The purpose of this modification is to republish the original announcement pursuant to FAR 35.016(c). Previous modifications are incorporated into this republishing. No other changes have been made. DATES: It is recommended that white papers be received by the following dates to maximize the possibility of award: FY 05 should be submitted by 1 Aug 05; FY 06 by 15 Nov 05; FY 07 by 1 May 06; FY 08 by 1 May 07; FY 09 by 1 May 08; and FY 10 - 1 May 09. White papers will be accepted until 2pm Eastern time on 30 Oct 10, 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: AFRL Rome Research Site is soliciting white papers for innovative research in Measurement and Signatures Intelligence (MASINT) Technology Development (MTD). The MTD BAA seeks significant advances in collection, processing, exploitation, dissemination, and information fusion in the six MASINT sub disciplines. This may also include simulation and modeling of such systems. These include: 1. Electro-Optical - technologies for the detection and exploitation of relevant phenomena by electro-optical sensors to include laser intelligence (LASINT), Overhead Non-imaging Infrared (ONIR), Thermal IR (TIR), and spectroscopy. LASINT technologies may also include sensitive and specific methods of identifying and diagnosing laser eye injuries. 2. Radar - technologies to include Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Inverse SAR, Line of Sight (LOS), Over the Horizon (OTH), and bi-static radar. 3. Nuclear - technologies to perform active or passive, remote or close detection, collection and measurement of gamma rays, neutrons, x-rays or other ambient radiation from nuclear sources. 4. Materials - technologies to collect, characterize and identify materials, point of origin by remote or close-in means to include nuclear materials, biological threats to include the identification of infectious agents of military importance. Investigations may include improvements in the dissemination of intelligence information to medical personnel through improvements in bioinformatics and data management systems. 5. Radio Frequency - Seek technology to collect, process, and exploit signals intelligence from Ultra Wideband (UWB), Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), High Power Microwave (HPM), Unintended RF Emissions (URE or RINT) threats. 6. Geophysical - seek new capabilities for persistent surveillance of areas of interest using seismic, magnetic, acoustic, hydroacoustic or multi-discipline approaches. Additional topic area: White papers are being sought to enhance Space Situational Awareness by providing automated knowledge tools and decision aids that utilize state-of-the-art multi-sensor exploitation techniques for the purpose of improving characterization performance and reducing operational analyst workload. Technologies leading to the rapid improvement of capabilities for signature characterization of resident space objects and determination of adversarial intent are needed. These tools should provide new capabilities for more effective exploitation of complementary multi-source sensor and intelligence data for improved Space Situational Awareness. Development of tools and techniques that equip the operational analyst to provide timely and highly accurate signature characterization of RSOs leading to threat analysis is increasingly critical to addressing multiple Space Domain issues. The focus of these technologies is to provide direct assistance to the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC), National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC), and associated DoD and intelligence community partners. Recommended date for white papers on this topic area is 10 November 2008. II. AWARD INFORMATION: Total funding for this BAA is approximately $49.9M. The anticipated funding to be obligated under this BAA is broken out by fiscal year as follows: FY 05 - $.5M; FY 06 - $9.5M; FY 07 - $9.9M; FY 08 - $10M; FY09 - $10M; and FY10 - $10M. Individual awards will not normally exceed 36 months with dollar amounts ranging between $100K to $5M per year. Awards of efforts as a result of this announcement will be in the form of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions depending upon the nature of the work proposed. III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: 1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: Foreign allied participation is excluded at the prime contractor level. 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 SOLICITATING 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 3 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, Cost of Task, Name of Company; Section B: Task Objective; and Section C: Technical Summary. 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, a fax number, and an e-mail address 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 05 should be submitted by 1 Aug 05; FY 06 by 15 Nov 05; FY 07 by 1 May 06; FY 08 by 1 May 07; FY 09 by 1 May 08; and FY 10 by 1 May 09. White papers will be accepted until 2pm Eastern time on 30 Oct 10, but it is less likely that funding will be available in each respective fiscal year after the dates cited. Submission of white papers will be regulated in accordance with FAR 15.208. 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. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: DO NOT send white papers to the Contracting Officer. All responses to this announcement must be addressed to ATTN: Bernard Clarke, AFRL/RIEC, 525 Brooks Rd. Rome, NY 13441. Respondents are required to provide their Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number with their submittal and reference BAA 05-09-IFKA. V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION: 1. CRITERIA: The following criteria, which are listed in equal 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 and its evaluation, (2) Related Experience - The extent to which the offeror demonstrates relevant technology and domain knowledge, (3) Innovativeness 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 review 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: Depending on the work to be performed, the offeror may require up to a TS/SCI facility clearance and safeguarding capability; therefore, personnel identified for assignment to a classified effort must be cleared for access up to TS/SCI 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, offeror's 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 points of contact, as specified below: Bernard Clarke Telephone: (315)330-2106 Email:
[email protected] Questions of a contractual/business nature shall be directed to the cognizant contracting officer, as specified below: Lynn White Telephone: (315) 330-4996 Email:
[email protected] 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.