4600 Sangamore Road, MS D-88, Bethesda, MD 20816

A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR DIGITAL=20 TERRAIN ELEVATION DATA DUE 092097 POC Quan P. Tran/(301) 227-4244 BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) FOR THE NATIONAL=20 IMAGERY AND MAPPING AGENCY (NIMA)=20 I. INTRODUCTION: NIMA is responsible for providing timely, relevant and accurate geospatial information in support of national security objectives. Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED) Level 2 is one such type of geospatial information. The current DTED 2 coverage of the earth is less than 5% and NIMA is seeking innovative ways to increase this coverage in the most efficient way possible. Accordingly, NIMA invites submissions of white papers that describe solutions for generating worldwide Level 2 Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED). For those responding with white papers that show technical merit, NIMA will invite them to prepare a proposal to compete for funding to explore their concept through a contract. For concepts that demonstrate potential for production of DTED 2 additional contracts related to development are anticipated. II. GENERAL INFORMATION: Through this compe- tition, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency expects to make=20 awards subject to the availability of appropriations. All awards will=20 be based on merit competition. The agency expects that typically=20 each award will be for a basic period of one year with one additional=20 option year. Total funding potential is $1,000, 000.00 over a two year=20 period. III. AREAS OF INTEREST: DTED 1-5, along with digital feature=20 data and controlled imagery, will provide the foundation for NIMA's Geospatial Information Infrastructure. DTED 2 has been identified as vital in providing the commander with a dominant knowledge of the battlespace, supporting battlefield visualization, mission planning/rehearsal, and targeting. NIMA and NASA have jointly planned an 11 day Shuttle Radar Terrain Mapping (SRTM) mission that will collect data using imaging radar interferometry between 60 north and 57=B0 south latitudes. Through this BAA, NIMA is seeking information on innovative alternatives to that mission that, at a minimum, complement its latitude-limited DTED 2 data acquisition and processing goal, or that may meet a significant portion of its requirement if that project cannot provide the DTED 2 data due to funding, cost, schedule, performance, or other risk factors. Proposals may include a combination of methods to achieve worldwide DTED 2 coverage, including the adaptation or reformatting of existing digital elevation matrix data. Proposals may also include a testing/proof of concept element whereby existing data samples may be processed into DTED 2 for compliance with specification. The government may underwrite the cost of such testing and participate in the evaluation process. IV. REQUIREMENTS FOR=20 WHITE PAPERS AND PROPOSALS: The proposal submission process is in two stages. First, white papers are sought from prospective offerors. Based on the evaluation of those white papers, selected offerors will be invited to submit more detailed proposals. The intent of a request for white papers is to minimize the labor and costs associated with the production of detailed proposals. All interested offerors, therefore, are encouraged to submit white papers. However, all proposals submitted under the terms and conditions cited herein will be reviewed, regardless of the disposition (or lack of) white papers. A. White papers: White papers should be no longer than five typed pages and should outline: 1. proposed objectives and approach; 2. expected outcomes;3. credentials of key project members; 4. costs, in summary and broken down by year. Eight copies of white papers should be submitted. White papers must be received at the address shown in this Section by 10:00 a.m. EST on 20 September 1997. White papers submitted in whole or in part by electronic media (e.g. computer disk or tape, facsimile machine, electronic mail) will not be accepted. White papers will be evaluated against criteria 1, 2, and 3 in Section V. Letters to encourage or discourage submission of proposals will be sent directly to the proposed Principal Investigators on or about 01 October 1997. Further, NIMA responses may be transmitted via facsimile to expedite communications, so white paper respondents should be sure to include 'fax' numbers in the packages. B. Proposals 1. General: Organizationally approved, signed, completed=20 proposals must be received by the agency at the address shown in=20 this Section by 10:00 a.m. EST on 01 November 1997. Please note=20 that only this address serves as the collection point for proposals.=20 Proposals submitted in whole or in part by electronic media (e.g.,=20 computer disk or type, facsimile machine, electronic mail) will not be accepted. Proposals received after the deadline will be treated according to Federal Acquisition Regulation part 52.215-10, Late Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals of Proposals. Proposals will be evaluated against criteria (1) through (6) in Section V. Letters announcing whether or not a proposal is being recommended for an award will be mailed by about 14 November 1997 directly to the Principal Investigator. Awards are planned to be in place by about 12 December 1997, this should be cited as the proposed start date for the budget. 2. Submission: A proposal=20 signed by appropriate officials and marked "Original", along with 8=20 copies of the signed original, should be submitted directly to the=20 address listed below. Each proposal should be typed and no longer=20 than 50 pages, all-inclusive (including, for example, vitae, cover and=20 signature pages, and budget). The technical portion (see Section C.3)=20 should be limited to no more than 30 of the 50 pages. Proposals=20 shorter than 50 pages are heartily encouraged. Separate attachments,=20 such as brochures or reprints, that cause the proposal to exceed 50=20 pages can render the entire proposal ineligible. Address for submission = of proposals: NATIONAL IMAGERY AND MAPPING AGENCY ATTN: PCE/D-88/M&SBAA/Quan P. Tran 4600 Sangamore Road Bethesda,=20 MD 20816-5003. 3. Content: The proposal must be signed, complete,=20 and self-contained to qualify for review. Proposals must adequately describe the technical objectives and approaches, and the expenditures for equipment, all of which will be evaluated by scientific reviewers per Section V. Proposals should include: a. Abstract: Provide an abstract no longer than one page. b. Text: The technical portion of the proposal should be limited to 30 pages and should: (1) Describe in detail the research to be=20 undertaken. State the objectives and approach and the relationship=20 to state-of-knowledge in the field and to similar work in progress. =20 Include appropriate literature citations. Discuss the nature of = expected=20 results. (2) Describe the facilities available for accomplishment of research objectives. Describe the equipment planned for acquisition under this program and its application to objectives. (3) Describe in detail proposed sub-awards or relevant collaborations (planned or in place) with industry, government organizations, or educational institutions. Particularly describe how collaborations are expected to facilitate the transition of research results to application. If sub-awards are proposed, make clear the division of research activities and provide detailed budgets for the proposed sub-awards. Descriptions of industrial collaborations should explain how the proposed research will impact the industrial partner's research and/or product development activities. (4) Identify other parties to whom the proposal has=20 been/will be sent. c. Personnel: Describe the qualifications=20 of the principal investigator and other key researchers involved=20 in the project. For consortia or collaborations, one individual should=20 be the designated principal investigator for purposes of technical responsibility and contact. d. Cost: The financial portion of the=20 proposal, beginning on a new page, should contain cost=20 estimates sufficiently detailed for meaningful evaluation, including cost details for proposed sub-awards. For budget purposes, use an award start date of 12 December 1997. The budget must include the total cost of theproject, as well as a breakdown of the amount(s) by source(s) of funding (e.g., funds requested from NIMA, non-federal funds to be provided as cost sharing). The costs should be broken down for each year of the program and shown by two distinct totals: a total for the basic one year and a total for the year of options. Elements should include: (1) Time being charged to the project, for whom=20 (principal investigator, programmer, etc.), and the commensurate=20 direct labor rates and benefits. (2) All indirect rates;=20 (3) Estimate of material and operating costs; (4) Costs of=20 equipment, based on most recent quotations and broken down=20 in sufficient detail for evaluation; (5) Travel costs and time, and=20 the relevance to stated objectives; (6) Publication and report costs; (7) Subcontract costs and type (the portion of work to be sub contracted and rationale); note that subcontract costs must be described carefully in both the text and the cost section. (8) Consultant fees (indicating daily or hourly rate) and travel expenses and the nature and relevance of such costs; (9) Communications costs not included in overhead; (10) Other direct costs; (11) Annual total costs for the=20 initial one year and a total for any options. e. Certifications:=20 Certifications will be provided for completion upon determination that an offeror's proposal has been selected for award. V. EVALUATION CRITERIA AND SELECTION PROCESS: A. Criteria: Criteria (1), (2), and (3) will be used to evaluate white papers. All six criteria will be used to evaluate final proposals. The primary evaluation criteria, of equal weight, are: (1) Scientific and technical merits of the proposed research; and (2) Relevance and potential contributions of the research to defense missions; Other evaluation criteria, of lesser importance than (l) and (2) but equal to each other, are: (3) The qualifications of the principal investigator and other key research personnel; (4) The adequacy of current or planned facilities and equipment to accomplish the research objectives; (5) The impact of interactions with other organizations engaged in related research and development, in particular industrial organizations, DoD laboratories and other organizations that perform research and development for defense applications; and (6) The realism and reasonableness of cost, including proposed cost sharing. B. Process: Proposals will undergo a multi-stage review. First, technical evaluation teams will review proposals using the criteria in this Section and as explained in Section IV. Then the findings of the evaluation teams will be reviewed by senior NIMA managers. VI. AWARDS: Awards will be made at funding levels commensurate with the research and availability of funds. Awards generally will be made for one year (through increments or options) with options for one additional year. Negotiations may result in funding levels less than originally proposed. Letters announcing whether or not a proposal is being recommended for an award will be mailed directly to principal investigators by about 14 November 1997. Awards are expected to be in place by 12 December 1997. (0232)

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