Rome Laboratory, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome NY 13441-4514

A -- INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, BAA 96-01 SOL BAA 96-01 POC Dan Ventimiglia, Program Manager, 315-330-3222;Joetta A. Bernhard, Contracting Officer, 315-330-2308. REANNOUNCEMENT for the convenience of industry. Originally published 22 Sep 1995. There are no major changes. Rome Laboratory (RL) is soliciting white papers for various scientific studies and experiments to increase RLs knowledge and understanding of the broad range of capabilities and technologies applicable to the exploitation of intelligence data, the development of intelligence information, and the production and dissemination of intelligence products. The modern intelligence data handling environment is dominated by digital technologies associated with information processing, display, storage and retrieval, and reporting. The intelligence analyst is haunted by the glut of digital information which continues to grow exponentially. New technologies and the application of these technologies in the intelligence data handling environment are require to overcome this information overload and to aid intelligence analysts and their managers in performance of their assigned duties. Solutions to basic research and engineering problems using innovative approaches are being sought in three broad areas: information access, analytical systems, and advanced systems computing. Deliverables will be technical reports, and when appropriate, demonstration prototypes including software, software licenses, hardware and documentation. The intelligence data handling technical thrust is subdivided into three areas: information access, analytical systems, and advanced system computing. Information access area seeks technologies and applications that will provide the search, discovery, and translation functions necessary to find relevant information in multiple, large scale, multimedia, intelligence information sources, refine information into a form suitable for exploitation by humans or advanced applications, and facilitate the dissemination of finished multimedia products. Specific technologies include, but are not limited to, Intelink tools (i.e., Internet based technologies) to find, browse, retrieve, and customize multimedia products in a seamless manner, natural language and speech interfaces to computer systems and databases, automated indexing of multimedia data, message profiling, information parsing and extraction (i.e. Natural Language), intelligent agents, intelligent assistants that can learn repetitive human computer interactions and build and optimize database schemas. Technologies that improve the usability of intelligence data handling systems, are also of interest. Analytical systems area seeks technologies and applications that will assist the intelligence analysts to rapidly visualize and assess situations, and produce concise descriptions of technologies being sought which include, but are not limited to, data fusion and visualization techniques that combine and present data from different sources into composite environments, artificial intelligence approaches (i.e. inductive learning, expert systems, neural networks, reinforcement learning, deductive databases, etc.) are also being solicited to assist in the generation of models of temporally and spatially related events and to facilitate analysis and prediction. Advanced systems area seeks technologies, tools and techniques to configure, install, manage, and test secure computing environments comprised of a heterogeneous mix of workstations, servers, and software, and multiple server software application environments which can be merged within single consolidated server environments, for ease of compatibility, maintainability, manageability and increased performance efficiency. Specific technologies include, but are not limited to, secure system audit visualization and analysis, smart guards, scaleable server architectures which can support multiple intelligence data handling applications, automated test tools to certify compliance of applications within advanced systems computing environments and innovative approaches to implement software repositories. Advanced applications of computer based training for intelligence data handling systems are also of interest. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION. DO NOT SUBMIT A FORMAL PROPOSAL AT THIS TIME. Offerors are required to submit three (3) copies of a three (3) to five (5) page white paper. 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. Section C will also include applicability to specific technical development area(s) of Intelligence Data Handling BAA and why the idea is judged to be new and innovative. All responses to this announcement must be addressed to: RL/IRDS, ATTN: Daniel Ventimiglia, Reference RL-BAA-96-01-PKPX, 32 Hangar Road, Rome NY 13441-4114, and one (1) by First Class Mail to RL/BC, ATTN: Janis Norelli, Reference RL-BAA-96-01-PKPX, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome NY 13441-4514. Multiple white papers addressing different research areas may be submitted by each offeror. 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. Those white papers found to be consistent with the intent of this BAA may be invited to submit a technical and cost proposal. Such invitation does not assure that the submitting organization will be awarded a contract. Complete instructions for proposal preparation will be forwarded with the invitation for proposal submission. Evaluation of proposals will be performed using the following criteria: (a) The overall scientific and/or technical merits of the proposal, (b) Applicability to intelligence data handling within the context of any of the above announced technical areas, (c) Innovativness of the proposed approach and/or techniques, (d) Contribution to the intelligence data handling technology base, (e) Dual use applicability of the technology to other domains including law enforcement, education, and medicine, (f) The reasonableness and realism of proposed costs and schedules, (g) Contribution to meeting future Air Force requirements. No further evaluation criteria will be used in the source selection. These criteria will also be used to determine whether white papers submitted are consistent with the intent of this BAA and of interest to the Government. Individual proposal evaluations will be based on acceptability or unacceptability without regard to other proposals submitted under this announcement. In some cases, outside consultants may assist the Government with proposal evaluation. Options are discouraged and unpriced options will not be considered for award. The work to be performed may require a TOP SECRET facility clearance and safeguarding capability therefore, personnel identified for assignment to a classified effort must be cleared for access to TOP SECRET Sensitive Compartmented Intelligence (SCI) and have a Special Background Investigation (SBI) accomplished within the last five years at the time of award. The appropriate number of SCI billets will be provided for contractor(s) awarded a contract under this BAA. Principle funding of this BAA and the anticipated award of contracts started in FY 96. Currently, funds have not been identified nor available for FY 97 solicitations. Plan accordingly for submission of white papers for FY 97 funding consideration. FY 98 funds are expected. Submit white papers by April 1997 for FY 98 funding consideration. Individual awards will not normally exceed 24 months in duration, with dollar amounts normally ranging from $100K to $800K. The not to exceed funding for this BAA is $4,800,000. Foreign-owned offerors are advised that their participation is subject to foreign disclosure review. Foreign or foreign-owned offerors should immediately contact the contracting focal point for information if they contemplate responding. Data subject to export control constraints may be involved and only firms on the Certified Contractor Access List (CCAL) will be allowed access to such data. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this announcement is not an allowable direct charge to any resultant contract or any other contract, but is an allowable direct charge to the normal bid and proposal indirect costs as specified in FAR 31.205-18. An Ombudsman exists for this acquisition. The purpose of the Ombudsman is to receive and resolve significant concerns from interested parties--potential offerors, offerors, and Industry representatives--when they prefer not to use established channels of communication during the proposal development phase. The Ombudsman will communicate significant issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the appropriate Government organization or individual. The role of the Ombudsman is not to diminish the authority of the contracting officer or program manager, but to communicate contractor concerns, issues, disagreements and recommendations to the appropriate Government personnel. The Ombudsman for this acquisition is Vincent Palmiero, Chief, Policy & Management Division, at 315-330-7746. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The Ombudsman will not participate in either the evaluation of proposals or the source selection decision for this acquisition. An informational briefing is not planned. All responsible firms may submit a white paper, which shall be considered. Respondents are asked to provide their Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code with their submission and reference RL-BAA-96-01-PKPX. Proposers are advised that only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government. The cutoff date for submission of white papers is 31 October 1995 for FY96, 31 October 1996 for FY97, and 30 April 1997 for FY98. White papers can be submitted after the fiscal year cutoff dates but may not be considered until the next fiscal year. This BAA is open and effective until 22 September 1998. To receive a copy of the'' Rome Laboratory PRDA & BAA: A Guide for Industry,'' (Rev) March 1994, write to ATTN: Lucille Argenzia, Rome Laboratory/PKR, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome NY 13441-4514, or the guide may be accessed at: http://www.rl.af.mil:8001/Lab/PK/pk-main.html. (0200)

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