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

A -- INTELLIGENT SOFTWARE INFORMATION AGENTS SOL BAA 97-02-PKPX POC Joe Cavano, Program Manager, 315-330-4033; Joetta A. Bernhard, Contracting Officer, 315-330-2308 TITLE: INTELLIGENT SOFTWARE INFORMATION AGENTS. SOL BAA 97-02-PKPX POC Joe Cavano, Program Manager, 315-330-4033; Joetta A. Bernhard, Contracting Officer, 315-330-2308. Rome Laboratory is soliciting white papers for innovative approaches in the area of intelligent active information agents that can help make faster and better decisions in the collaborative communication-oriented aspects of Air Force applications. Areas of interest include hypermedia infrastructure, integrated information systems, and team decision-making. The final result will be a paradigm shift away from stand-alone documents and isolated information systems to a heterogeneous collection of data and knowledge. The next-generation of military information systems must focus on better integration of existing information systems to help individuals more effectively interact with networked heterogeneous collections of people and data sources. Integrating various information systems together presents a difficult challenge. A need exists for a technology layer that can exploit the underlying services of network-based technology to provide improved collaboration services to users by integrating advanced information systems. Intelligent active information agents will provide seamless access, storage and retrieval of knowledge that can be exploited by dynamic processes that automate and improve how people integrate and analyze information, make decisions under uncertainty and communicate knowledge and decisions to multiple sites. Intelligent Software Information Agents technology can serve as simple interfaces for systems that can search large bodies for relevant information through either internets and/or intranets; help users evaluate the effects of complex courses of action; and enable users to develop and share knowledge about complex systems and processes. These agents are envisioned to relatively small, easy to construct with simple interfaces, and capable of functioning autonomously to amplify human problem-solving abilities. Decision-making scenarios are needed to demonstrate new agent capability for improving key C4I decisions. New methods are needed to integrate knowledge, tools and management processes by designing the collaborative communication-oriented aspects of Air Force C4I applications (e.g., distributed planning environment) via web-delivered software and scripting so that commanders can integrate various kinds of data with intelligent agents that can support decision-making. New ways of building intelligent agents are needed. These agents must actively help in problem solving and verifying decisions by integrating multiple information systems and heterogeneous data sources, including knowledge bases, semi-structured databases, and unstructured text and image files. The successful application of these approaches will require a broad spectrum of expertise, covering advanced intelligent information systems, web-based software and scripting, and C4I decision-making. Identifying commercial information technologies that provide needed functionality, proposing a strategic design for developing the key elements of such intelligent agents, and demonstrating results will be key parts of producing a payoff for this program. Evaluation of proposals will be performed using the following criteria: (1) The overall scientific and/or technical merits of the proposal, (2) The innovativeness of the proposed approach and/or techniques, (3) Offeror's capabilities and related intelligent information technology experience, and (4) Cost realism and reasonableness. Criteria (1), (2) and (3) will be used to determine whether white papers submitted are consistent with the intent of this BAA and of interest to the Government. Individual awards will not normally exceed 12 to 18 months in duration and are expected to be in the $70,000 to $120,000 dollar range. The total value for this BAA is $790,000. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION NOT SUBMIT A FORMAL PROPOSAL AT THIS TIME. Offerors are required to submit three (3) copies of a ten (10) page or less white paper with a cover letter indicating whether the offeror is a large, small, woman-owned small, or small disadvantaged business, or Historically Black College, University, or Minority Institution. 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. All responses to this announcement must be addressed to ATTN: Joe Cavano, Reference BAA #97-02-PKPX, Rome Laboratory/C3CB, 525 Brooks Road, Rome NY 13441-4505. Also send one (1) copy of the cover letter, only, by FIRST CLASS MAIL (DO NOT SEND CLASSIFIED), to Rome Laboratory/BC, ATTN: Ms Janis Norelli, Director of Small Business, 26 Electronic Pky, Rome, NY 13441-4514. White papers must be submitted by 25 Apr 97 for consideration in FY 97; and by 15 Jul 98, for consideration in FY 98. Complete instructions for proposal preparation and submission will be forwarded with any proposal invitation. Such invitation does not assure that the submitting organization will be awarded a subsequent contract. Individual proposal evaluations will be based on acceptability or non-acceptability without regard to other proposals submitted under the announcement. The criteria used to evaluate the proposals will also be used to determine whether the white papers submitted are consistent with the intent of this BAA and of interest to the Government. Options are discouraged and unpriced options will not be considered for award. Respondents are requested to provide their Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) number and reference number BAA 97-02-PKPX with their submissions. Foreign or foreign-owned offerors are advised that their participation is subject to a foreign disclosure review. Foreign or foreign-owned offerors should immediately contact the contracting focal point, Rome Laboratory/PKPX, ATTN: Joetta A Bernhard, 26 Electronic Pky, Rome, NY 13441-4514, or phone at (315)330-2308, for information if they contemplate responding. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this announcement is not considered 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. An ombudsman has been appointed to hear significant concerns from offerors or potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. Routine questions 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. To receive a copy of the Rome Laboratory "BAA & PRDA: A Guide for Industry," Sep 1996 (Rev), write to Rome Laboratory/PKR, ATTN: Lucille Argenzia, 26 Electronic Pky, Rome, NY 13441-4514, or the Guide may be accessed at: http://www.rl.af.mil:8001/Lab/PK/pk-main.html. All responsible organizations may submit a white paper which shall be considered. This announcement is open and effective until 30 Sep 98. White papers submitted after that date will also be considered but funding may be limited. Proposers are warned that only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government. (0057)

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