HQ Electronic Systems Center, R&D Contracting Division, ESC/PKR, 104 Barksdale Street, Hanscom AFB MA 01731-1806

A -- ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL BACKGROUNDS DATA SOL PRDA PL/GPO97-04 POC Mr. John W. Flaherty, Division Chief ESC/PKR, 617-377-2529; Ms. Lisa A. Maille, Contract Specialist ESC/PKR, 617-377-4018; Mr. Dale Sinclair, PL/GPO Technical Contact, 617-377-3694. PROGRAM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCEMENT (PRDA#PL/GPO97-04) entitled "ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL BACKGRUNDS DATA". The Phillips Laboratory, Geophysics Directorate, Optical Effects Division, Backgrounds Branch (PL/GPOB) is interested in receiving proposals relating to ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL BACKGROUNDS DATA. The increased volume and sophistication of backgrounds data, coupled with the need to convert knowledge of the environmental background into a form usable by the system designer and the warfighter, and to deliver the products efficiently to the end users, are driving the need to develop new methods to process the data obtained from space-based and ground-based sensors. Challenges include increasing the throughput of existing data processing systems, improving the quality and reliability of the data produced, incorporating the results of these analyses into improved computer models, and providing the framework necessary to access, process and distribute terabyts of data to geographically dispersed users. This application of new and unique processing and management software is intended to enhance the user's ability to accurately simulate and predict the behavior of the environment on operational space borne systems, thereby providing the warfighter with the benefits of environmental backgrounds research in a timely and accessible fashion. Areas of this effort shall include, but not be limited to: (1) techniques and architectures for high-throughput satellite image data processing, (2) methods of improving the quality of collected data through error analysis and post-event correction, (3) techniques useful in promoting collaborative analysis by geographically dispersed teams, and (4) methods and techniques for selection and distribution of large data sets to remote user sites. The contractor shall be able to participate in working teams as the technical lead, while drawing on PL/GP's existing environmental data and software base. As a team member, attendance at technical interchanger meetings at Hanscom AFB, MA, no more frequently than every two weeks, is required. All software must be code in ANSI C, C++, or FORTRAN, and must run on hardware and systems software in use at PL/GPOB, Hanscom AFB. The precise system configuration depends on the task being performed, either Unix workstation environment or Wintel platform. BASE SUPPORT will be required, 50% of the effort will be performed at PL/GPOB. The use of PL facilities (Bldg. 1105B) will be provided and includes office space, computers, software, two desks, two chairs, and one (1) class 20 telephone for official calls to perform the work under the proposed contract. The following PROJECT STATEMENT is provided: 1. In recent years the procurement cycle for military systems has been significantly shortened, in no small part due to the increased role of simulation in the design and evaluation of proposed systems. The effectiveness of simulation depends in large part on the quality of the data used in the simulation and the timeliness with which the data and the derived simulation models are made available to the design team(s). The Backgrounds Branch of the Optical Effects Division, as provider of environmental backgrounds data and software products to the defense community, is seeking ways to improve the quality of these products and to distribute them to customers as easily and rapidly as possible. 2. Several challenges face the Backgrounds Branch in the performance of this task. The quantity of data collected from field experiments has grown tremendously, and new approaches to automated processing will be required if product delivery dates are to be reliably met. Modern systems design is also more demanding of the quality of the data delivered, requiring that greater emphasis be placed on verification, validation, and calibration issues. There are emerging requirements for new types of data products which in the past were not known or not required to meet the objectives of the day. Some of these new products are complex and require much more computing capability than the products of yesterday, placing additional demands on the processing chain. In many instances the analysis of data and the creation and modification is a team effort and collaboration among teams which may be geographically distant is a necessity. Advances in networking technology have made such collaboration easier, but there remains much room for improvement. Finished data and software are then sent to the customer, but traditional methods of delivery seem primitive compare to the recent explosion in the World Wide Web and similar technologies. The tasks outlined above cover a wide range, but all are related to the central process of providing the warfighter with the best possible environmental background data in the shortest possible time. 3. Based on the mission description in the previous section, the Backgrounds Branch is seeking contractual research support in the following areas: a. High throughput data analysis -- Current operational conditions require the Backgrounds Branch to process over eight gigabytes of data per day, a number expected to climb to twelve gigabytes per day during fiscal year 1998. The processing typically involves, but is not limited to, assembling satellite data files into a consistent data set and performing such tasks as image construction from line data, extraction of statistical data and significant features, and image enhancement. The Backgrounds Branch seeks new and unique architectures, algorithms, and techniques for performing these and similar operations on large image data sets at the above mentioned data rates. b. Data calibration and validation methods -- As backgrounds data become more precisely measured, the importance of reliable calibration increases. Data acquired from space based platforms pose unique challenges because the instrument cannot usually be calibrated after the data collection event. In these cases one must look for indications of systematic error in the data itself and attempt to back out the errors. The Backgrounds Branch is interested in exploiting such capabilities to the fullest, and seeks new and unique algorithms and procedures which can provide significant improvements in data quality and reliability. c. Distributed collaboration techniques -- Modern field experiments, particularly space-based experiments, are large, complex affairs with numerous expert contributors. It is almost a certainty that these contributors are widely dispersed and are not able to communicate in person. Although electronic mail has made great progess in enhancing long-distance collaboration, there are circumstances in which e-mail is insufficient, i.e., when attempting to discuss image data. The Backgrounds Branch is interested in new and unique ways to facilitate group collaboration involving all of the data forms used by the scientific community. d. Data management and distribution techniques -- A single space experiment, the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) has generated well over two terabytes of data to date, with more to come. Keeping track of all this data, and distributing it to participating analysis teams, both local and remote, is a major effort. Nor is MSX the only source of this quantity of data. The Backgrounds Branch is interested in new and unique ways to facilitate the storage, cataloging, selection, and distribution of large quantities of scientific data among a far-flung user community. 4. The Backgrounds Branch requests submissions in one or more of the above categories, with each category treated separately. Submitters in category 3.a. must have experience in handling data from space and ground based instruments used to measure environmental backgrounds. They must also have experience with the hardware and systems software currently being used for processing, i.e., ANSI C and FORTRAN running under Unix on Silicon Graphics, Sun, and HP systems. All proposed solutions must run on this hardware and software. Submitters in category 3.b. must have experience in space systems and their associated error sources. All submitters must be able to attend informal technical interchange meetings at Hanscom AFB no more frequently than every two weeks. Proposal selection will be based on a scientific and engineering evaluation of the responses to determine the relative merit of the approach taken in response to this announcement. Selection for contract award will be based on the following evaluation factors: (a) Overall scientific and technical merits, innovativeness and reasonableness of the proposal plan; (b) offeror's capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques, or unique combinations of these which are integral factors for achieving the proposed objectives; (c) the qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the proposed principal investigator, team leader, and other key personnel who are critical to the achievement of the proposed objectives; (d) the offeror's record of past and present performance; and (e) the cost/price reasonableness and realism of the proposal. All evaluation criteria will carry equal weight and no further evaluation criteria wil be used. Deliverables will include: (1) Scientific/Technical Reports, annually and final; (2) R&D Status Reports, quarterly; (3) Contract Funds Status Report (CFSR), quarterly; (4) Computer Software Product End Items -- Software and Documentation. Responses must provide new and unique concepts, ideas, or approaches in order to qualify for evaluation and consideration for award. Proposal shall be submitted in two (2) parts: Volume I, Technical/Scientific Description, and Volume II, Cost Information. The Technical/Scientific Description should not exceed twenty-five (25), single-sided, single-spaced, 12-point font size, typed pages (excluding covers, indexes, and resumes) on 8 1/2" x 11" bond paper, addressing each technical solution proposed incrementally (Caution: The Government will not review more than the page limitation). There is no page limitation on the Cost Proposal. The Cost Proposal should be valid for 180 days and be broken out by cost element and Government fiscal year. The Government encourages submission of innovative and creative proposals to solve any one, all or a combination of the problems discussed herein. Forward six (6) copies of each proposal to ESC/PKR (Attn: Lisa A. Maille), Building 1520, 3rd Floor, Room 317, 104 Barksdale St., Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-1806. Proposals submitted using electronic media will not be accepted. The Phillips Laboratory, Optical Effects Division, Backgrounds Branch (PL/GPOB) has been assigned overall responsibility for providing the necessary acquisition/technical management for this program. In support of this effort, Dynamics Research Corp. (DRC), an ESC Technical and Engineering Management Support (TEMS) Contractor shall provide acquisition/support to the Government's Program Manager during evaluation of proposals and contract performance. The cost of preparing a proposal response to a PRDA is not considered an allowable direct charge to the resulting contract or any other contract. It is, however, an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost specified in FAR 31.205-18. Proposals received in response to this announcement will be deemed to be in accordance with the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984. Every effort will be made to protect the confidentiality of the proposals. In order that proposals are afforded proper handling, offerors must mark their proposals with restrictive language stated in FAR 15.509(a). Offerors are cautioned that only Government Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government. The Air Force reserves the right to select for award any, all or none of the responses received in response to this announcement depending on the quality, uniqueness of proposed ideas and availability of funds. Firms responding should indicate if they are qualified as socially or economically disadvantaged. Offerors are requested to provide a name and telephone number of point of contact. Responses should reference PRDA #PL/GPO97-04. QUESTIONS of a TECHNICAL nature may be referred to Mr. Dale Sinclair (PL/GPOB), 617-377-3694. CONTRACTUAL and COST response format QUESTIONS should be referred to the CONTRACT SPECIALIST, Ms. Lisa A. Maille, 617-377-4018. Government estimate in total for these contractual efforts is approximately 35-45 Manyears with the largest single award anticipated to be approximately 12-14 Manyears; period of performance not to exceed sixty (60) months plus three (3) months for final report per effort. Work is anticipated to begin in September/October 1997. Each contract will be incrementally funded. An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from offerors or potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. The Ombudsman should only be contacted with issues or problems that have previously been brought to the attention of the program manager and/or the contracting officer and could not be satisfactorily resolved at that level. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposal or in the source selection process. The Ombudsman is Colonel Lee H. Hughes, ESC/CX, 617-377-5106. CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES IS FORTY-FIVE (45) DAYS FROM THE PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. (0191)

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