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

A -- INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SOL BAA 96-01-PKPX 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 95 and republished 22 July 96. There are major changes. Rome Laboratory (RL) is soliciting white papers for various scientific studies and experiments to increase RL's 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, retrieval, dissemination and reporting. T he 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 required to overcome this information overload and to aid intelligence analysts in performance of their assigned duties. Deliverables will include technical reports, and when appropriate, demonstration prototypes including software, software licenses, hardware and documentation. The focus of this BAA is to improve the productivity, timeliness and assessment capabilities of the intelligence analyst enabling him or her to serve decision makers, warfighters and to feed systems for exploitation and assessments. Solutions to data handling problems are being sought using innovative research and engineering techniques in two broad areas: Information Access and Analytical Methodologies. The information access area seeks technologies and applications to 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 timely exploitation by humans or advanced applications, and to facilitate the dissemination of finished multimedia products. Specific technologies include but are not limited to: data extraction; image extraction; rapid image object search and indexing methods; automated image object search techniques; human to computer interfaces; data accessibility; data usability; natural language processing; automated indexing; message profiling; information parsing (i.e. Natural Language); intelligent agents; intelligent planners; database optimizing schema's; computer learning; and the development of improved tools to find, browse, retrieve, and customize multimedia products in a seamless manner. Technologies that improve the overall usability and performance of existing intelligence data handling systems, are also of interest. The analytical methodologies area seeks technologies and applications that will assist the intelligence analysts to rapidly visualize and assess situations from source and preprocessed information in resident databases, and produce concise descriptions of activities, assessments and warnings for decision makers, decision planners and warfighters. Specific technologies being sought include, but are not limited to: data visualization methods, data clustering, intelligence data handling methods; simulation and modeling; threat data modeling and data fusion. The goal of these technologies is to combine and present data from different sources into composite representations that can be quickly assimilated by intelligence analysts. Methodologies in support of cooperative computing environments, virtual reality intelligence data handling system 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 to facilitate improved data handling access, processing, dissemination, performance, analysis and prediction. 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) pagewhite 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) copy of the cover letter only (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 an 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) Innovativeness 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 withthe 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. Availability of funds may not be known until late within a fiscal year period due to uncertain budgetary constraints and allocations competing for similar resources. Available allocations for exploratory development for any given fiscal year may be less than $500K. Plan accordingly for submission of white papers.. Decision for awards will not be made until the new fiscal year begins. Individual awards will not normally exceed 24 months in duration, with dollar amounts normally ranging from $100K to 400K. The BAA exploratory development funds ceiling is $3,600,000.00 through FY01. 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, 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 97 for FY98 ; 31 October 98 for FY99; 31 October 99 for FY00; 31 October 00 for FY01. 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 48 months after the CBD publication date. To receive a copy of the Rome Laboratory PRDA & BAA: A Guide for Industry, (Sep 96 REV), write to ATTN: Lucille Argenzia, Rome Laboratory/PKR, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome NY 13441-4514, or the document may be accessed at the following address: http://www.rl.af.mil/Lab/PK/bp-guide.html. (0218)

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