United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), in partnership with its U.S. Air Force Transportation Component Command, Air Mobility Command (AMC), is seeking United States-owned (no foreign-owned) non-federal partners ("Collaborators") from industry and/or academia to be considered for participation in Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) (described in 15 USC 3710a, quoted below). USTRANSCOM/AMC is seeking to understand, apply, experiment, and further develop innovative methods of using probabilistic modeling and fused-data analysis of aviation enterprise data sources to reveal previously unknown patterns, trends and indicators. From these findings, AMC seeks to build processes and initiate actions to enhance air operations enterprise safety, improve training effectiveness and increase operational efficiency. The challenge is to understand the feasibility and potential to glean currently unanticipated and or hidden information from structured and unstructured data sets. Data sets may include, but are not limited to: - Military Flight Operations Quality Assurance (MFOQA) - Flight Simulator Operations Quality Assurance (SOQA) - Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) - Aircrew Safety Action Program (ASAP) - Safety investigation findings - Training data, records, and reports - Standardization (audit) reports - Maintenance records and reports - Aircrew scheduling data Detailed work plans under CRADAs will be determined by discussions between the candidate Collaborator and USTRANSCOM. The collaborative work may involve, but is not limited to, the following areas: - Exploring best practices and various approaches to data fusion and advanced analytics - Assistance in development of an AMC employment concept (CONEMP) for use of aviation enterprise data - Assistance in development of a concept of operations (CONOPS) for aviation enterprise data analyses - Examination of possibilities, challenges, etc., regarding integration of aviation enterprise data/information with other with existing information systems/services/programs - Evaluation of economic factors involved in acquiring or accessing the aforementioned capabilities (e.g., acquisition strategies, service costs, procurement and lifecycle costs, predicted return on investment, payback period, etc.) - Limited scope/scale demonstration of analytical tools applied to selected data sets CRADA collaborators should have significant expertise and experience in collection and analysis of the above-listed data sets as well as data analytics. This is not a solicitation for a procurement contract, nor should this announcement be construed as implying any future solicitation by USTRANSCOM, AMC, or any other Government agency in this area. United States-owned small and large businesses, universities, and other non-federal parties may respond to this announcement. Respondents (potential Collaborators) may team with other qualified non-federal parties. Multiple federal agencies may participate in this collaborative project on behalf of or in partnership with USTRANSCOM and AMC, including federal laboratories and other agencies as the U.S. Government deems appropriate. Information, discussions, demonstrations, and other collaborative activities are proposed to remain at the UNCLASSIFIED level. If classified information exchange is indicated, Collaborator personnel must provide, at no cost to the Government, clearance documentation prior to classified data/information exchange. Results and products of this collaborative effort may include reports, presentations, simulations, demonstrations, and analyses of feasibility, technical maturity, costs, risks, etc., as well as (but not limited to) recommendations on changes to doctrine, training, concepts of employment, and concepts of operation. CRADAs are defined in 15 USC 3710a(d), in part, as "any agreement between one or more federal laboratories and one or more non-federal parties under which the Government, through its laboratories, may provide personnel, services, facilities, equipment, data, information, intellectual property, and other resources with or without reimbursement (excluding funds to non-Federal parties) and the non-Federal parties may provide personnel, services, facilities, equipment, data, information, intellectual property, funds, and other resources toward the conduct of specified research or development efforts which are consistent with the missions of the laboratory; except that such term does not include a procurement contract..." CRADAs resulting from this announcement are forecast to be in effect for approximately a 3-year period, although duration can be tailored to suit both parties' needs, by mutual agreement, before or after work begins. USTRANSCOM and other Government agencies selected by USTRANSCOM will evaluate potential Collaborators' white papers (submittal instructions follow), based on Collaborator demonstrated applicable experience, technical qualifications, resources offered, etc. Government resources available for collaboration will also be considered. USTRANSCOM will choose one, multiple, or zero white papers and will invite selectees to engage in discussions pursuant to reaching agreement on CRADA goals, schedules and resource contributions. Initial white paper selection and subsequent discussions do not guarantee selection of any Collaborator by USTRANSCOM to actually enter into a CRADA. After initial Government white paper selection, discussions will ensue separately with each potential Collaborator, seeking to reach mutual agreement between USTRANSCOM and the Collaborator(s) on objectives, duration, intellectual property and resources to be applied by the parties in the proposed CRADA(s). The Government may choose to visit applicable facilities to observe Collaborator capabilities prior to final selection. The Government may choose to hold an Industry Day or similar activity, at or near Scott AFB, Illinois either before or after initial white paper selection. No Government funding is available to cover white paper preparation or submittal costs, or to cover discussions, facility visits, or any other Collaborator costs of preparation or participation in a CRADA. The USTRANSCOM CRADA template is available for download at http://www.ustranscom.mil/about/org/tccs/Model_USTRANSCOM_CRADA.pdf for potential Collaborator familiarization. Collaborator(s) and USTRANSCOM will cooperatively draft and finalize specific CRADA scope, objectives, commitments, and language through discussions/and mutual agreement after Collaborator selection. Interested parties must submit white papers not later than 7 June 2013 2359 hrs, via e-mail only, to
[email protected] in following format. Hardcopy submittals will not be considered. White papers submitted to other than the above e-mail address will not be considered. - Microsoft Word or .pdf format of not more than 8 pages in length, on standard 8½ by 11-inch page, with 1-inch margins at top, bottom, left and right, in Times New Roman font of not less than 12-point size, with not more than 6 lines per inch. - Pages numbered sequentially in the bottom footer including company/university/organization name on each page. - Clearly marked/identified Proprietary Information; all text, photos, diagrams, etc. - Include the following information (within the 8-page limit): -- Title (no separate title page needed) -- Company name and state of incorporation, plus incorporation of any parent entity. This opportunity is not extended to non-U.S. entities. -- University name and location/state of incorporation, plus state of incorporation of parent educational institution, if applicable. -- Description and location of any specialized facilities or capabilities (other than typical office space) to be dedicated to the collaborative effort. An optional brief video overview of facilities/capabilities (approx. 5 megabytes or less), in addition to the 8-page textual white paper, is acceptable. -- Discussion of how potential Collaborator meets USTRANSCOM's stated interests and will contribute to a CRADA partnership in the subject area. Include a description of innovation capability, ability to analyze and understand user needs, develop advanced concepts, design systems compatible with existing Government systems, mitigate risks of development, production, integration, etc., model, simulate, produce reports, host meetings, exercises, or experiments, perform economic analyses, and otherwise apply resources and expertise to collaborative development of pertinent concepts and systems. -- Resources to be supplied by the Collaborator (such as facilities, personnel, expertise, information systems, proprietary materials, prototypes, etc.). -- Open source software and any third party software to be provided by the Collaborator. -- Resources requested from USTRANSCOM (such as personnel, skill sets, data, information, facilities, access, etc.-funds cannot be provided by USTRANSCOM) -- Background/experience in applicable/related analysis techniques, system development, engineering, integration with existing systems and infrastructures, economic and other analysis, testing, operation, etc. Provide DOD points of contact with addresses/phone numbers as references, if available. -- Collaborator(s) point(s) of contact (name, address, e-mail, and phone) for notification of selection/non-selection and follow-on actions (if chosen). USTRANSCOM and other Government agency personnel participating in white paper review and follow-on collaborative work under CRADA may include in-house support contractors and members of Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC). Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) will be accomplished wherever needed to protect respondent intellectual property. The USTRANSCOM Office of Research and Technology Applications (ORTA), which orchestrates all USTRANSCOM Technology Transfer activities, is supported by a member of the MITRE Corporation's National Security Engineering Center (NSEC) FFRDC. White papers from respondents who do not become CRADA collaborators will be retained in USTRANSCOM records and all properly marked proprietary information will be protected.