AFMC, Air Force Research Laboratory/IFK, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY 13441-4514

A -- IMAGERY EXPLOITATION PROGRAM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCEMENT SOL PRDA 98-03-IFKPA POC Joetta Bernhard, Contracting Officer, 315-330-2308; Paul Hagerty, Program Manager, 315-330-4221 The Multi-Sensor Exploitation Branch (IFEC) of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Rome is soliciting white papers for new and creative technical research and development solutions to demonstrate improvements in the efficiency and timeliness of generating intelligence information from multiple reconnaissance imaging sensor inputs. Imagery exploitation associated with modern digital imagery sensor collection systems presents many technical challenges in satisfying the needs of the operational user. Among these are: exploiting increasing quantities of imagery required for search missions; new requirements for monitoring activities associated with peace keeping missions; requirements to extract information on "difficult targets" which are movable, deceptively concealed, or both; and limitations in the numbers of human exploiters due to downsizing of the force. In addition, methods of collection (Unattended Air Vehicles-UAVs) and sensing modalities (Video, Multi and Hyperspectral) are changing and require innovative and synergistic imagery exploitation functionality. The increased emphasis on supporting the unit level warfighter and presenting a complete picture of the battle space to the commander requires fusion of imagery with other sources of information (electronic, cartographic, intelligence, etc.) and dissemination of information (textual reports, annotated imagery, etc.) and exploitation capabilities down the chain of command. The solutions to the above described imagery exploitation problems must encompass a number of technical disciplines, take advantage of technologies developed in related areas (i.e., medical imaging, environmental sensing, commercial video processing, etc.) and to the greatest extent possible employ commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) capabilities which are cost effective, supportable, and allow for evolutionary growth. Of particular interest are automated capabilities and applications for: finding areas of interest on the imagery, and extracting imagery information and correlating imagery exploitation with other forms of information to generate battle scene awareness. Imagery exploitation capabilities which function in the "open systems" computational environment and utilize networking and object oriented brokering in order to improve interoperability and transportability/usability are of particular interest. This PRDA seeks technical solutions in the areas of automated exploitation from imager (visual, IR, radar, video, etc.), improved synergistic imagery exploitation with other forms of information (i.e., intelligence, cartographic, other sensor, etc.) and improved imagery exploitation products (text, annotated imagery, video, etc.) generation. Technical solutions will be implemented within AFRL/IFEC facilities thereby allowing for extensive evaluation by Laboratory personnel and for demonstration/interaction with Air Force user personnel. These demonstrations will also investigate the potential for dual use applications of the technologies implemented. Deliverables will be technical reports, computer software/hardware capabilities and system demonstrations. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION. DO NOT SUBMIT A FORMAL PROPOSAL AT THIS TIME. Offerors are required to submit 3 (three) copies of a 4 (four) page or less white paper with a cover letter indicating whether the offeror is a large, small, women-owned small, or small disadvantaged business, or Historically Black College, University, or Minority Institution. The white paper must 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: Paul Hagerty, Reference PRDA #98-03-IFKPA, AFRL/IFEC, 32 Hangar Rd, Rome NY 13441-4114. Small businesses should also send one (1) copy of the cover letter only, by First Class mail (DO NOT SEND CLASSIFIED), to ATTN: Janis Norelli, Director of Small Business, AFRL/IFB, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome NY 13441-4514. Multiple whitepapers within the purview of this announcement 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 the PRDA may be invited to submit a technical and cost proposal. Such invitation does not assure that the submitting organization receive an award. Complete instructions for proposal preparation will be forwarded with the invitation for proposal submission. Evaluation of proposals will be performed using the following criteria: (1) new and creative technical research and development solutions which demonstrate improvements in imagery exploitation; and (2) reasonableness and realism of proposed costs and fees (if any). In addition, the Government may consider other factors such as: (1) offeror's capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques, or unique combination of these which are integral factors for achieving proposal objectives; (2) offeror's qualifications, capabilities and experience of proposed principal investigator, team leader, and other key personnel who are critical to achieving proposal objectives; and (3) offeror's record of past and present performance. No further evaluation criteria will be used in selecting the proposals. The technical criteria will also be used to determine whether white papers submitted are consistent with the intent of this PRDA and of interest to the Government. Proposals submitted will be evaluated as they are received. Options are discouraged and unpriced options will not be considered for award. Principal funding of this PRDA and the anticipated awards are contemplated to start in FY98. Individual awards will not normally exceed 18 months in duration, with dollar amounts normally ranging from $100,000 to $300,000. Awards made as a result of this PRDA will be in the form of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions as determined by the work to be performed. Total funding for this PRDA is $2,000,000. Foreign allied participation at the prime contractor level is authorized for the countries of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom. 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. For further information on CCAL, contact the Defense Logistics Center at 1-800-352-3572. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this announcement is not an allowable direct charge to any resulting award or any other award, but may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost in FAR 31.205-18. The work to be performed may require a secret facility clearance and safeguarding capability; therefore, personnel identified for assignment to a classified effort must be cleared for access to secret information at time of award. An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear significant concerns from offerors or potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. Routine questions, such as clarifications of the Statement of Work or the terms and conditions, are not considered to be "significant concerns" and should be communicated directly to the Contracting Officer, Joetta 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, Deputy Director of Contracting, 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. An informational briefing is not planned. This PRDA is open and effective until 30 Sep 2000. To receive a copy of AFRL Rome "BAA & PRDA: A Guide for Industry", Sep 1997 write to ATTN: Lucille Argenzia, AFRL/IFKR, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome NY 13441-4514, or the Guide may be accessed at the following WEB address: http://www.rl.af.mil/Lab/PK/bp-guide.html. All responsible firms may submit a white paper which shall be considered. Respondents are asked to provide a FAX number, an e-mail address and their Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) number with their submission and reference PRDA #98-03-IFKPA. Only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government. (0350)

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