MODIFICATION
A -- INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS FOR THE AUTOMATED PROCESSING AND EXPLOITATION (APEX) CENTER
- Notice Date
- 7/25/2014
- Notice Type
- Modification/Amendment
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL/RIK - Rome, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, New York, 13441-4514, United States
- ZIP Code
- 13441-4514
- Solicitation Number
- BAA-RIK-13-05
- Point of Contact
- Gail E. Marsh, Phone: 315-330-7518
- E-Mail Address
-
Gail.Marsh@us.af.mil
(Gail.Marsh@us.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The purpose of this modification is to republish the original announcement, incorporating all previous modifications, pursuant to FAR 35.016(c). This republishing also includes the following changes: (a) Section II: Added information about the rights to select or not select based on funding; (b) Section IV.1: Added new URL for BAA Guide to Industry; (c) Section VII: Added email address for Ombudsman. No other changes have been made. NAICS CODE: 541712 FEDERAL AGENCY NAME: Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL - Rome Research Site, AFRL/Information Directorate, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY, 13441-4514 TITLE: Innovative Techniques and Tools for the Automated Processing and Exploitation (APEX) Center ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial announcement FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: BAA-RIK-13-05 CFDA Number: 12.800 I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION: The AFRL/RIEA branch performs Research and Development (R&D) across a broad area of Air Force Command, Control, Communications, Computers/Cyber, and Intelligence (C4I). All applicable "INTs" are investigated with emphasis on Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Image Intelligence (IMINT), Non Traditional Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaisance (NTISR), and Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT). The APEX Center is used to perform analysis for seedling efforts, provide baseline tool development for major programs, and to provide realistic operational systems/networks/databases for integration efforts. The APEX Center resources will be used by the Government to perform the necessary research, development, experimentation, demonstration, and conduct objective evaluations in support of emerging capabilities within the Processing and Exploitation (PEX) area. Software tools, data sets, metrics (Measures of Performance/Measures of Effectiveness), and analysis are needed for the Government to perform the vetting, maturing, and analysis of efforts related to PEX, e.g. Automatic Tracking, Activity Based Intelligence, Entity, Event & Relationship (EER) Extraction, Association & Resolution (A&R), Analysis & Visualization (A&V), Social Network Analysis, Network Analytics, Pattern Discovery, Scalable Algorithms, and Novelty Detection. The AFRL APEX Center is the AFRL/RI gateway into the cross-directorate PCPAD-X (Planning & Direction, Collection, Processing & Exploitation, Analysis & Production, and Dissemination eXperimentation) initiative. The PCPAD-X environment has been specifically architected to provide a testbed for relevant data filtering, access to intelligence analysis tools, and algorithm testing. The test bed includes both full and partial Programs of Record (Air Force Distributed Common Ground System (AF DCGS), Network-Centric Collaborative Targeting (NCCT), Global Command and Control System (GCCS), Remotely Piloted Aircraft Squadron Operations Center(RPA SOC), etc) that are target integration objectives as well as analysis baselines, acting as systems-under-test or research objectives. The goal is to facilitate the maturation, demonstration, and evaluation of technologies (within the areas above) with innovative techniques and tools. AFRL/RIEA is looking for White Papers that provide solutions within or across five focus areas. Specific technologies of interest include those needed to meet stated objectives of the APEX Center. Therefore, responses to this BAA will be evaluated on their innovative approaches and effective applications in multiple areas of need. Offerors submitting to this BAA should identify which of the following areas are covered by any submission: Verification and Validation Focus Area (VVFA) - Ideas and concepts that provide the ability for the Government to perform trusted and consistent V&V for Activity Based Analysis software systems. Verification procedures involve testing with recorded or simulated data then performing a review or analysis of the results. These could include accuracy and precision, repeatability, reproducibility, and suitability. Validation procedures may also involve regularly repeating tests devised specifically to discover or define what the system(s) performance is across a trade space of variables (e.g. sensors, scenarios, configuration parameters). Modeling and Simulation Focus Area (MSFA) - Ideas and concepts that identify, develop, mature, operate and document all Modeling and Simulation (M&S) for Pattern Analysis or Activity Based Intelligence software V&V. This includes utilizing and enhancing the existing Government of the Shelf (GOTS) baseline M&S capabilities of the Center, such as the UAV Simulator for Global Hawk and other sensors to provide affordable and rapid methods for the Government to assess the benefits of technologies being pursued by AFRL/RIEA. Baseline Metrics and Tools Focus Area (BMFA) - Efforts to define, instantiate, develop, and document all metrics and tools necessary to understand, measure, and advance the state of art of technology in support of PEX. The metrics and tools need to integrate community standards and produce objective assessments/methodologies for evaluations and related activities. Data Analysis and Studies Focus Area (DAFA) - Ideas and concepts that provide capabilities for the collection, collation, and management of required instrumented data to support APEX objectives. Define, perform, and document analytical studies related to APEX objectives. Provide a centralized data management process for the archival, retrieval, processing, reduction, formatting, characterization, and identification of appropriate and problem data sets. Systems Integration Focus Area (SIFA) - Ideas and concepts that provide capabilities, tools, methods, and documentation necessary for successful integration of technologies within the APEX Center by the Government. Ideas and concepts that facilitate the demonstration of integrated technologies to support processing, exploitation and dissemination of data from a variety of sensors, combining a solid Systems Engineering approach across the other four Focus Areas. II. AWARD INFORMATION: Total funding for this BAA is approximately $8.0M. The anticipated funding to be obligated under this BAA is broken out by fiscal year as follows: FY 14 - $1.6M; FY 15 - $1.6M; FY 16 - $1.6M; FY 17 - $1.6M; and FY18 - $1.6M. Individual awards will not normally exceed 36 months with dollar amounts normally ranging between $250K to $1.5M per 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. The Government reserves the right to select all, part, or none of the proposals received, subject to the availability of funds. All potential offerors should be aware that due to unanticipated budget fluctuations, funding in any or all areas may change with little or no notice. 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, Gail E. Marsh, Contracting Officer, telephone (315) 330-7518 or e-mail gail.marsh@us.af.mil for information if they contemplate responding. The e-mail must reference the title and BAA-RIK-13-05. 2. COST SHARING OR MATCHING: Cost sharing is not a requirement. 3. System for Award Management (SAM). Offerors must be registered in the SAM database to receive a contract award, and remain registered during performance and through final payment of any contract or agreement. Processing time for registration in SAM, which normally takes forty-eight hours, should be taken into consideration when registering. Offerors who are not already registered should consider applying for registration before submitting a proposal. 4. Executive Compensation and First-Tier Sub-contract/Sub-recipient Awards: Any contract award resulting from this announcement may contain the clause at FAR 52.204-10 - Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards. Any grant or agreement award resulting from this announcement may contain the award term set forth in 2 CFR, Appendix A to Part 25 http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=c55a4687d6faa13b137a26d0eb436edb&rgn=div5&view=text&node= 2:1.1.1.41&idno=2#2:1.1.1.4.1.2.1.1 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 "Broad Agency Announcement (BAA): Guide for Industry," May 2012, may be accessed at: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=e68f832abb3a7341bb7328547c0e19c0&tab =core&_cview=0 2. CONTENT AND FORM OF SUBMISSION: Offerors are required to submit 1 hard copy 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 & Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, a fax number, an e-mail address, and reference BAA-RIK-13-05 with their submission. All responses to this announcement must be addressed to the technical POC, as discussed in paragraph seven 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: FY14 by 29 Jul 2013; FY15 by 2 Mar 2015; FY16 by 1 Mar 2016; FY17 by 1 Mar 2017 and FY18 by 1 Mar 2018. White papers will be accepted until 2pm Eastern time on 28 Sep 2018, 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. This BAA will close on 2pm Eastern time on 28 Sep 2018. 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/RIEA 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: http://www.dss.mil/. 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/RIEA, 525 Brooks Road, Rome NY 13441-4505, and reference BAA-RIK-13-05. Electronic submission is NOT authorized. Questions can be directed to the cognizant technical POC: Brian O'Hern, 315-330-3995, brain.ohern@us.af.mil. In the event of a possible or actual compromise of classified information in the submission of your white paper or proposal, immediately but no later than 24 hours, bring this to the attention of your cognizant security authority and AFRL Rome Research Site Information Protection Office (IPO): Bob Kane 315-330-2324 0730-1630 Monday-Friday 315-330-2961 Evenings and Weekends Email: robert.p.kane@us.af.mil V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION: 1. CRITERIA: The following criteria (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) Scientific and Technical Merit - Soundness of the approach for development and/or enhancement of the proposed technology with proven, incremental, or novel techniques; (2) Testing and Evaluation - Soundness of methods proposed for integrating and testing of the contractor's developed software and hardware solutions which will be verified by the Government through independent analysis; (3) Openness/Maturity of Solution - The extent to which existing capabilities and standards are leveraged, the ability to share and change software, and the appropriate technology relative maturity (e.g., accuracy, timeliness, confidence, throughput, reliability, and robustness); (4) Related Experience - The extent to which the offeror demonstrates relevant technology and domain knowledge; and (5) Reasonableness and realism of proposed costs and fees (if any). No further evaluation criteria will be used in selecting white papers/proposals. Individual white papers/proposals 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, and 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. 3. The Government may simultaneously evaluate proposals received under this BAA from multiple offerors. In this case, the Government may make award based on adequate price competition, and offerors must be aware that there is a possibility of non-selection due to a proposal of similar but higher-priced technical approach as compared to another offeror. 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 submission. 2. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS: CLASSIFIED SUBMISSIONS: AFRL/RIEA 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 classified facility clearance and safeguarding capability; therefore, personnel identified for assignment to a classified effort must be cleared for access to classified 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. This acquisition may involve data that is subject to export control laws and regulations. Only contractors who are registered and certified with the Defense Logistics Information Service (DLIS) at http://www.dlis.dla.mil/jcp/ and have a legitimate business purpose may participate in this solicitation. For questions, contact DLIS on-line at http://www.dlis.dla.mil/jcp or at the DLA Logistics Information Service, 74 Washington Avenue North, Battle Creek, Michigan 49037-3084, and telephone number 1-800-352-3572. You must submit a copy of your approved DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, with your Proposal. 3. Data Rights: The potential for inclusion of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or data rights other than unlimited on awards is recognized. In accordance with (IAW) the Small Business Administration (SBA) SBIR Policy Directive, Section 8(b), SBIR data rights clauses are non-negotiable and must not be the subject of negotiations pertaining to an award, or diminished or removed during award administration. Issuance of an award will not be made conditional based on forfeit of data rights. If the SBIR awardee wishes to transfer its SBIR data rights to the Air Force or to a third party, it must do so in writing under a separate agreement. A decision by the awardee to relinquish, transfer, or modify in any way its SBIR data rights must be made without pressure or coercion by the agency or any other party. Non-SBIR data rights less than unlimited will be evaluated and negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Government Purpose Rights are anticipated for data developed with DoD-reimbursed Independent Research and Development (IR&D) funding. 4. REPORTING: Once a proposal has been selected for award, offerors will be given complete instructions on the submission process for the reports. VII. AGENCY CONTACTS: Questions of a technical nature shall be directed to the cognizant technical point of contact, as specified below: TPOC Name: Brian O'Hern Telephone: (315) 330-3995 Email: brian.ohern@us.af.mil Questions of a contractual/business nature shall be directed to the cognizant contracting officer, as specified below: Gail E. Marsh Telephone (315) 330-7518 Email: gail.marsh@us.af.mil The email must reference the solicitation (BAA) number and title of the acquisition. In accordance with AFFARS 5301.91, 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 (Apr 2010) will be incorporated into all contracts awarded under this BAA. The AFRL Ombudsman is as follows: Ms. Barbara Gehrs AFRL/PK 1864 4th Street Building 15, Room 225 Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7130 FAX: (937) 656-7321; Comm: (937) 904-4407 barbara.gehrs@us.af.mil All responsible organizations may submit a white paper which shall be considered.
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