A -- SYMBIOTIC COMMUNICATIONS (SYCO)

Notice Date

December 6, 2000

Contracting Office

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

ZIP Code

13441-4514

Solicitation Number

Reference-Number-PRDA-01-01-IFKPA

Point of Contact

Joetta Bernhard, Contracting Officer, Phone (315) 330-2308, Fax (315) 330-7790, Email bernhard@rl.af.mil

E-Mail Address

Joetta Bernhard (bernhard@rl.af.mil)

Description

Points of Contact: Dr. Thomas J. Green, Jr., DARPA Program Manager, (703) 696-7449, email tgreen@darpa.mil; Edward J. Jones, AFRL Program Manager, (315) 330-2702, email jonesej@rl.af.mil; Robert J. Denton, Jr., AFRL Deputy Program Manager for Acquisition, (315) 330-7067, email dentonr@rl.af.mil; Joetta A. Bernhard, Contracting Officer, (315) 330-2308, email bernhard@rl.af.mil. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Advanced Technology Office (ATO) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Sensors Directorate, Radar Technology Branch are seeking firms to conduct research and development of innovative concepts and techniques for Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IFSAR). Background: Recent experiences in the Gulf War, Somalia, Bosnia, and Kosovo have called attention to the need for improved situational awareness for the planning and conduct of military operations. Future combat systems will increasingly rely on accurate Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield, available in a timely manner, day or night, and during all weather conditions. This includes the availability of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery and accurate georegistration of all sensed data for delivering precision weaponry on targets (including mobile targets) using precision Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED). The single biggest error source that exists in the georegistration process is lack of accurate knowledge of the terrain. In addition, the use of robotic vehicles in the future will likely require accurate terrain data for trafficability analysis and optimal path determination. Current national databases provide only coarse National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) Level 1 DTED, and in a few years Level 2 data will become available. In addition, DTED databases become outdated with changing seasons, flooding, cultural changes, etc., further reducing their suitability for precision applications. Collectively, these limitations preclude full exploitation of even current generation weapon accuracies and will become more limiting as weapons navigation and guidance systems continue to improve. Program Objectives: The objective of the DARPA/AFRL Symbiotic Communications (SYCO) program is to develop an airborne system that exploits IFSAR to generate, in real time, DTED with accuracy and precision commensurate with NIMA defined Level 4. The proposed airborne system is anticipated to be a receiver capable of all-weather operation and the exploitation of multiple frequencies. The potential benefits of multiple frequency exploitation include, but are not limited to: robust phase-unwrapping for DTED; automated terrain categorization that can delineate degrees of wetness and discriminate between different surface and vegetation types; and enhanced spatial resolution. Program Approach: The primary technical accomplishments necessary for a successful end product include, but are not limited to: (1) Exploiting multiple frequency bands and polarizations to produce more accurate and robust terrain characterization. First, multiple frequency bands may be useful in resolving IFSAR phase unwrapping ambiguities. Second, multi-band SAR imagery might be exploited to provide terrain categorization maps that are useful in determining trafficability and foliage coverage. Third, multiple bands might be combined to provide greater spatial resolution in the final DTED product. (2) Developing real-time on-board signal processing capabilities, special antennas and synchronization techniques. (3) Developing an integrated system concept to produce quality DTED and SAR products. This list of technical challenges is not comprehensive. A significant system engineering challenge exists to implement this capability. The SYCO contractor(s) are expected to develop the critical technologies required by the SYCO concept and to integrate them, as appropriate, into their experimental system. Early ground, rooftop and flight experiments should be utilized to validate key concepts and to support system analysis and system concept assessment. SYCO will emphasize the use of emerging sensor and platform technologies with modest or minimal requirements for SYCO-specific modifications or upgrades. This implies the use of systems that are expected to be in the later stages of development by 2002. It is anticipated that SYCO will exploit recent advances in the state-of-the-art, including lightweight antennas and embedded high performance computers, to demonstrate IFSAR with minimum investment in system component technologies. Program Procurement Plan: It is anticipated that DARPA/AFRL's procurement of the SYCO system will occur in two phases. In Phase 1, system trade studies, experiments and data analysis will be used to refine the SYCO system concept and to develop detailed predictions of system performance. Phase 1 will culminate with proof-of-concept flight test demonstrations of alternative systems that validate the feasibility of DTED processing using the SYCO concept. During Phase 2 (not part of this PRDA), a real-time end-to-end IFSAR demonstration system will be designed, built, integrated, tested, operated and demonstrated in a military exercise-like scenario, e.g., Red Flag. Due to the diverse nature of the technologies and activities involved in SYCO (system analysis, platforms, sensors, data links, processing algorithms, system integration, experimental testing, etc), the government strongly encourages the use of contractor teams to integrate best-in-class capabilities into an end-to-end SYCO system solution. Phase 1 and Phase 2 will be conducted as two separate PRDA activities. It is anticipated that this Phase 1 PRDA will include multiple awards of approximately $5-10 million each (base + option) for 24 months, with a base period of performance (Phase 1A) of nine (9) months and an option period of performance (Phase 1B) of 15 months. At the end of the base period, the Government may elect to exercise its option to limit the number of participants for the option period. Note: It is anticipated that the Phase 1A portion of the award should be between $1.5-2.5 million maximum, per award, up to three (3) awards. Awards made as a result of this PRDA will be in the form of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions, depending upon the nature and terms of the work proposed. Awards are expected on or about late March 2001. Anticipated funding for Phase 1 of the SYCO program is $24.9 million. Work to be performed will require SECRET facility clearance and safeguarding capability. Therefore, personnel identified for assignment to this effort and facilities proposed must be cleared for access to SECRET information at the time of award. PRDA Goal: The purpose of this SYCO PRDA is to stimulate industry to propose innovative concepts and techniques for Phase 1 development of the SYCO demonstration system. The technical activities necessary for the period of performance of the anticipated awards include, but are not limited to: (1) Conducting data analysis and system trade studies to refine and assess SYCO system concepts and to develop performance predictions -- (Phase 1A) (2) Developing a preliminary design and implementation plan for an Early Flight Test Demonstration -- (Phase 1A) (3) Demonstrating multi-band SAR and Level 3 DTED processing of flight data -- (Phase 1B) (4) Developing a preliminary design and implementation plan for a Real-time Demonstration System -- (Phase 1B) In order to achieve the performance objective (DTED Level 4) the system must be able to achieve certain intermediate goals of resolution, Signal-to-Additive Noise, Signal-to-Multiplicative Noise, System Phase Noise, Platform measurement accuracy, etc. During the Phase 1A performance period, contractors must identify these performance metrics and their required values and show by analysis and/or experimental data that these intermediate goals are achievable. In addition, during the Phase 1A period, contractors must identify critical technologies and key challenges and provide details of candidate algorithms/techniques. Finally, contractors must provide preliminary designs and implementation plans for an Early Flight Test Demonstration and a final Real-time Demonstration System during the Phase 1A and Phase 1B periods, respectively. Simple and innovative solutions are encouraged. Excluded for the purpose of this solicitation are proposals solely for system studies and/or evaluations. Such proposals will be judged totally unacceptable. Program Reviews: Quarterly program reviews (QPR's) will be conducted to track technical, financial and schedule performance and risk. Additional technical meetings may be required for coordination and planning. An Initial Concept Review (ICR) will be held approximately nine (9) months after contract award. A Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the Real-time Demonstration System will be held approximately 22 months after contract award. Program Deliverables: It is expected that program deliverables will include but not be limited to: (a) Initial Concept Assessment (ICA) that outlines the results of preliminary experiments, data and system analyses and system concept assessments, and describes Offeror's recommended system concept. The ICA will identify critical technologies and key challenges. The ICA should include a description of the performance metrics that will be used by the performer to assess performance of all supported modes and required values for these metrics to support the proposed system concept. It should include a description of the experiments to be carried out during Phase 1B. It should include other results and plans from Phase 1A as appropriate. The ICA must include a design for the Early Flight Test Demonstration and a WBS for the Real-time Demonstration System build and integration. The draft ICA will be due eight (8) months after contract award, and the final ICA will due 30 days after Government review is complete. (b) Preliminary Design Document (PDD) that describes the demonstration system concept, processing algorithm designs and documented system performance on flight data. The PDD should include detailed descriptions of algorithm designs for all supported processing modes including, but not limited to, IFSAR processing, DTED processing, GMTI processing and automated mission planning. It should document the results of the experiments carried out in Phase 1A. It should also include performance results using metrics outlined in the ICA for all supported modes. It should include other results as appropriate. The PDD must include a WBS for the final Real-time Demonstration System build. The draft PDD will be due 23 months after contract award and the final PDD will be due 30 days after the Government review is complete. (c) Data processing results for all supported modes sufficient to enable independent government assessment of system performance results obtained during the Phase 1A period are due eight (8) months after contract award, and data obtained during the Phase 1B period are due 17 months after contract award. It is required that successful Offerors provide monthly status reporting (expenditure data plus a one-page summary of technical accomplishments) in addition to the deliverables described above. Government Furnished Equipment (GFE): While the Government reserves the right to provide sensor platforms, communication equipment, and/or test facilities, the Offeror should not anticipate nor depend upon these being GFE. The Offeror should include in the proposal the recommended approach, including the specific sensor, communication equipment, and platforms they intend to modify and use and the cost to acquire, modify, and when required, restore these assets to their original condition. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION. PROPOSALS ARE REQUESTED. Offerors are required to submit one (1) paper original and 12 full-color paper copies (Technical/Management and Cost), plus four (4) electronic copies of the Technical/Management volumes in Portable Document Format (PDF) on IBM PC formatted CD-ROM's. Additionally, Offerors are required to submit one (1) electronic copy (in a format readable by Microsoft Word 2000, i.e. rich text format or MS Word 2000) of the Technical/Management and Cost volumes. The proposals as outlined above should be sent to AFRL/SNRD, ATTN: Robert J. Denton, Jr., SYCO Deputy Program Manager for Acquisition, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY 13441-4514 by 25 January 2001 not later than 12:00 noon, EST. The Technical/Management volume may include an appendix containing referenced material, as specified in the Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP). The Technical/Management volume is limited to a total page count of seventy-five (75) pages double-spaced and shall be with a font no smaller than 12 pitch. The Cost volume is not page-limited. The Technical/Management volume shall include the Offeror's technical approach, management approach, schedule, milestones and deliverables, and qualifications to perform the Phase 1 effort. The Technical/Management volume shall also include the Statement of Work (SOW), which should be a separate pull-out attachment. The Cost proposal must be a full cost proposal covering the entire Phase 1 activity. All details of the format requirements for the Technical/Management and Cost volumes of the proposals are described in the PIP. Alternatively, specific details regarding the PIP and PRDA may be obtained at the following Web address: http://www.if.afrl.af.mil/div/IFK/prda/prda-main.html, then scrolling down to PRDA 01-01-IFKPA. Additional information regarding this solicitation will be presented at a SECRET classified briefing for all interested firms to be held on 20 December 2000. The briefing will be held from 1100 to 1500 in the Air Force Research Laboratory/Rome Research Site (AFRL/RRS) Building 106 Auditorium in Rome, NY. The point of contact for this meeting is Mr. Robert J. Denton, Jr., AFRL/RRS/SNRD 315-330-7067. Directions, maps, and information on accommodations are available by calling Ms. Patricia Buckingham at 315-330-7826. (AFRL/RRS Building 106 Auditorium is located at 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY 13441-4514. For those unfamiliar with the facility, check-in is performed in the Lobby of Building 106.) Organizations wishing to send representatives should register via the Industry Day Registration web site (preferred) http://schafercorp-ballston.com/syco, via e-mail, by fax or in writing. The registration web site contains a registration form, visit request information, maps and directions. The registration point of contact is Ms. India Woods, Schafer Corporation, 4301 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22203 (Phone: (703) 516-6034, Fax: (703) 516-6060, E-Mail: iwoods@schafercorp-ballston.com). Registration requests should be received not later than 15 December 2000. Registration will be confirmed by 18 December 2000. Registration is limited to persons with U.S. security clearances. Security clearances should be faxed to AFRL/RRS's Visitor Control, Attn: Mr. Vincent Guza at: 315-330-2916 (voice) 315-330-3378 (fax) not later than 15 December 2000. The number of representatives from each organization will be limited to two (2) persons. Evaluation of proposals will be accomplished using the following criteria: (l) overall scientific and technical merit, (2) technical tasks, (3) relevance to DARPA/SYCO mission, (4) offeror's qualifications, {5} data rights, {6} technology transition, and (7) cost realism. In addition, the Government will consider other factors, such as past and present performance on recent Government contracts and the capacity to perform the requirements of the effort. Further details on evaluation criteria are described in the PIP. The Government intends to use employees from a non-Government source (Solers, Eastern Sierra Research, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Schafer Corporation, Adroit Systems Inc and Logos Technologies) to assist as technical experts, and in administering the evaluation of the proposals. Should anyone not wish to have his/her proposal viewed by individuals from one of these organizations, they must include a statement to that effect in your cover letter. Otherwise, by submission of your proposal, you agree that your proposal information may be disclosed to those employees of the organizations identified above for the limited purpose stated above. Only Government evaluators, however, will make award recommendations under this PRDA. Foreign and foreign-owned participation is not authorized for this acquisition. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this announcement is not an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract or any other contract, but may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost in accordance with FAR 31.205-18. 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 Lt. Colonel Ralph M. Lentz, Chief, Contracting Directorate, 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. This PRDA is open and effective until 1 March 2001. To receive a copy of the AFRL "BAA & PRDA: A Guide for Industry," Sep 1996 (Rev), write ATTN: Carol Furgol, AFRL/IFK, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY 13441-4514, or fax her at FAX 315-330-1795, or the guide may be accessed at: http://www.if.afrl.af.mil/div/IFK/bp-guide.html. All responsible firms may submit proposals, which shall be considered. Respondents are asked to provide their Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) number with their proposal(s) and reference PRDA 01-01-IFKPA. Only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government.

Web Link

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Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001208/ASOL001.HTM (D-341 SN5082C0)