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

A -- INFORMATION INSTITUTE RESEARCH INITIATIVE PROGRAM SOL BAA 98-06-IFKPA POC Jim Wasielewski, Laboratory Program Manager, 315-330-3730; Joetta A. Bernhard, Contracting Officer, 315-330-2308 POC Jim Wasielewski, Laboratory Program Manager, Air Force Research Laboratory Rome Information Institute (315)330-3730; and Joetta Bernhard, Contracting Officer (315)330-2308. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Rome is soliciting research proposals under the "Information Institute Research Initiative Program" Broad Agency Announcement BAA-98-06-IFKPA. The purpose of the Air Force Research Laboratory Rome Information Institute (II) is to conduct pioneering research in information technologies at the basic research and exploratory development level. Efforts that will be performed as part of the II research program are intended to be collaborative university efforts designed to provide AFRL Rome with leading edge research that can be applied to a variety of AFRL Rome and Air Force needs. Universities conducting research as part of the II are encouraged to work collaboratively with other institutions and to leverage on-going AFRL Rome research programs and activities. While not a contract requirement, participants in the II Research Initiative Program are strongly encouraged to join the II Education Partnership. Additional information on AFRL Rome II can be found on the Internet at the following URL: http://www.rl.af.mil/Technology/II. The II is endeavoring to encourage research in four areas of particular interest to the AFRL Rome Information Directorate. These include innovative approaches and basic research projects in: Modeling and Simulation, Information Fusion, Defensive Information Warfare, and Knowledge Base Technology. Solutions to basic research and engineering problems using innovative approaches in one or more of these areas are sought: Feasibility studies, functional prototypes, proofs of concept, and demonstrations especially in specific military applications in the above named areas will be entertained. In the Knowledge Base Technology thrust we solicit proposals in areas such as problem-solvers and application programming interfaces (API). In Defensive Information Warfare Research we seek tosupport AFRL Rome's efforts in the areas of Indications and Warning (I&W) for Defensive Information Warfare, damage assessment, containment and recovery. In the area of Modeling and Simulation, AFRL Rome is primarily interested in enabling technologies for modeling and simulation. The Information Fusion area will develop fusion algorithms to take the data associated with each of the independent platforms and fuse this data together with intelligence information, to develop Situation Awareness and a Common/Consistent Operating Picture and weapon pairing/engagements. Supplemental information regarding each of the four research areas is available upon request by email from wasj@rl.af.mil. Each award is limited to approximately $200,000 and no more than 18 months in duration. The funding ceiling for this BAA is $1.0 million. Awards made as a result of this BAA will be in the form of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions as determined by the work to be performed. 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 two (2) to three (3) page white paper on their proposed research topic to Jim Wasielewski, AFRL/IFB, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY 13441-4514, Reference BAA-98-06-IFKPA, and one (1) copy of the letter only (First Class Mail, Unclassified Only) to Ms. Janis Norelli, AFRL/IFB, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY 13441-4514. The cutoff date for submission of FY98 white papers is 19 Feb 98. The white paper should be formatted as follows: Section A: Title, period of performance, cost of effort, and name of institution; Section B: Task objective; and Section C: Technical summary. Offerors must mark their white papers/proposals with the restrictive language stated in FAR 15.509(a). Multiple white papers may be submitted in different areas of technology. The purpose of the white paper is to preclude unwarranted effort on the part of the offeror whose work is not of interest under this BAA. Those white papers found to be consistent with the intent of the BAA and of interest to the Government may be invited to submit a proposal. Complete instructions for proposal preparation and submission will be forwarded with any proposal invitation. Such invitation does not assure that the submitting organization will be awarded a subsequent contract. Proposal evaluations will be based upon acceptability or non-acceptability without regard to other proposals submitted under the announcement. Evaluation of proposals will be performed using the following criteria which are all of equal importance: (1) The overall scientific and/or technical merits of the proposal; (2) The innovativeness of the proposed approach and/or techniques; and (3) The reasonableness and realism of the proposed costs and fees, if any. In addition, the Government may consider other factors, such as past performance on recent Government contracts and the capacity and capability of the offerors to perform the requirements of the effort. No further evaluation criteria will be used in selecting proposals. The criteria used to evaluate the proposals will also be used to determine whether the white papers submitted are consistent with the intent of this BAA and of interest to the Government. Options are discouraged, and unpriced options will not be considered for award. Respondees are requested to provide a FAX number, e-mail address and their Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) number and reference number BAA-98-06-IFKPA with their submissions. Foreign or foreign-owned offerors are advised that their participation is subject to foreign disclosure review procedures. Foreign or foreign-owned offerors should immediately contact the contracting focal point for information if they contemplate responding. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this announcement is not an allowable direct charge to any resulting award, but it may be an allowable expense 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 and potential offerors, offerors, and institution representatives when they would prefer not to use established channels of communication during the proposal development phase. 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 A. Bernhard, 315-330-2308. 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 Mr. Vincent Palmiero, Deputy Chief, Contracting 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 the proposals or the source selection decision for this acquisition. Offerors are warned that only contracting officers are legally authorized to commit the Government. For more information contact Jim Wasielewski, Program Manager for the Information Institute, at (315) 330-3730 or electronically at wasj@rl.af.mil. Go to http://www.rl.af.mil/Lab/PK/bp-guide.html. to download a copy of AFRL Rome's PRDA & BAA: A Guide for Industry, Sep 96(REV), or write to Ms. Lucille Argenzia, AFRL/IFKR, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome NY 13441-4514. This announcement is open and effective until 30 Sep 99. (0026)

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