DHS SBIR FY22 Responses to Questions_Amendment 0001.pdf

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program

SOLICITATION NO. 70RSAT22R00000005

Amendment 0001

Questions & Answers - January 10, 2022

DHS SBIR TOPIC NUMBER DHS221-001

QUESTION:

Will the government provide sample real and fake call audio files for the AI/ML portion to learn from?

RESPONSE:

Sample calls for evaluation is available in Phase 2 awards, but not for Phase 1 awards.

Voices/calls are being monitoring through VHF channel 16 radio transmissions, so we would be listening via radio receivers. These are open, public VHF channels.

DHS SBIR TOPIC NUMBER DHS221-002

QUESTION 1:

Can you provide specifically what the DHS221-002 - Rapidly deployable countermeasures at protected perimeters and structures is?

RESPONSE:

See the topic description for context and key requirements.

QUESTION 2:

Would you please provide some clarification on the requirement “Low-cost, targeted coverage cost of $15,000 or less per acre” in the DHS221-002 Rapidly deployable countermeasures at protected perimeters and structures solicitation? The coverage cost is defined as a price per acre, while the topic deals with a perimeter defense. It seems that this cost metric could be applied in several different ways. Does it refer to,

a) the total installed system cost (expendable material + reusable delivery devices) to protect 1 acre of land [And is that the cost of the first square acre (835ft perimeter) or the per acre cost of 10 square acres (264ft perimeter per acre)],

b) the total installed system cost per area of engagement (e.g. <cost of expendable materials & reusable deployment devices>/<area of deployed material>),

c) Or the cost of expendable materials per area of deployment, excluding the cost of the reusable deployment devices (e.g. <cost of expendable materials>/<area covered by the material>)?

Amendment 0001

Questions & Answers - January 10, 2022

Yes, this Topic describes the desired cost metric for coverage of surfaces at protected perimeters and structures, not the cost to protect the area being protected. This cost is the cost associated with covering surfaces at the perimeter or of structures at protected areas. No dependance should be assumed between amount of area coverage required and the physical size of the interior area being protected.

The cost metric ($15,000/acre) is for C) the cost of expendable materials per area of deployment, excluding the cost of the reusable deployment devices = [cost of expendable materials]/[area covered by the material]

DHS SBIR TOPIC NUMBER DHS221-003

Can the requirements for “~1-2 feet distance using handheld device” be further elaborated? Is the goal for the system to be used in a mobile setting or can it for example be a portable system that needs to be plugged into an AC outlet for power?

Handheld device for mobile settings.

QUESTION 2:

Should the system be able to inspect chips in a variety of packaging, for example in reels, trays, and tubes? Can the chips be unpackaged for testing?

System will inspect individual parts (PCBs, ICs). Parts will be unpacked for inspection.

QUESTION 3:

Should the system be able to function without any special coordination with the original component manufacturer, such as adding a special identifier to the chip?

Amendment 0001

Questions & Answers - January 10, 2022

RESPONSE:

Yes. No coordination with OCM required.

QUESTION 4:

Does DHS have a library of training and testing images of the counterfeit microchips? This would be helpful to put together our proposal for this topic.

No. DHS does not have GFI (data library). A minimum data would be sufficient for phase I.

DHS SBIR TOPIC NUMBER DHS221-006

We have a potential innovation to meet that requirement, but it involves low resolution spatial positioning which could be considered “imaging”. Topic 006 does not preclude imaging, but we would not like to spend the Government’s or our time on a Phase I Proposal if there is an unwritten rule that any “imaging” solution would not be considered.

RESPONSE:

We will consider all proposed solutions that the Offeror believes will meet the objective and requirements described in the topic write-up. In general, solutions that might be considered as “imaging” could be viable if it is “safe.” Imaging-based systems may require an Automatic Threat Recognition algorithm prior to deployment for privacy purposes.

DHS SBIR TOPIC NUMBER DHS221-007

Does the MFTS device need to be a standalone device with its own built-in GPS capability or can it leverage a mobile device's GPS capability?

a. If standalone, what are the range requirements for data transmission (i.e. readable from 1m, 10m, or 100m)?

b. If standalone, can the device leverage cellular GPS or does it need to utilize satellite

GPS?

RESPONSE:

At minimum, the MFTS Device should have a built-in GPS capability as the tagged remains may move independently of other remains recovered in the same area. Accuracy requirements are 4-6

Amendment 0001

Questions & Answers - January 10, 2022 meters, consistent with typical consumer-based units. Accuracy improvements through the use of the cellular network would be beneficial but are not required.

QUESTION 2:

For topic DHS 221-007 (MFTS), is the focus of this effort to identify and track the location of trapped and/or injured people, in addition to that of human remains?

RESPONSE:

The primary purpose of the MFTS is to track human remains from the point of discovery through processing.

QUESTION 3:

For topic DHS 221-007 (MFTS), what is the process today? Is it mostly manual, or are there technologies used in some capacity?

RESPONSE:

The tagging, tracking and cataloging of human remains is primarily accomplished through manual efforts utilizing hand-written notes and spreadsheets. At present, there is no national system employing dedicated technology to support the automated tracking and data collection of human remains information.

DHS SBIR TOPIC NUMBER DHS221-008

We are wanting to know if these solutions would be worth submitting a proposal for (have a good shot at being funded) or if you are specifically wanting to fund TlBr/LiInSe/LIS in this topic [DHS/CWMD SBIR Topic DHS221-008].”

RESPONSE:

RFP Appendix A, page A-20, Required Capabilities/Features item #11 reads, “Recommend using TlBr and LIS. If using other detector material, a justification must be included describing the comparable or improved benefits to recommendation.” Pursuant to section 3.8 of the RFP, any questions or inquiries seeking advice or guidance on a solution approach are unacceptable and will not receive a response (p. 15).

DHS SBIR TOPIC NUMBER DHS221-010

Amendment 0001

Questions & Answers - January 10, 2022

The pre-proposal included TICs as compounds of interest for this proposal. TICs remain as keywords...are they still of interest for this proposal? Or are the three classes of interest limited to nerve agents, blister agents and pharmaceutical agents?

RESPONSE:

TICs are no longer of primary interest for this topic. This topic will now focus on more likely aerosol targets. Due to the high volatility of most TICs they can be detected as vapor within a short timeframe of an aerosolized release. Technologies which can detect low volatility compounds within the three classes of interest are the primary interest for this topic.

DHS SBIR TOPIC NUMBERS DHS221-008 thru DHS221-011

The solicitation states that for these topics we must execute an NDA with Mayvin, Inc. however no contact is provided for a representative at Mayvin. Please provide a POC and their contact information so that we can get this NDA executed and emailed per solicitation requirements.

RESPONSE

They are to be emailed to CWMD_NDA@mayvin.com . Note: There’s an “underscore” between “CWMD” and “NDA”.

LETTERS OF SUPPORT

QUESTIONS:

a. Are we allowed to include Letters of Support? If so, how?

b. Can we include Letters of Support in our Technical Proposal? If so, will this count towards the 20 page limit?

c. Will Letters of Support be reviewed as part of the proposal evaluation criteria?

RESPONSE:

Letters of support are not required but can be included as part of the 20 pages in the technical proposal if the company chooses that is how they would like to use the 20 pages allowed.

SBIR ELIGIBILITY

Amendment 0001

Questions & Answers - January 10, 2022

Our parent company is registered in Finland and it is mostly owned by Finnish people who live in Finland. The parent company also has a totally owned subsidiary in the US. Are we eligible to apply?

RESPONSE:

Small business concerns that apply must be located in the U.S. Company registration is required in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Company Registry Database. For both Phase I and Phase II, all research or R&D must be performed by the small business concern and its subcontractors in the United States. Please see additional information on eligibility in section 1.5.