Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL -- Rome Research Site, AFRL/Information Directorate, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY, 13441-4514

A -- MOVING TARGET INDICATOR (MTI) AND INFORMATION FUSION EXPLOITATION TOOLS SOL Reference-Number-BAA-00-01-OFKPA POC Joetta Bernhard, Contracting Officer, Phone (315) 330-2308, Fax (315) 330-7790, Email bernhard@rl.af.mil WEB: Visit this URL for the latest information about this, http://www.eps.gov/cgi-bin/WebObjects/EPS?ACode=P&;ProjID=Reference-Num ber-BAA-00-01-OFKPA&LocID=1142. E-MAIL: Joetta Bernhard, bernhard@rl.af.mil. Contact: AFRL Program Manager: Jon Jones, e-mail jon.jones@rl.af.mil, 315/330-1665; Technical Point of Contact: Richard Gassner, e-mail richard.gassner@rl.af.mil, 315/330-3574; Mark Pronobis, e-mail mark.pronobis@rl.af.mil, 315/330-3841 and Steve Scott, e-mail steve.scott@rl.af.mil, 315/330-4414; Contracting Officer, Joetta Bernhard, e-mail joetta.bernhard@rl.af.mil, 315/330-2308. The Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, Information and Intelligence Exploitation Division is seeking innovative solutions for the development of automated tools to exploit MTI data and incorporate information fusion from current and future sensor systems. This will offer the warfighter an enhanced operational capability to automatically exploit MTI data in order to locate, identify, and track high value ground moving targets. Current MTI exploitation techniques are manual, operator intensive, and very limited. This effort will also provide algorithms to enable the optimal fusion of resources for the timelydetection, track, and identification of ground moving targets. There are currently more targets than resources in any concept of operation so that adequate optimization of resources is critical to being able to engage moving vehicles. This MTI exploitation BAA will focus on the following technology areas: ground moving target tracking, motion pattern analysis, behavioral pattern analysis, geo-registration, feature aided tracking, multiple platform tracking, and resource allocation and scheduling. In the area of ground moving target tracking, innovative algorithms are sought to allow current surveillance platforms to automatically track targets in a variety of background environments. Motion pattern analysis tools may also be developed to analyze MTI tracks and identify entities or groups of entities that may be of military significance. Examples of this include the detection of convoys and formations, determination of sources and sinks via traffic flow analysis, and determination of lines of communication. Behavioral pattern analysis tools are needed to determine the intent of entities or groups of entities based on terrain, doctrine, and historical data. An example would be the determination of a probable hide site for a missile launcher based on measurements indicating the launch site. Geo-registration is needed to accurately determine target location by reducing tacking errors from different sensors, specifically registering RF tags and images from multiple platforms. Feature aided tracking may be developed to track targets based on certain features, some of which include velocity, vehicle type (track vs. wheels), HRR, and ISAR. Multiple platform tracking will improve target recognition and location by utilizing MTI data gathered from various sensors. The combination of these technologies will provide a powerful tool set for operators to exploit MTI data and will enable the creation of a more comprehensive picture of the battlespace. Finally, in the area of resource allocation the focus will be that of movingtarget indication and the scheduling required to detect, track, and exploit moving targets whether the target be airborne or ground based. The scheduling algorithms will be capable of being integrated into the Air Forces Time Critical Targeting Cell for the real time allocation of resources to assist in the detection, track, and identification of time sensitive targets. The scheduling algorithms may also be integrated with the targeting assignment toolbox, namely the Joint Targeting Toolbox. Information fusion will require the gathering and processing of information from various sensors, platforms, and multiple systems to include MTI fusion with HRR reports, imagery, and SIGINT. Advanced concepts for information fusion technology, which includes multilevel sensor/platform/system resource management, central/distributed fusion management, and database information management, also need to be developed to achieve this goal. Multilevel sensor/platform/system resource management is needed to provide a seamless environment for the user. This involves global resource management where platform cueing and fusion of various sensors, platforms, and/or integration of multiple systems will provide extensive data. Central/distributed fusion management may include optimizing data distinctiveness, defining mechanisms for information push/pull, and defining levels of responsibility. Database information management needs to be enhanced by concepts of robustness such as model-based reasoning, context sensitivity and efficiency. The database support to the algorithms needs to be upgraded by concepts such as client/server relationships that take advantage of object oriented software. New parallel techniques must be explored to allow implementation of algorithms for real time use. This effort seeks to leverage existing technologies such as the Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI) Multi-Platform fusion algorithms and develop a resource scheduling algorithm analyzing terrain blockage, cross cueing capabilities, revisit rates, and detection accuracy. The Air Force currently can schedule sensor resources such as Joint STARS and Global Hawk in real time using dedicated communication links between the ground stations and the platforms. Currently no cross cueing is being performed optimizing coverage and the information flow between platforms. The same goes for space assets as well, where timeliness of the data is more of an issue because of the collection times associated with space assets. However, space assets provide a new foundation in that they provide consistent coverage of hostile target areas over a continuous 24 hour cycle. This provides for normalization to be developed over the movement patterns associated with normal operations. The effort will leverage existing developments in the operational area such as the Time Critical Targeting Aid and Moving Target Indicator Exploitation (MTIX) and develop on these architectures making it easily adaptable to existing architectures for technology transition. From all aspects of information fusion technology, measures of performance and measures of effectiveness need to be developed and integrated into these new concepts. This will provide methods for consistent world views. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ENTIRE SOLICITATION. DO NOT SUBMIT A FORMAL PROPOSAL AT THIS TIME. Offerers are required to submit an original and three (3) copies of a ten (10) 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. Small business offerors must also send one (1) copy of the cover letter only, by First Class mail (DO NOT SEND CLASSIFIED), to AFRL/IFB, ATTN: Janis Norelli, Director of Small Business, 26 Electronic Parkway; Rome NY 13441-4514. 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. All responses to this announcement must be addressed to AFRL/IFEA, ATTN: Rick Gassner, Reference BAA 00-01-IFKPA, 32 Brooks Road, Rome NY 13441-4114. Multiple white papers within the purview of this announcement may be submitted by each offeror. White papers are due for FY00 not later than 15 December 1999. It is recommended that white papers be received by the following dates to maximize the possibility of award: FY01-30Jul00; FY02-30Jul01; FY03-30Jul02; FY04-30Jul03. White papers will be accepted at any time, but it is less likely that funding will be available in each Fiscal Year after the dates cited. 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 and 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) The innovativeness of the proposed approach and/or techniques, and c) The reasonableness and realism of proposed costs and fees. In addition, the Government will consider other factors, such as past and present performance on recent Government contracts and the capacity and capability to perform the requirements of the effort. The criteria used to evaluate proposals will also be used to determine whether white papers submitted are consistent with the intent of this BAA and of interest to the Government. No further evaluation criteria will be used in selecting the proposals. Individual proposal evaluations will be based on acceptability or unacceptability without regard to other proposals submitted under this BAA. Options are discouraged and unpriced options will not be considered for award. Principle funding of this BAA and anticipated awards will start approximately FY00. Individual awards will not normally exceed 24 months in duration, with dollar amounts normally ranging from $100K to $1.5M. Total funding for this BAA is $24.0M. Awards of efforts as a result of this BAA will be in the form of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions depending upon the nature of the work proposed. Foreign-owned offerors are advised that they are excluded from participating at the prime contract level. Foreign or foreign-owned offerers should immediately contact the contracting focal point, Joetta A. Bernhard, for information if they contemplate responding. Data subject to export control constraints may be involved and only firms on the Certified Contract Access List (CCAL) will be allowed access to such data. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this announcement is not an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost in AFR 31.205-18. Depending on the work to be performed, the offeror 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 a 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 are not considered to be "significant concerns" and should be communicated directly to the Contracting Officer, Joetta A. 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 Chief, AFRL/IFK 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 the proposals or in the source selection process. To receive a copy of the AFRL "BAA & PRDA: A Guide for Industry," Sep 1996 (Rev), write to AFRL/IFK, ATTN: Lucille Argenzia, 26 Electronics Parkway, Rome, NY 13441-4514, or fax her at FAX 315-330-4728, or the guide may be accessed at: http://www.if.afrl.af.mil/div/IFK/bp-guide.html. This BAA is open and effective until 30 Dec 04 All responsible firms may submit a white paper, which shall be considered. Respondents are asked to provide their Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) number with their submission and reference BAA 00-01-IFKPA. Only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Posted 11/18/99 (D-SN401833). (0322)

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