BAA 692M15-19-R-00020_Call 004 Questions and Answers.pdf

Questions and Answers BAA Solicitation: 692M15-19-R-00020-0002

Call 0004

1) Can you please confirm that the subject referenced request for White Papers is full and open to industry and there are no limitation on the types of businesses (such as small) who may submit a response and be considered for award?

The subject is open to businesses of all sizes.

2) What does that cover page for the whitepaper should entail? Is it the same format as of the full proposal?

The Cover Page format outlined within document, BAA 692M15-19-R-00020_Amd 003 Final Conformed Copy, at Proposal Preparation, Submission, and Evaluation 1.(d.)(i.) is a good guideline for submitting the White Paper Cover Page.

3) If so, is an electronic signature acceptable for the “Name, title, and signature of an official authorized to legally bind the organization” field?

Electronic signature is acceptable.

4) Can charts, figures, and footnotes have smaller font than 12-point?

Charts, figures, and footnotes should be in-line with the 12-point font guidance.

5) Are looking for technologies that are already at TRL 5-7 at the time of whitepaper submission, is this correct? Or would you also consider technologies that would be able to reach TRL 5-7 at the completion of a project funded via the BAA?

The prototype to be demonstrated must be at least TRL 5 already at the time of submitting the White Paper. On the upper limit, the prototype cannot exceed a TRL 7 at the time of submitting the White Paper.

6) Is there a template for the Letter of Attestation that is required from the UASTS?

No, there is not a template for the Letter of Attestation.

7) Is there a cap on the max award and duration for the project?

There is no dollar cap on individual BAA Awards; however the overall program is subject to budgetary approval. As stated at Paragraph 7 within BAA 692M15-19-R-00020_Amd 003 Final Conformed Copy, “Awards will be made subject to the availability of appropriated funds.” There is no expected range of monetary amounts. The amount requested should be determined (zero-based budgeting) based on the actual work needed to complete the proposed TRL 5-7 prototype demonstrations/verification.

Noted for White Paper Preparation at Paragraph Proposal Preparation, Submission, and Evaluation 1.(c.)(i.)(1)(b.) within BAA 692M15-19-R-00020_Amd 003 Final Conformed Copy, “Can the technology be matured sufficiently to meet a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6-8 after 12 months of effort?” Therefore, it is expected that the Period of Performance of the project will not exceed 12 months.

8) We are interested in 2-3 topic areas for call 4 to the BAA. Are there technical points of contact for any of these that we may contact?

Potential BAA Awardees are welcome to submit multiple White Papers. The FAA will not provide technical points of contact. It is expected that potential BAA Awardees submit White Papers based on their merit.

9) Alternatively, given that last year’s contracting has now closed, would you be able to provide feedback on last year’s submissions? One of our potential white papers aligns with a prior submission.

The FAA is currently not providing feedback on previously submitted White Papers as they are kept in a repository for potential award in the feature based on appropriations and areas of interest. Potential BAA Awardees are welcomed to submit similar or updated White Papers as previously submitted; however submissions must submitted in accordance with the announcement.

10) Is an Israeli company eligible to participate in the BAA Program?

Currently there are no provisions or clauses restricting contracting with an Israeli Company;

however review and evaluation of submitted White Paper may enact restrictions based on the sensitivity level of the proposed project.

11) As the UAS DAA and traffic surveillance standards are still being developed, is it reasonable to assume that the flight test demonstration results enabled by this BAA may be used to inform the development of these standards?

Yes, it is reasonable to assume that project results may be utilized in further developing UAS DAA and Traffic Surveillance Standards.

12) What is the FAA’s perceived relative near term relative priority for airborne DAA systems versus ground based UAS traffic surveillance systems?

There is no priority on behalf of the FAA. This is an industry decision.

13) The current ASTM F3442 suggests a 360o Field of Regard, but does not suggest a vertical field of view, nor the relative importance of forward versus backward resolution or range. Can initial flight testing prioritize forwards, and maybe sidewards DAA situational awareness, over rearwards, as that is where the greatest collision risks likely are?

The intent of this BAA is to fulfill UAS-410 requirements for scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge or understanding in the Interest Topic Areas listed within the announcement. The FAA will evaluate each White Paper individually based on current interest and will not answer specific technology related questions that may lead companies into particular technology pursuits nor stifle creativity of projects. White Papers must be in compliance with the requirements set forth within Call 004.

14) Relative to collision risks, the DAA specifications, and SWaP-C constraints, does the FAA perceive an initial emphasis on larger (e.g., > 10 lbs), faster (e.g., > 40 mph) UASs over equipping the smaller ones?

The intent of this BAA is to fulfill UAS-410 requirements for scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge or understanding in the Interest Topic Areas listed within the announcement. The FAA will evaluate each White Paper individually based on current interest and will not answer specific technology

15) The FAA has traditionally regulated airborne traffic to reduce the risks of plane-to-plane collisions, and evolving UAS and eVTOL DAA specifications understandably emphasize collision risks with manned aircraft. But how does the FAA anticipate regulations being developed to reduce UAS collision risks with other UASs, automobiles or trucks, buildings, power lines, or other ground-based assets?

The intent of this BAA is to fulfill UAS-410 requirements for scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge or understanding in the Interest Topic Areas listed within the announcement. The FAA will evaluate each White Paper individually based on current interest and will not answer specific technology

16) The topic UA006 (C2) only mentions C-Band and Cellular spectrum. Would the reviewers consider whitepapers that utilize other licensed spectrum that adequately addresses the industry and FAA needs?

The intent of this BAA is to fulfill UAS-410 requirements for scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge or understanding in the Interest Topic Areas listed within the announcement. The FAA will evaluate each White Paper individually based on current interest and will not answer specific technology

17) In Topic Number UAS001: Detect and Avoid Capability, one of the bulleted items is “Demonstrate and/or validate the performance, interoperability and effectiveness of Remote ID requirements against DAA.” Is the FAA referring to the possibility of using Broadcast RID for tactical DAA between UA and Crewed aircraft, between UA and UA, or both?

The intent of this BAA is to fulfill UAS-410 requirements for scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge or understanding in the Interest Topic Areas listed within the announcement. The FAA will evaluate each White Paper individually based on current interest and will not answer specific technology

18) In Interest Topic UAS006, what is the intended definition for the acronym TPOC?

TPOC is the Technical Point of Contact. The TPOC assists the Contracting Officer (CO) and CO Representative (COR) with any technical and operational questions. If a BAA Applicant proposes to demonstrate a prototype using the cellular network, the TPOC will provide them with a list of metrics to characterize the network; for example, provide metric information such as latency, RSRQ, RSRP, lost link, packet loss, etc.

19) In the first bullet point under Interest Topic UAS006, there appears to be a missing word:

Demonstrate and/or validate that meets the Minimum Aviation System Performance Standards (MASPS) DO-377 (latest published version) for C2 service. What is the intended subject of demonstration/validation?

The company should demonstrate and/or validate their prototype meets the referenced standard.

20) For organizations that intend to submit more than one white paper, what is the preferred naming convention to differentiate the submissions?

If the whitepapers have the same file names as established by the ‘File Naming Format’, add the topic number, if different (Example 1). If the topic numbers in the whitepapers are the same, just add an additional unique number to differentiate them (Example 2).

Example 1 (different topics): BAAC4-AcmeInc.-VA-003 and BAAC4-AcmeInc.-VA-005

Example 2 (same topics): BAAC4-AcmeInc.-VA-1 and BAAC4-AcmeInc.-VA-2

21) Request to extend the BAA White Paper Submission date.

No, the white paper due date will not be extended.

22) Reviewing the subject BAA, Amendment 3 and Call 4, I found indications of neither the anticipated period of performance, level of effort nor budget of awards.

Noted for White Paper Preparation at Paragraph Proposal Preparation, Submission, and Evaluation 1.(c.)(i.)(1)(b.) within BAA 692M15-19-R-00020_Amd 003 Final Conformed Copy, “Can the technology be matured sufficiently to meet a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6-8 after 12 months of effort?” Therefore, it is expected that the Period of Performance of the project will not exceed 12 months.

There is no dollar cap on individual BAA Awards; however the overall program is subject to budgetary approval. As stated at Paragraph 7 within BAA 692M15-19-R-00020_Amd 003 Final Conformed Copy, “Awards will be made subject to the availability of appropriated funds.” There is no expected range of monetary amounts. The amount requested should be determined (zero-based budgeting) based on the actual work needed to complete the proposed TRL 5-7 prototype demonstrations/verification.

23) Do you have a POC [UAS Test Site] listing you can share?

The UAS Test Site POCs can be found at:

https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/test_sites/locations/ https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/test_sites/locations/