Attachment B- A0001 OPS T-BAA Questions and Answers.pdf

No. Section Page # Question Answer

Opportunity Description

A reference link that might provide more details on the TTA’s that didn’t embed correctly into the document on page 4 of the attached highlighted below

The No reference link ; is a broken hyperlink to Table 1 in the document.

Attachment A has been revised to remove this hyperlink. The reference document is included as Attachment 3 to this Amendment.

Additional T-BAA

Instruction

If we submit a proposal for a technology that is lower than TRL 5, proposing to make a practical TSA application within the period of performance, will that TRL path be compliant with BAA requirements on

TRL?

As stated in the solicitation Attachment A, Section A.2, entrance criteria for awards consideration is a TRL level of 5 as stated in the solicitation

Submission Instruction

If there are multiple proposed activities for a given TTA, should proposer submit one white paper per TTA or multiple? Is there a limit on the number of submissions?

Each concept paper should cover and address one TTA. The paper may reference other TTA and discuss how they may compliment one another. Concepts that are significantly different for a given TTA may be submitted.

4 Evaluation 36 Will there be award criteria favoring third-party partnering in proposals?

There is no award criteria favoring third-party partnering. Partnering is allowable for proposed efforts.

General

Information

The solicitation states a Statement of Work will be created based on the evaluation of concept papers, for a contract award. Will the Government consider using a single-award Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) or Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) be utilized for this contract award whereby any ordering activity is streamlined?

A BOA and/or IDIQ contract is not being considered for this effort. The Government will use the most appropriate contract type for the approach as determined by the Contracting Officer.

6 General N/A

If a system/solution could be positioned in multiple TTA’s (i.e. TTA-0001 and TTA-0002), does TSA have a preference under which category to submit the proposal? Or is submission to both categories in this case advisable?

The offeror may choose the category they believe is the best fit for the proposal.

Each concept paper should cover and address one TTA. The paper may reference other TTA and discuss how they may complement one another. Offerors with fundamentally different technical approaches to a single TTA may submit more than one proposal.

7 N/A N/A What type of end contract will be awarded (Time and Material? Fixed Cost? Cost plus? Other?)

The TSA anticipates that any resultant contract(s) will be firm fixed price contracts. The contract type may be adjusted appropriately given the content, approach and circumstances of a particular project.

Attachment B-A0001 OPS T-BAA Questions and Answers

Additional T-BAA

Instruction

In section A.2, it states that “submissions without a clear path to practical TSA applications within 12 to 18 months will be declined”. Can you please define what “practical TSA applications” means? Is the 12 to 18 months path to practical TSA applications from the beginning of our proposed program or from the end of the proposed effort?

The proposal will need to convince the reviewers that, following TSA's review of the system/solution, the offeror can carry out the work needed to bring the system to application at an airport within 12-18 months and that the results can directly impact the TSA mission while meeting the goals of the technical topic area. A proposed program should includes the path to practical TSA applications, e.g., development, testing, manufacturing, shipping, and installation.

9 N/A N/A What minimum TRL level is acceptable at the end of the contract?

Regarding the TRL descriptions in the BAA, what is defined as a relevant environment?

Proposals should aim for as high a TRL as possible by the end of the contract while being realistic with the current maturity level, resources and schedule offered in the proposal. The response to Question 19 defines relevant environment.

10 N/A N/A Can you please clarify the expected range of timelines for proposed projects submitted in response to this T-BAA? What is the maximum number of months that may be considered?

Offeror's may propose a period of performance for the project submission, this may include option periods. As stated in Section A.2 of Attachment A, submissions without a clear path to practical TSA applications within 12 to 18 months will be declined.

11 Background 3 In section B.1, is TSA also looking for proposals for screening Aviation Workers under this BAA that are different from the screening methods / requirements for screening Travelers?

Yes. The offeror may provide compelling arguments for any change in functionality for aviation workers while proposing ideas that adhere to current passenger requirements.

12 Background 3

Given what is written in section B.1, and for further clarity, would TSA accept proposals for screening Aviation Workers under this BAA that do not (or cannot) meet the more stringent requirements for screening travelers at the security checkpoint?

It is to up to the offeror to propose the capability limits of their technology, and how that best meets requirements while providing value to the government.

13 N/A N/A What is the overall budget available under this BAA?

Any work funded under this T-BAA will be negotiated for formal contract award.

An overall budget cannot be provided.

14 N/A N/A How many awards do you anticipate under this BAA? Can there be multiple awards for each TTA?

Per Attachment A, Section D.1., Evaluation , TSA intends to award to none, one or multiple offeror(s) whose offer conforms to the solicitation, and represents an approach that is beneficial to the Government. None, one or multiple awards could be made for each TTA.

15 Various Various

Please clarify the page number guidelines for the concept papers. Is the concept paper page limit 10 pages not counting the Cover Letter and Table of Contents?

a. Page 21 (Section C.2 submission instructions) states that “cover letter and table of contents/proposal checklists will not be counted toward the specified page limits”.

b. Section C.3 states that the Concept Paper page limit is 10 pages.

c. Section C.3.1 allocates 2 of the 10 pages of the concept paper to the Cover Letter and Table of Contents, which would leave 8 pages for the actual concept paper.

Please follow the table and outline in section C3.1 part A Page Limits. Attachment A, Section C.2 will be amended to reflect this.

16 N/A N/A How much budget is available for the OPS program? Please see response to Question 13.

17 N/A N/A How many awards do plan on making? Please see response to Question 14.

18 N/A N/A Can a concept paper cover more than one TTA? Please see response to Question 6.

Additional T-BAA

Instruction 2 Section A.2, 2nd paragraph, what is meant be a relevant environment?

The relevant environment may include effects that may influence the accuracy of the results. Examples may include environmental, duty cycle, magnetic, electrostatic influences and others that may cause instabilities not seen in an ideal, controlled setting. In each case the proposer should demonstrate how a relevant environment is applicable to the TSA. In all cases the environment should demonstrate reasonably realistic supporting elements allowing testing in a simulated airport environment, such as TSA/DHS test laboratories, leading to airport environments. Relevant environments will be with respect to the specific TTA. Examples of relevant environments may include: high-fidelity laboratories with integration of components and software simulating airport operations.

Additional T-BAA

Instruction 2 Section A.2, 2nd paragraph, what is meant by a clear path to practical TSA applications?

Please see response to question 8.

Additional T-BAA

Instruction 2 Section A.2., 2nd paragraph, is the program end point a technology at TRL

6 or 7?

The program endpoint is as mature a product as possible consistent with the proposed effort.

22 Background 3 Section B.1., Aviation Workers, are there expected to be different CONOPS for aviation workers, self-service perhaps?

It is to up to the offeror to propose the technology, the characteristics of a proposed system and how the operator will use it.

23 Background 3 Section B.1., what standardized data formats are currently used by AIT that support open architecture?

DICOS data format is an open architecture format.

24 Background 3 Section B.2., what is meant by enabling operational connectivity through secure data transmission, this is distribute screening?

Screening equipment would be connected and data moved across them to conduct more meaningful operations by making use of a network. A command and control center may be utilized and secure data transmission will be essential.

The TSA and Sandia National Laboratories are developing the open platform software library, (OPSL), software development kit (SDK) that establishes the application programing interfaces (APIs) and communication protocols necessary to integrate solutions at the checkpoint. OPSL is scalable and adaptable to new solutions. The OPSL SDK (and DICOS SDK) are available for free to interested parties at Stratovan’s Website. Both SDKs are owned by TSA, non-proprietary, and available to interested partners.

25 Footwear Screening 14 Can you provide a copy of the “Shoe Study Reference Brief” The " Shoe Study Reference Brief" is included as Attachment 3 to this Amendment.

26 TRL Definitions 44 Can you clarify the difference between “low fidelity” at TRL 4 and “high fidelity” at TRL 5?

TRL 5 is testing in a relevant environment. It represents a technology’s demonstrated readiness. The TSA environment would include testing in a high-fidelity laboratory environment or in simulated airport checkpoint operational environment. TRL 4 would represent environments that are more ideal and less likely to influence results, often a controlled setting. Examples include integration of "ad hoc" hardware in the laboratory.

Test and Evaluation

Support

Will TSA or TSL be able to provide government-owned property and/or test facilities for purposes of testing and demonstration of feasibility (e.g.

test objects for detection)?

See Section C.3.1, item 7 of the T-BAA announcement regarding government furnished equipment.

28 Introduction 1 Is there a detection standard that On-person Screening concepts are expected to meet?

Projects that are successful and reach the highest TRL level will need to meet the TSA’s most recent On Person Screening detection standard. This detection standard will be provided if required following any successful award.

29 Footwear Screening 14

The solicitation indicates “The technology must fit in the current screening lane space and either be integrated with or placed in front of the current AIT/WTMD systems.” Should we expect communication between the Footwear Scanner and the existing AIT/WTMD? This information may aid the alarm decision logic and improve the threat detection performance.

A means of communication and accepting and receiving data from other Transportation Security Equipment and a logical plan toward achieving this state is desirable. Proposals may offer a data communications strategy. Nearer term solutions for the topic that are not yet communicating with other Transportation Security Equipment are of interest while including a logical plan toward achieving a communication end state.

Enhanced Detection performance and Throughput

What are the guidelines for privacy in relation to solutions proposed within TTA-0001, as certain solutions clearly need to be capable to classify parameters of the passenger which have to do with its identity ?

Guidelines for privacy must follow the Congress enacted FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Public Law 112-95, which required TSA to ensure that all AIT used to screen passengers must be equipped with and employ automatic target recognition (ATR) software. (49 U.S.C. 44901)

31 Footwear Screening 14

“The speed of screening which should not slow individuals down”.

Passengers will move by natural motion during parts of the screening, and they will also stand still during parts of the screening. Can you clarify the sentence further as to whether you accept screening solutions where the passenger stands still for a number of seconds ? Or whether movement should be taken as a variable?

Solutions for screening footwear are up to the offeror to propose the best solution. Solutions that cause the individual to momentarily pause will be considered.

32 Footwear Screening 14 It is not explicitly mentioned, but are the types of proposals which are being solicited to be of touchless nature (i.e. neither a TSO or the passenger need to touch each other or parts of the solution)?

TSA is seeking innovative enhancements, it is up to the offeror to propose these innovative enhancements.

New

Countermeasure Systems/Processes

Could you clarify what kind of information would be sufficiently of interest to either raise or lower detection parameters ? Is this e.g.

information which is also related to the appearance of the outerwear of the passenger?

Information concerning the risk level of an individual will come from downstream equipment that has assessed risk information for that passenger. Methods and strategies for relaying the information may come from the communication protocols described in the 25th question response.

34 Footwear Screening 14

In relation to B3.3 : “Shoe Study Research Briefs” is mentioned as being attached to the document, while these do not seem attached or inserted as an Appendix. Can you clarify where the latest version of these documents may be obtained?

Please see response to Question 25.

35 Footwear Screening 14 In B.3.3 there is reference to an attached “Shoe Study Research Briefs”.

Can you please provide it to us prior to the submission of the concept papers?

Please see response to Question 25.

Enhanced Detection performance and Throughput

On B.3.2, it is stated that “TSA will provide technical guidance and data, as appropriate, to vendors who do not have the ability to access current detection standards”. Can you please provide us this guidance ahead of the submittal of our concept paper relative to personnel screening and shoe screening?

This guidance is not needed to prepare the concept paper. Personnel screening, if needed, will be completed after award of a resultant contract. The TSA will provide appropriate technical guidance and data following award of any successful solution for shoe screening.

37 N/A N/A What is the expectation in terms of detection area for the shoe screener?

Does this requirement extend to the ankles, sides of shoes, or just the shoe soles?

Please see Attachment 3.

Enhanced Detection performance and Throughput

On B.3.2, would an imaging hardware retrofit kit concept for existing TSA owned AIT systems be considered as part of TTA 0001?

See Section C.3.1, item 7 of the T-BAA announcement regarding government furnished equipment (GFE). Projects that mature to appropriate milestones may be considered for integration and demonstration with GFE.

39 Footwear Screening 14

In B.3.3 it is stated that “Foot anatomical details may not be shown to a TSO, so an automated threat detection algorithm must be used.” Is an automated detection algorithm required of all submissions under TTA 0002, or is an open architecture advanced imaging hardware platform that supports 3rd party algorithms an allowable approach?

Proposals may offer what is believed to be the best value to the government within the constraints of the proposed project. An included detection algorithm in the solution that also allows for further innovation from third parties may be considered.

40 Background 3 Regarding open architecture (section B.1), are you referring to the use of DICOS as the image file format and OPSL as the middleware for command and control?

DICOS and OPSL are potential candidates for these functions

41 N/A N/A Can TSA and / or DHS provide the electromechanical specifications and subsystem interconnect drawings of the currently fielded AIT-1 and AIT-2 systems in support of a proposed imaging hardware retrofit kit concept?

Proposals that take advantage of and leverage existing infrastructure and have merit for award may propose retrofit concepts. Projects that mature to appropriate milestones may be considered and provided material to permit electromechanical integration with existing infrastructure.

Security

Classification

In section F.2, SSI is discussed. As a recent and sole licensee of HD-AIT and Shoe Scanner technology from PNNL, can we be approved for SSI ahead of a contract award so that we are provided access to data and images taken with the HD-AIT and shoe scanner prototype systems?

Access to SSI will not be provided prior to the concept paper submittal. The data and images referred to are "For Official Use Only" (FOUO). The TSA may make FOUO images available as appropriate, following award of any successful solution.

43 Background 3

Section B1: What are the Aviation Worker Screening standards and what are the differences in screening requirements between Aviation Workers and Travelers / Non-Traveling Individuals? Are these screening requirements standardized by TSA or determined on an airport-to-airport basis?

Please see response to Question 22.

44 N/A N/A Can a GFE AIT system (currently fielded configuration) be made available to support the integration and demonstration of an HD AIT imaging hardware retrofit kit?

Please see response to Question 27.

Common Graphical

User Interface 16 Section B3.5.1, Is a TSA Common Workstation a T-RECS server?

T-RECS servers are candidates to become the backbone of common workstations for the TSA using standardized data exchanges. The common workstation may incorporate a standard graphical user interface across workstations that allows interoperability.

Common Graphical

User Interface

Section B3.5.1, would the GUI system host the algorithm or is the GUI system itself hosted on the TSA Common Workstation?

The proposal may offer what is best for its approach. Open architecture and interoperability among components such as GUI and detection algorithms at a common workstation are of interest to the TSA.

Common Graphical

User Interface

Section B3.5.1, does TSA have a current CGUI specification for AIT and / or WTMD systems?

No, TSA does not have a current CGUI specification for AIT and / or WTMD systems.

Common Graphical

User Interface

Section B3.5.1, are TSA owned AIT and WTMD systems available to contractors as GFE for systems integration and testing under this program

Please see response to Question 27.

Enhanced Detection performance and Throughput

Section B3.2.1, could a screening wizard be employed to aid the TO through the screening process?

Methods such as a wizard and others techniques that assist the TSO and reduce cognitive load while meeting the aims of the solicitation will be considered.

New

Countermeasure Systems/Processes

18 Section B3.7, what informs the system as to which algorithm to be used?

An input signal from downstream sources will provide selection criteria. This may originate from a risk based command and control center network (see contractual response: enabling operational connectivity) to being as straightforward as selecting an icon on a local control panel activated by an operator.

Questions and Answers