NCCOSC RDTE Division, Code D214B, 53570 Silvergate Avenue, Bldg. A33, San Diego, CA 92152-5113

A -- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SOL N66001-98-X-8600 POC Contract Specialist, Ms. Joyce Miller-Corona, Code D212, (619)553-4333, e-mail corona@nosc.mil. Technical POC: Mr. Skipp Hoff (619)553-4647, e-mail hoff@nosc.mil. Naval Command, Control and Ocean Surveillance Center, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Division (NCCOSC RDTE Div) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Tactial Technology Office are seeking research proposals for a sensor system concept definition study involving examination of alternative sensor concepts, performing design trades and preparation of a system design specification that meets realistic performance, cost and schedule objectives. This BAA follows the Industry Brief held on 15 May 1997. The goal of the Adaptive Spectral Reconnaissance (ASR) Program is to demonstrate an airborne multisensor system that can detect and image difficult targets in real time. The objective is to enable a wide area search capability against camouflaged targets, and other targets that are difficult to detect, on medium altitude platforms such as the Predator MAE unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) through the use of spectral imaging and other imaging technologies. The targets will be detectedusing an imaging hyperspectral multisensor system operating in the Visible to Near Infrared (VNIR), Short Wave Infrared (SWIR), and Thermal Infrared (TIR), or some subset of these bands. The position of the detected targets will be used to either point a high resolution panchromatic camera or select a subimage from a high resolution panchromatic image. The selected subimage will be sent to a ground station for further analysis. The proposed system is expected to utilize hyperspectral sensors in a multisensor system configuration to provide wide area coverage in day/night operations. These sensors measure the radiance from each pixel in the scene in a large number of spectral bands (~100). This spectral information is well suited to automatic target recognition and can provide reasonable sensitivity to many potential military targets at a ground resolution on the order of a meter. The technology to accomplish this in the solar reflective region (0.4 -- 2.5 microns) is becoming mature, while a similar capability in the TIR is less advanced. It is anticipated that in order to provide reasonable rejection of false targets at the system output and to provide night time operational capability, an additional secondary sensor may be needed, particularly in the Thermal Infrared. The purpose of this solicitation is to obtain spectral sensor system design concepts and their baseline performance, cost, and operating specifications for a future procurement. Accordingly, each contractor shall define a recommended spectral concept, provide accurate and precise estimations of its performance, physical properties, and production costs, along with appropriate trade studies supporting the design decisions. The contractor shall specify the Spectral Sensor System (referred to as The System) Design Concept and shall identify the hardware and accompanying software design concepts in sufficient detail to allow the government to evaluate the recommended approach. System information shall include overall system architecture; hardware components, optics, sensor, processors, busing/switching, memory, input/output and sensor interface requirements; software methodology and tools to be used or developed; packaging and configuration; weight, size, and power; platform integration and environmental operating characteristics. The contractor shall estimate the performance of the system and compare it with the required and desired performance for the system provided in the "Draft Performance Specification". The contractor shall estimate the production costs for the system. For the purposes of this study, the target unit production cost of the system will be in the range of $500K to $2M and include all hardware and software not currently provided on the Predator platform, based on a quantity of 25 delivered over three years in FY 98 dollars. The contractor shall provide a sensor system description that includes variations in sensor performance versus cost comparisons, a discussion of the risks and mitigation plans, and the sensor system development schedule. The contractor shall also compare these parameters to those of current alternative systems. The contractor shall emphasize the day-only system and indicate the potential modularity of the approach, showing how the day-only variant might be produced with as much commonality with the day/night system as possible. A day/night system shall also be considered. DELIVERABLES: The contractor shall provide the following to the government: (1) Spectral Sensor Design Concept. The contractor shall deliver within six months a day only hyperspectral sensor design concept that meets or exceeds ("required vs. desired") the performance requirement detailed in the "Draft Performance Specification" provided and that can be built within the ASR Program schedule constraints of 13 months. The resulting design concept shall incorporate the Trade Study Analysis and Technical Risk Areas,(2) and (3) below, respectively in providing the government the best potential approach for the development of a hyperspectral sensor. (2) Trade Study Analysis on Performance Versus Cost. The contractor shall deliver a trade study analysis on performance versus production cost of the "required vs. desired" specification as detailed in the "Draft Performance Specification" provided. (3) Technical Risk Areas. The contractor shall identify in detail all technical risk areas and mitigation plans with the delivered Design Concept ((1) above). (4) Performance specification recommendations. The contractor shall deliver an updated "Performance Specification" based on the Design Concept ((1) above). The updated performance specification should address suggested modifications to the draft performance specification but should not contain suggestions of a proprietary nature so as to limit the competition on the procurement of the building of the Adaptive Spectral Reconnaissance System. (5) Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost. The contractor shall deliver a ROM Cost for the development of a hyperspectral sensor system. (6) Day/night spectral sensor design concept. The contractor shall deliver within twelve months a day/night hyperspectral sensor design concept, with similar considerations for items (2) through (5) above. (7) Proposers should also expect to host technical reviews such as a kickoff, first quarterly review, day-only design concept review, second quarterly review, and final day/night design concept review. Data deliverables shall also include such items as monthly reports, meeting minutes/action items, and vugraph copies. GOVERNMENT SUPPLIED INFORMATION: The government will supply a DRAFT System Performance Specification. Potential proposers may request a copy from NCCOSC RDTE DIV at the address listed herein. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS: Proposals must: (1) Define the recommended sensor system concept for which the performance, cost, development risk and development schedule will be estimated. (2) Provide a detailed definition and description of the proposed approach to the sensor system design trade study. (3) Provide a statement of work, task descriptions, task schedules, list of task deliverables by month for the proposed sensor design trade study. Provide a one page cost summary at the front of the cost volume. (4) Describe the team members and their qualifications for the proposed effort. (5) Describe the commitment that the offeror's organization has to the sensor's future production, upgrading and support. SUBMISSION PROCESS: Offerors are invited to submit a full proposal. An original and ten (10) copies of each technical proposal and an original and two (2) copies of the cost proposal should be submitted to BID OFFICER, NCCOSC RDTE DIV D214B, 53560 Hull St., San Diego, CA 92152 (ATTN: BAA N66001-98-X-8600). Initial submission of proposals are due within 30 days from the date of this publication. If the 30th day falls on a weekend or holiday, proposals will be due the following workday. This BAA will remain open for 60 days after publication of this announcement, although, proposals submitted within the first 30 days will be given first consideration. Proposals must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. PST on the 30th day for initial consideration. POC for all administrative inquiries is Ms. Joyce Miller-Corona at 619)553-4333, e-mail corona@nosc.mil. POC for all technical inquiries is Skip Hoff, (619) 553-4647, e-mail hoff@nosc.mil. Proposals received after the due date will not be reviewed. Handwritten, facsimilie or electronic media proposals will not be accepted. NCCOSC RDTE DIV will not acknowledge receipt of proposals or return the copies submitted. Proposals not selected for funding will be disposed of in a manner that protects proprietary data. All proprietary material should be clearly marked and will be held in the strictest confidence. Initial awards are anticipated to occur within 45 days of receipt of the formal proposals, pending availability of funds. All correspondence must reference BAA N66001-98-X-8600 and identify the title of the proposed effort. The title page for the proposal must reference BAA N66001-98-X-8600 and contain the following information: the title; the date; the name and address of the offering institution(s); the principal investigator's name, phone number, fax number, e-mail address (if available), and mailing address (if different from the offering institution); the duration of the proposed effort; and the signature of an authorized official from the submitting institution(s). The title page must also include total funds requested for the base effort (without options) and provide estimates of any cost share proposed. Multiple title pages may be used to collect authorized signatures from submitting institutions. These additional pages will not count toward page limitation. The document page limits are as follows: technical proposals may not exceed 30 single side pages. Cost proposals have no page limit. Cost proposals shall break out individual cost elements to include labor categories, labor rates and indirect rates. The government anticipates awarding firm-fixed-price contracts for the study phase of this program. Cost proposals shall also provide cognizant Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) information to include points of contact and phone numbers. Additionally, submit 1 copy of an electronic version of the cost proposal on a 3.5 floppy in microsoft word or excel 7.0 or earlier. The proposals must be single-sided with double-spaced text, page size no larger than 8 1/2 X 11 inches, font size no smaller than 12 point, and with one-inch left/right margins, 1.25 inch top margins, and 1.0 inch bottom margins on all pages. Any data considered proprietary should be clearly marked. The Government desires unlimited rights in computer data and software generated under this contract. The 30-page proposal limit does not include the title page, but does include all figures, charts, and tables. Proposals must include a title page(s), as described above and respond (albeit briefly) to the items under ''Proposal Requirements.'' All proposals meeting the above requirements that are received by the appropriate date will be fully evaluated. The Government reserves the right to award a contract, grant, cooperative agreement or "other transaction" as a result of this BAA. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Proposals will be evaluated by the government using the following evaluation criteria, given in descending order of importance: (1) overall technical merit of the proposal and the degree to which it addresses the sensor system study regarding technical performance, cost, schedule, and risks; (2) the qualifications, capabilities and experience of the proposed key personnel; (3) past performance and capabilities in hyperspectral sensor development to include capabilities, qualifications, and related experience; (4) the proposer's long range commitment to hyperspectral sensor technology development; (5) understanding the problem of integrating the sensor into a UAV; and (6) cost realism. OTHER INFORMATION: The information in this announcement constitutes the BAA as contemplated in FAR 6.102(d)(2). Unless otherwise directed by proposer, non-government technicaladvisors will participate in the proposal and proposal review process. Any technical advisor used in this fashion is prohibited from competition in the ASR Program and is bound by appropriate nondisclosure requirements. The provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 9.5 (Organizational Conflict of Interest) apply in an award under this BAA. NRAD specific OCI clauses are incorporated by reference. Accordingly, a potential offeror is cautioned to review its contract and subcontract history, and before incurring substantial proposal preparation expense, to determine whether or not in its judgment a real or potential conflict of interest does or might exist that will prevent the contracting officer from considering its proposal, or making an award under this BAA. Questionable circumstances or situations should be addressed to the contracting officer for resolution and decision as soon as possible. Offerors are also cautioned that (1) the absence of any communication between offerors and the contracting officer on these matters (Real or potential conflict of interest) shall not preclude the contracting officer from conducting his or her own research and analysis, and arriving at his or her own determination relative to the existence of real or potential conflicts of interest, and (2) in the event of a determination of a conflict of interest, the government shall not be liable for the cost of proposal preparation and submission. The government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement. The number of proposals funded will depend on the overall merit of the proposals and available funding. The government anticipates making multiple awards of approximately $200K each. Issuance of this BAA does not obligate the government to pay any proposal preparation costs. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the government's needs may submit a proposal that shall be considered by NCCOSC RDTE Division. Teaming is encouraged, e.g., industry and US Universities. Participation by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Institutions (MI) is strongly encouraged as either a contractor or subcontractor although, due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable tasks, no portion of this BAA will be set aside. (0258)

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