods for the automatic and dynamic cueing and collection of intelligence for situational awareness and assessment, with an emphasis on Machine-to- Machine (M2M) capabilities. Technologies, such as artificial intelligence, ontological reasoning, and knowledge-based processing will be used to: (1) Automate the exploitation of collected, processed, and stored information in support of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) within air, space and cyberspace for on-going US missions; (2) Enhance the US exploitation system efficiency, to include multi-platform collections, multi-INT correlation, and resource optimization and management; (3) Dynamically characterize and correlate raw sensor data from existing multi-source, multi-platform, real-time collection systems; and (4) Automate knowledge-based exploitation for Effects-Based Operations (EBO) through assessment, cueing, electronic attack, and battle damage assessment, as a means to achieve mission objectives. These capabilities will enable both automated and "man-on-the-loop" (MoTL) concepts to address the increased volume of data and the increased time criticality of analysis - both of which are necessary to support dynamic exploitation and real-time EBO.

The focus areas of this BAA are to: (1) Dynamically characterize and correlate data sources on existing multi-source, multi-platform, real-time collection systems. (2) Enhance collection system efficiency to include multi-platform collection for dynamic exploitation. (3) Automate knowledge-based assessments to cue sensors and recommend opportunities to achieve mission objectives. (4) Automate exploitation of collected, processed, and stored information in support of ISR and IO for current and future US missions. Some of the particular issues related to these specific focus areas include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) Target specific characteristics for identification/ correlation. Battlefield management depends heavily on multi-intelligence assets to provide current threat analysis for successful deployment of war-fighting resources. One area that supports this analysis is target specific operating characterization and equipment/unit correlation, which is normally a "brute-force/labor intensive" effort. (b) Automated collection, signal ID, and first/second/third order level processing. Dense, hard-to-get, advanced modulated, and Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) signals, as well as movements and hidden assets, dictate the need for automated, dynamic collection using both on-board and off-board assets. Multi-INT ‘fingerprinting' techniques should continue to be investigated as a means of supporting identification and automated tracking efforts. (c) Related enabling engineering constructs and architectures to enable advanced exploitation. For example, the Semantic Service Oriented Architecture (SSOA) construct contextualizes the dynamic knowledge available, thereby enabling dynamic discovery of new services as they become available and providing resources for enabling semantic descriptions of those services. SSOAs enable knowledge acquisition and management over disparate architectures without a priori schema information. Semantic SOA development will provide a flexible way to quickly integrate novel services using an intelligent matching process. We seek approaches which will allow heterogeneous services to seamlessly interoperate and which may include the use of data mediation/intermediary translation services such as data transformation, aggregation, service orchestration and adaptation. A standards based design approach will be used, and as appropriate, will be compliant with all International Standards and with the Net-Centric Enterprise Services (NCES). (d) Management software aboard platforms and systems which specifically address exploitation mission objectives. Given current levels of activity, operational requirements, hostile environments, and resources being heavily tasked, collection systems will need to be developed for embedding on advanced collection platforms, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Resident management software processing systems will need to accomplish the automated, dynamic collection of intelligence information as well as auto-collaborating with other sensors in order to share information and to derive knowledge. (e) Advanced knowledge-based processing for exploitation. Timely and accurate decision support to the warfighter requires innovative knowledge-based processing for sensor management, emitter and entity identification, and multi-intelligence cross-cueing, to include, but not limited to, techniques for automated knowledge acquisition and knowledge modeling, real-time inferencing, and real-time operating system. (f) Network-centric collection management, data/information exchange and correlation. Networked SIGINT sensors extend the sensor virtual collection space, thus significantly enhancing the potential to collect difficult and hard-to-collect intelligence. Therefore, network centric collection management should be investigated to include, but not be limited to, multi-platform signal correlation and Multi-INT sensor cueing. (g) Advanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP) techniques for use in a network-centric exploitation environment. This will include new algorithms, techniques and methods for meeting the future needs in the areas of Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Communications Intelligence (COMINT), Audio Processing, Special Signals, Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT), Steganographic Intelligence (STEGINT) and Imagery Intelligence (IMINT), as well as any combination of these. Consideration should be given to "surgical" exploitation techniques for reducing data and processing requirements through intelligent collection. The development of advanced algorithms which reduce the overall sensor intake, more intelligently process the data among the available resources/nodes, and addresses security, bandwidth, and load-balancing throughout the overall system will be given consideration. The primary focus of this BAA is to have an advanced exploitation capability which effectively enables automated/MoTL exploitation techniques; provides a framework for advanced exploitation, course of action (COA) development, correlation and cueing, and mission planning techniques developed under this BAA and elsewhere; and supports the integration of ISR, network-operations and other intelligence gathering while decreasing the demand for bandwidth in support of collection and intelligence generation.

II. AWARD INFORMATION:

Total funding for this BAA is approximately $24.5M. The anticipated funding to be obligated under this BAA is broken out by fiscal year as follows: FY 09 - $8.0M; FY 10 - $8.5M; and FY11 - $8.0M. Individual awards will not normally exceed 36 months with dollar amounts ranging between $250,000 to $350,000 per fiscal year. There is also the potential to make awards up to any dollar value. Awards of efforts as a result of this announcement will be in the form of contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements, depending upon the nature of the work proposed.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: All potential applicants are eligible. Foreign or foreign-owned offerors are advised that their participation is subject to foreign disclosure review procedures. Foreign or foreign-owned offerors should immediately contact the contracting office focal point, Lynn G. White, Contracting Officer, telephone (315) 330-4996 or e-mail Lynn.White@rl.af.mil for information if they contemplate responding. The e-mail must reference the title and BAA 09-01-RIKA.

2. COST SHARING OR MATCHING: Cost sharing is not a requirement.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION:

1. APPLICATION PACKAGE: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION. WE ARE SOLICITING WHITE PAPERS ONLY. DO NOT SUBMIT A FORMAL PROPOSAL AT THIS TIME. Those white papers found to be consistent with the intent of this BAA may be invited to submit a technical and cost proposal, see Section VI of this announcement for further details.

For additional information, a copy of the AFRL/Rome Research Sites "Broad Agency Announcement (BAA): A Guide for Industry," April 2007, may be accessed at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLRRS/Reference%2DNumber%2DBAAGUIDE/listing.html

2. CONTENT AND FORM OF SUBMISSION: Offerors are required to submit three copies of a 3 to 5 page white paper summarizing their proposed approach/solution. The purpose of the white paper is to preclude unwarranted effort on the part of an offeror whose proposed work is not of interest to the Government. The white paper will be formatted as follows: Section A: Title, Period of Performance, Estimated Cost, Name/Address of Company, Technical and Contracting Points of Contact (phone, fax and email)(this section is NOT included in the page count); Section B: Task Objective; and Section C: Technical Summary and Proposed Deliverables. Multiple white papers within the purview of this announcement may be submitted by each offeror. If the offeror wishes to restrict its white papers/proposals, they must be marked with the restrictive language stated in FAR 15.609(a) and (b). All white papers/proposals shall be double spaced with a font no smaller than 12 pitch. In addition, respondents are requested to provide their Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) number, their Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, a fax number, and an e-mail address and reference BAA 09-01-RIKA with their submission. All responses to this announcement must be addressed to the technical POC, as discussed in paragraph five of this section.

3. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES: It is recommended that white papers be received by the following dates to maximize the possibility of award: FY 09 should be submitted by 03 Dec 08; FY 10 by 01 Nov 09; and FY 11 by 01 Nov 10. White papers will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on 30 Sep 11, but it is less likely that funding will be available in each respective fiscal year after the dates cited.

4. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS: The cost of preparing white papers/proposals in response to this announcement is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract or any other contract, but may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost specified in FAR 31.205-18. Incurring pre-award costs for ASSISTANCE INSTRUMENTS ONLY are regulated by the DoD Grant and Agreements Regulations (DODGARS).

5. CLASSIFICATION GUIDANCE FOR WHITE PAPER SUBMISSIONS: AFRL/RIEC will accept classified responses to this BAA when the classification is mandated by classification guidance provided by an Original Classification Authority of the U.S. Government, or when the proposer believes the work, if successful, would merit classification. Security classification guidance in the form of a DD Form 254 (DoD Contract Security Classification Specification) will not be provided at this time since AFRL is soliciting ideas only. Proposers that intend to include classified information or data in their white paper submission or who are unsure about the appropriate classification of their white papers should contact the technical point of contact listed in Section VII for guidance and direction in advance of preparation.

6. All proposers should review the NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL SECURITY PROGRAM OPERATING MANUAL, (NISPOM), dated February 28, 2006 as it provides baseline standards for the protection of classified information and prescribes the requirements concerning Contractor Developed Information under paragraph 4-105. Defense Security Service (DSS) Site for the NISPOM is: https://www.dss.mil/portal/ShowBinary/BEA%20Repository/new_dss_internet//isp/fac_clear/download_nispom.html.

7. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: DO NOT send white papers to the Contracting Officer. All responses, unclassified/classified, to this announcement must be sent U.S. Postal Service, registered mail and addressed to AFRL/RIEC, 525 Brooks Road, Rome, NY 13441-4505, and reference BAA 09-01-RIKA. Electronic submission is NOT authorized. Questions can be directed to the cognizant technical POC, Dan Stevens, daniel.stevens@rl.af.mil, 315-330-2416.

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION:

1. CRITERIA: The following criteria, which are listed in descending order of importance, will be used to determine whether white papers and proposals submitted are consistent with the intent of this BAA and of interest to the Government: (1) Overall Scientific and Technical Merit -- Including the approach for the development and/or enhancement of the proposed technology, (2) Related Experience - The extent to which the offeror demonstrates relevant technology and domain knowledge, (3) Openness/Maturity of Solution - The extent to which existing capabilities and standards are leveraged and the relative maturity of the proposed technology in terms of reliability and robustness, and (4) Reasonableness and realism of proposed costs and fees (if any). No further evaluation criteria will be used in selecting white papers/proposals. Individual white paper/proposal evaluations will be evaluated against the evaluation criteria without regard to other white papers and proposals submitted under this BAA. White papers and proposals submitted will be evaluated as they are received.

2. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS: Only Government employees will evaluate the white papers/proposals for selection. The Air Force Research Laboratory's Information Directorate has contracted for various business and staff support services, some of which require contractors to obtain administrative access to proprietary information submitted by other contractors. Administrative access is defined as "handling or having physical control over information for the sole purpose of accomplishing the administrative functions specified in the administrative support contract, which do not require the review, reading, or comprehension of the content of the information on the part of non-technical professionals assigned to accomplish the specified administrative tasks." These contractors have signed general non-disclosure agreements and organizational conflict of interest statements. The required administrative access will be granted to non-technical professionals. Examples of the administrative tasks performed include: a. Assembling and organizing information for R&D case files; b. Accessing library files for use by government personnel; and c. Handling and administration of proposals, contracts, contract funding and queries. Any objection to administrative access must be in writing to the Contracting Officer and shall include a detailed statement of the basis for the objection.

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION:

1. AWARD NOTICES: Those white papers found to be consistent with the intent of this BAA may be invited to submit a technical and cost proposal. Notification by email or letter will be sent by the technical POC. Such invitation does not assure that the submitting organization will be awarded a contract. Those white papers not selected to submit a proposal will be notified in the same manner. Prospective offerors are advised that only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government.

All offerors submitting white papers will be contacted by the technical POC, referenced in Section VII of this announcement. Offerors can email the technical POC for status of their white paper/proposal no earlier than 45 days after proposal submission.

2. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS:

CLASSIFIED SUBMISSIONS: AFRL/RIEC will accept classified responses to this BAA when the classification is mandated by classification guidance provided by an Original Classification Authority of the U.S. Government, or when the proposer believes the work, if successful, would merit classification. Security classification guidance in the form of a DD Form 254 (DoD Contract Security Classification Specification) will not be provided at this time since AFRL is soliciting ideas only. After reviewing incoming proposals, if a determination is made that contract award may result in access to classified information, a DD Form 254 will be issued upon contract award. Proposers that intend to include classified information or data in their submission or who are unsure about the appropriate classification of their white papers should contact the technical point of contact listed in Section VII for guidance and direction in advance of preparation.

Depending on the work to be performed, the offeror may require a SECRET or TOP SECRET facility clearance and safeguarding capability; therefore, personnel identified for assignment to a classified effort must be cleared for access to SECRET or TOP SECRET information at the time of award. In addition, the offeror may be required to have, or have access to, a certified and Government-approved facility to support work under this BAA. Data subject to export control constraints may be involved and only firms holding certification under the US/Canada Joint Certification Program (JCP) (www.dlis.dla.mil/jcp) are allowed access to such data.

3. REPORTING: Once a proposal has been selected for award, offerors will be required to submit their reporting requirement through one of our web-based, reporting systems known as JIFFY or TFIMS. Prior to award, the offeror will be notified which reporting system they are to use, and will be given complete instructions regarding its use.

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS:

Questions of a technical nature shall be directed to the cognizant technical point of contact, as specified below:

Technical POC: Dan Stevens
Telephone: (315) 330-2416
Email: Daniel.Stevens@rl.af.mil

Questions of a contractual/business nature shall be directed to the cognizant contracting officer, as specified below:

Lynn White
Telephone (315) 330-4996
Email: Lynn.White@rl.af.mil

The email must reference the solicitation (BAA) number and title of the acquisition.

In accordance with AFFARS 5315.90, an Ombudsman has been appointed to hear and facilitate the resolution of concerns from offerors, potential offerors, and others for this acquisition announcement. Before consulting with an ombudsman, interested parties must first address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the contracting officer for resolution. AFFARS Clause 5352.201-9101 Ombudsman (Aug 2005) will be incorporated into all contracts awarded under this BAA. The AFRL Ombudsman is as follows:

Susan Hunter
Building 15, Room 225
1864 Fourth Street
Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7130
FAX: (937)225-5036; Comm: (937)255-7754

All responsible organizations may submit a white paper which shall be considered.