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

A -- ADVANCED DATA FUSION (ADF) SOL PRDA 96-13 POC Michael Hinman, Program Manager, 315/330-3175;Joetta A. Bernhard, Contracting Officer, 315/330-2308. Rome Laboratory (RL) is soliciting white papers from offerors who can provide a variety of scientific studies, experiments, demonstrations, technologies, and prototypes to address the data fusion area. The objective of any fusion capability is to provide as complete and accurate an assessment of the situation at any given point in time as is possible with the accessible information at that point in time. Solutions to basic research and engineering problems using innovative approaches are being sought. Data fusion within the Air Force, and DOD in general, is deficient in automated and semi-automated techniques that support level 2 and level 3 data fusion as defined by the Joint Directors of Laboratories (JDL) subpanel on Data Fusion. The goal of this PRDA is to look at promising advanced techniques that specifically support levels 2 and 3 data fusion as defined by the JDL. Level 2 processing, Situation Refinement, develops a description or interpretation of the current relationships among objects and events in the context of the environment. The result of this processing is a determination or refinement of the battle/operational assessment. Key functions are (1) object aggregation, (2) event/activity aggregation, (3) contextual interpretation/fusion, and (4) multi-perspective assessment. Level 3 processing, Threat Refinement, develops a threat oriented perspective of the data to estimate enemy capabilities, identify threat opportunities, estimate enemy intent, and determine levels of danger. Key functions include: (1) capability estimation, (2) predict enemy intent, (3) identify threat opportunities, (4) offensive/defensive analysis, and (5) multi-perspective assessment. The scope of this solicitation covers areas of interest that include, but are not limited to: (a) object aggregation, (b) event/activity aggregation, (c) contextual interpretation/fusion, (d) multi-perspective assessment, (e) capability estimation, (f) predict enemy intent, (g) identify threat opportunities, (h) offensive/defensive analysis, and (i) multi-perspective assessment. Technical solutions and/or approaches should emphasize the use of open systems that accommodate distributed, modular, and extensible approaches that address levels 2 and 3 data fusion deficiencies within current and planned Air Force systems (e.g., Theater Battle Management Core Systems (TBMCS)). Deliverables will be technical reports, published papers, presentations at conferences, and when appropriate: feasibility models, prototypes, and/or demonstrations. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION. DO NOT SUBMIT A FORMAL PROPOSAL AT THIS TIME. Offerors are required to submit 3 (three) copies of a 4 (four) page or less white paper with a cover letter indicating whether the offeror is a large, small, women-owned small, or small disadvantaged business, or Historically Black College, University, or Minority Institution. The white paper must 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. All responses to this announcement must be addressed to ATTN: Michael Hinman, Reference PRDA #96-13-PKPX, Rome Laboratory/IRRP, 32 Hangar Rd, Rome, NY 13441-4114. Also send one (1) copy of the cover letter only, by First Class mail (DO NOT SEND CLASSIFIED), ATTN: Janis Norelli, Director of Small Business, Rome Laboratory/BC, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY 13441-4514. Multiple white papers within the purview of this announcement 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 the PRDA 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: (1) new and creative technical research and development solutions which demonstrate improvements in advanced data fusion with an emphasis on situation refinement and threat refinement functionality, and (2) reasonableness and realism of proposed costs and fees (if any). In addition, the Government may consider other factors such as: (1) offeror's capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques, or unique combination of these which are integral factors for achieving proposal objectives, (2) offeror's qualifications, capabilities and experience of proposed principal investigator, team leader, and other key personnel who are critical to achieving proposal objectives, and (3) offeror's record of past and present performance. No further evaluation criteria will be used in selecting the proposals. The technical criteria will also be used to determine whether white papers submitted are consistent with the intent of this PRDA and of interest to the Government. Proposals submitted will be evaluated as they are received. Individual proposal evaluations will be based on acceptability or unacceptability without regard to other proposals submitted under this PRDA. Options are discouraged and unpriced options will not be considered for award. Principle funding of this PRDA and the anticipated award of contracts begins in FY 97. Individual awards will not normally exceed 18 months in duration, with dollar amounts normally ranging from $100,000 to $300,000. Total funding for this PRDA is $1,000,000. This PRDA is open and effective until: 30 Sep 2000. Foreign allied participation at the prime contractor level is authorized for the countries of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom. 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 resulting contract or any other contract, but may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost in FAR 31.205-18. The work to be performed may require a secret facility clearance and safeguarding capability, therefore, personnel identified for assignment to a classified effort must be cleared for access to secret information at time of award. An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear significant concerns from offerors or potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. Routine questions, such as clarifications of the Statement of Work or the terms and conditions, are not considered to be ''significant concerns'' and should be communicated directly to the Contracting Officer, Joetta A. Bernhard, 315-330-2308. The purpose 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 and Management Division, at 315-330-7746. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals or in the source selection process. An informational briefing is not planned. To receive a copy of the Rome Laboratory ''BAA & PRDA: A Guide for Industry'', March, 1994 (Rev), write to ATTN: Lucille Argenzia, Rome Laboratory/PKR, 26 Electronic Pky, Rome, NY 13441-4514, or the Guide may be accessed at the following address: http://www.rl.af.mil:8001/Lab/PK/pk-main.html. All responsible firms may submit a white paper which shall be considered. Respondents are asked to provide their Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) number with their submission and reference PRDA #96-13-PKPX. Only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government. (0267)

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