A -- NUCLEAR EXPLOSION MONITORING

Notice Date

December 20, 2000

Contracting Office

Defense Threat Reduction Agency/AM, DTRA Annex, 8725 John J. Kingman Road, MSC 6201, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6201

ZIP Code

22060-6201

Solicitation Number

DTRA01-PRDA-01-01

Response Due

February 5, 2001

Point of Contact

Christine Young, 703-325-1198; Kellie Ballantine, 703-325-1197

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact the Contract Specialist via (Christine.Young@dtra.mil)

Description

Program Research and Development Announcement for Nuclear Explosion Monitoring INTRODUCTION: The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) invites proposals for research to support nuclear explosion monitoring under the Program Research and Development Announcement DTRA01-PRDA-01-01. The administering DTRA program is the Basic Research Program in the Arms Control Technology Division (TDC), Technology Development Directorate (TD). There is a parallel announcement, DOE/AL ROA01-01, addressing similar topical areas by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Nonproliferation Research and Engineering (DOE/NN-20) under their Nuclear Explosion Monitoring Research and Engineering Program. Proposals can be made to either one or both of these announcements. The review and selection processes for the two announcements will be coordinated to ensure that the same or similar awards are not made by both agencies. The objectives of this PRDA are: (1) to enhance operational nuclear test monitoring capabilities, including the performance of monitoring networks and data analysis systems; (2) to increase monitoring and verification effectiveness through improved understanding of basic phenomenology; and (3) to improve signal processing and analysis methods and systems. The technology areas of interest are seismic, hydroacoustic, and infrasound. Experiments (exclusive of computing equipment) can also be proposed. Data and research products resulting from this announcement will be directed to appropriate end users. The specific delivery point shall be specified in each contract award. To help this delivery, DTRA has set up an R&D Test Bed at the Center for Monitoring Research (CMR) and DOE has a defined integration process utilizing the Knowledge Base managed by Sandia National Laboratories. Information about CMR may be found at www.cmr.gov and information about the Knowledge Base can be found at www.nemre.nn.doe.gov. PROGRAM AREAS: Research is being sought in five topical areas: TOPICAL AREA 1: Improved Seismic Signal Processing and Analysis Methods and Systems. TOPICAL AREA 2: Collection of Ground Truth. TOPICAL AREA 3: Seismic Decoupling. TOPICAL AREA 4: Improved Hydroacoustic Signal Processing and Analysis Methods and Systems. TOPICAL AREA 5: Improved Infrasound Signal Processing and Analysis. These topical areas are more specifically described below. Individual proposals should be directed to only one topical area. All topical areas are of equal importance. TOPICAL AREA 1: Improved Seismic Signal Processing and Analysis Methods and Systems. Research proposals in the following broad areas are encouraged to address this topic: 1.1 Improvements are needed in analytical methods that can be applied to the processing of International Monitoring System (IMS) data to determine focal depth of events recorded at regional distances. Improvements are needed in the current automated systems that are used to process detection arrivals to identify depth phases and to associate these phases at different stations. 1.2 Research is sought on the development of high-resolution velocity models that can support location and identification of small events using regional data. High-resolution models of the relative amplitude of seismic phases as affected by propagation and source characteristics are also sought. Proposals for such model development should include an appropriate test plan to test for improved performance in their intended operational environment (e.g., automated systems used to process IMS data) as well as their utility for supporting the research on identification of small events that is discussed below. 1.3 Research is sought on developing the fundamental basis for regional estimates of magnitude. This could include the development and testing of a "universal" method for determining regional magnitudes for the specific regions of interest. The methods must be consistent with current teleseismic magnitudes. The method could involve measurements of Pg, Pn, Lg or P and Lg coda, theoretical and observational investigations of the full range of seismic sources, or others. The proposals should include appropriate test plans for testing in the intended operational environment. 1.4 Improvements are needed in the development of event identification procedures that can be applied to events within about 1 body wave magnitude (mb) unit of the detection threshold of the IMS system (using both primary and auxiliary stations). This effectively means detection thresholds that are below 4 mb in Eurasia and the Middle East. Research is sought in the development of identification methods using regional data that can be effective at these small magnitudes. This research could include characterizing and modeling regional seismic wave propagation as a tool for the improvement of discrimination techniques, and developing region-specific and robust event characterization parameters that are based on regional seismic data at specific stations taking into account path effects on these data. This research could include extension of the Ms/mb discriminant to regional data for events with magnitudes below 4. 1.5 Improvements in the conceptual understanding of regional event identification methods at low magnitudes are also of interest. While it is known that high frequency S/P energy partitioning into seismic phases is dependent on source depth, it is not known how this relationship varies with source media, structure, and tectonic province. TOPICAL AREA 2: Collection of Ground Truth. The primary focus of this topical area is to collect high-quality ground truth for reference events, associated waveforms, and ground truth information for specific areas of monitoring interest. The areas of interest are parts of Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and the geographic regions encompassing the former Soviet Union. Ground truth is detailed information regarding the event source type, location, and origin time. All types of ground truth information for event identification are sought. In regard to location, GT10 (i.e., location is known to 10 km or better) is of primary interest. Ground truth information can either be observed directly (e.g., by direct on-site recording of mining explosions) or constrained with independent data (e.g., by a fault location constrained from overhead imagery or a dense network of seismic stations). Waveforms should be from the relevant local stations and the regional stations important for monitoring. They could either be IMS stations or other high quality regional stations. The following areas described below are examples of the type of information of interest to the program. Offerors may, however, be interested in pursuing other types of reference event sets that are of interest to the program. 2.1 Ground Truth from Mining Explosions: Seismograms from mining explosions will be the primary sources of data for calibrating seismic identification algorithms. Since mining explosions are often distributed in space and time, ground truth information is sought that will give precise information on the source. This might be accomplished by locating temporary seismograph stations within a few kilometers of the explosion. Mining explosions of interest are those that are in regions of interest and are large enough to be recorded by one or more stations with a good signal-to-noise ratio. 2.2 Ground Truth from Dense Local Networks: Local and regional networks of stations already monitor many seismically active areas of the world and are capable of locating events with accuracies of GT10 or better. The highest quality events in regions of interest need to be extracted from these data. Dense local networks that are able to achieve accuracies of GT 10 or better may also be deployed after a large earthquake to monitor an aftershock sequence that continues for several months. Such aftershock data in regions of interest are likewise valuable for treaty monitoring purposes. Ground truth developed by the above methods, however, needs to be validated to verify that the desired accuracy is being obtained. 2.3 Ground Truth from Overhead Imagery: Overhead imagery is capable of locating objects to within a few kilometers or better, depending on the type of object being observed. Such imagery, for example, may be used to attribute an earthquake to a specific fault or to attribute a mining explosion to a particular mine or pit within that mine. Ground truth of this type needs to be validated with examples of measurements from visual observations on the ground whenever possible. TOPICAL AREA 3: Seismic Decoupling. New research efforts are needed to summarize and compare all existing data related to decoupling of seismic signals using constructed underground cavities. It is encouraged that any new experimental information or historical data not fully exploited be included in this effort. New efforts are needed to improve the prediction of signal characteristics at regional distances from decoupled explosions. The research should be aimed at determining an effective decoupling factor to be expected at regional distances. TOPICAL AREA 4: Improved Hydroacoustic Signal Processing and Analysis Methods and Systems. The main focus of research that needs to be performed in this topical area is three fold. First, there is a need to characterize and quantify natural hydroacoustic signals detected by the IMS network in the Indian Ocean. This network is expected to be fully deployed by the end of 2001. Second, there is a need to develop and test methods for processing hydroacoustic signals to detect, locate and identify small events in the Indian Ocean and surrounding regions. Third, there is a need to model hydroacoustic signals from an air burst over water. 4.1 Unlike the hydroacoustic systems in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Indian Ocean hydroacoustic systems are potentially able to receive the same signal at all three Indian Ocean hydroacoustic stations. Research efforts are needed to identify and describe signals from various sources detected on the Indian Ocean systems. The acoustic background in the Indian Ocean environment needs to be characterized so that it is better understood. Work that is preliminary to calibration experiments is also needed to determine the regional and temporal variability of hydroacoustic wave propagation and to understand the blockage of signals to IMS stations in the Indian Ocean. 4.2 In the past, operational monitoring systems have only used hydroacoustic data when a seismic location has indicated that the event is offshore. New methods are needed to consider signal detections from new hydroacoustic stations in the Indian Ocean and to merge these detections with seismic detections. Specific signal detection algorithms for the three Indian Ocean hydroacoustic stations need to be fully developed and understood. Phase identification of detected signals needs to be improved. Methods are also needed to reduce any systematic error in event location. 4.3 Models are needed to predict the type, size and character of hydroacoustic signals that would be generated by an air burst detonated at an altitude of up to several kilometers over remote ocean areas. These models should take into account the transmission of these signals over basin scales. TOPICAL AREA 5: Improved Infrasound Signal Processing and Analysis. The main focus of research that needs to be performed in this topical area is three-fold. First, there is a need to develop and test methods for improving the detection of acoustic signals that register on the IMS network and the location of events. Second, there is a need to develop and test methods for characterizing and identifying infrasound signals that are observed on the IMS network. Finally, there is a need to develop and test methods for combining the information in seismic and infrasound signals to identify and characterize mining explosions. 5.1 Methods are needed to develop and test specific signal detectors for newly installed IMS infrasound facilities and to characterize the signals that are observed from these facilities. Methods are needed to increase the signal/noise ratio of signals from these facilities. Improved methods are also needed for beam forming, phase identification and event location. This research could include the development of atmospheric propagation models having regional and temporal variability that could be used in the event location process. 5.2 A database of current and historical infrasound signals from nuclear tests, bolides, volcanic eruptions, mining explosions, and other sources of signals needs to be established in a common format. The database can be used in the testing of the new processing methods once it is established. Research is also needed in quantifying and identifying signals that are observed on the IMS network. 5.3 Methods of combining seismic and infrasound signals to identify mining explosions in regions of monitoring interest need further development. New experimental deployments of seismic/acoustic facilities in these regions are needed to provide the data for the development and testing of these methods. Consideration will also be given to proposed deployments of experimental facilities. REVIEW CRITERIA: Each proposal will be objectively evaluated on its own merit against published criteria by a formal peer review followed by a source selection evaluation. The formal peer review evaluation will be based on Criteria 1-4, which are listed in descending order of importance. Criteria 1 and 2 are significantly more important than Criteria 3 and 4. Criteria 3 and 4 are of equal importance. The source selection evaluation process will be conducted taking into consideration the evaluation of Criteria 1-4 by the formal peer review, Criterion 5, Criterion 6, and Criterion 7 in the following manner: Criteria 6 and 7 are of significantly more importance than Criterion 5. Criteria 6 and 7 are of equal importance with the combined peer review evaluation of Criteria 1-4. The combined peer review evaluation of Criteria 1-4 is significantly more important than Criterion 5. Accordingly, the combined evaluation of Criteria 1-4, 6 and 7 are significantly more important than Criterion 5. A tradeoff process, as authorized in FAR 15.101-1, may be used in the source selection under this procurement. CRITERIA 1-4 (Technical/Management): (1) Overall scientific and technical merit; (2) The potential for the research results to achieve the PRDA objectives as stated in the "Introduction" to the PRDA and the value of the research results to the potential end user; (3) Assessment of the extent to which the proposed work complements and/or avoids duplication of already completed or ongoing work; (4) Qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the principal investigator, team leader, and key personnel as well as corporate capabilities and relevant experience. CRITERION 5: Reasonableness and realism of the proposed cost and availability of funds. CRITERION 6: Programmatic balance. (Programmatic balance includes considerations such as the relative importance or urgency of one specific research effort or technical approach over another. Factors such as end users and relationships to other research efforts influence determinations of importance and urgency.) CRITERION 7: Past Performance History Selection of successful proposals for award will be based on the outcome of the formal peer review performed by experts in industry, academia, National Laboratories and the Government and by the source selection evaluation performed solely by Government personnel. The offeror's technical proposal should follow the format specified below and should specifically address the evaluation criteria. The cost proposal must include detailed supporting cost schedules and breakdowns for the phases identified in the proposed statement of work by task and subtask. Labor costs should include fringe benefits and are to be provided by labor category. Travel costs are to be itemized by airfare, local travel, per diem and miscellaneous expenses per traveler per destination. Equipment and supplies are to be itemized. Overhead rates, fees, and taxes are also to be specified. Any facilities, equipment or any other non-monetary resources that are required of the Government are also to be itemized. Subcontractor proposals (if applicable), including pricing rate detail, should be provided with the prime contractor's submission. HBCU/MI SET ASIDE: DTRA has set aside one award for an HBCU/MI. Award to an HBCU/MI is dependent upon receiving a viable, acceptable technical proposal and a determination of cost/price reasonableness. DTRA has the right to make no awards to HBCU/MI's if no acceptable proposals are received. PROPOSAL FORMAT: Technical proposals should comply with the following rules. Proposals are to be printed on 8.5 x 11inch paper with 1-inch margins in type not smaller than 12 point. The technical proposal length shall not exceed 45 single-spaced pages. The page limitation does not include the cost proposal. Proposals shall consist of a technical proposal and a cost proposal. These two shall be separated and no cost data shall be included in the technical proposal. The technical and cost proposal shall each be fastened together by only a single staple in the upper left-hand corner; no other binding material shall be used. No plastic or other type of document protector shall be used. The technical proposal is comprised of the following components and cannot exceed 45 pages in length: (A) Cover Page. The cover page should include the following information: (1) PRDA number; (2) proposal title; (3) Topical Area number and title; (4) point(s) of contact to include name, mailing address, telephone number, fax number (if available), electronic mail address (if available) for the technical POC and the contract administrator POC; and (5) submission date, proposed period of performance, and offer acceptance period. The cover page is to be signed by an individual that is authorized to contractually obligate the offeror. (B) Summary Page. The summary page is to identify the proposal title, names and titles of the principal investigator(s) (PI) and the PI's institutional affiliations. It is also to provide a brief (350 character) summary of the proposal. (C) Proposal Narrative. The proposal narrative includes tables, figures, and references. The proposal narrative is to provide a detailed description of the proposed research, including the research objectives, the methodology and approaches for accomplishing those objectives, the anticipated results of the research, and the relevance of the proposed research and anticipated results to the evaluation criteria and program objectives stated in the PRDA. It should describe the application of the research and identify the intended end user. It should provide a review of previous and ongoing work and identify any technical issues that need to be solved. Facilities, equipment and other resources of the offeror that will be used in the performance of the proposed research should be described. Any collaborators should also be identified. (D) Statement of Work. The statement of work should be broken down into phases. Since it is anticipated that the overall period of performance for these efforts resulting from this PRDA will be for approximately three years, the phases should be broken down, to the maximum extent possible, into efforts that can be completed in 12-month increments. Each phase shall list and describes the tasks and subtasks associated with that phase to include

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001222/ASOL006.HTM (W-355 SN5093B1)