Att. 1 - N00173-22-7300-RFI-SD.pdf

N00173-22-7300-RFI-SD

Naval Research Laboratory

4555 Overlook Avenue SW

Washington DC, 20375-5329

Ocean Dynamics and Prediction Engineering and Software Development

Statement of Work (SOW)

STATEMENT OF WORK

Ocean Dynamics and Prediction Engineering and Software Development

Table of Contents

Section 1 Background

Section 2 Objective/ Scope

Section 3 Statement of Work (By functional support area)

Section 4 Additional Requirements……………………………………..………………………...9

Section 5 Key Personnel

Section 6 GFM/GFP

Section 7 Data Rights Assertions:

Section 8 Deliverables:

Section 1 Background.

1.1 The Naval Research Lab (NRL) Ocean Sciences Division (OSD), Code 7300, and the

Acoustic Simulation, Measurements and Tactics Branch (ASMTB), Code 7180 at Stennis Space

Center (SSC) requires R&D support in its in situ data collection and remote sensing for data assimilation, coupled ocean and atmosphere modeling and processes, coupled ocean/acoustic characterization and modeling, characterization of environmental impacts on sensors, marine geology, geophysics and geodetics with emphasis on understanding seabed geologic processes, and geospatial enablement of Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) processes. These divisions translate the results of basic and applied research into accurate, scientifically valid, environmental models and analyses and streamlines these models into operational, data assimilative, nowcast/forecast systems. These systems cover deep ocean basins, marginal and semi-enclosed seas, and coastal regions. Expanded ocean physics included in such systems and areas for future research and development include ocean tide and wave modeling as well as upper ocean processes, coupled air-ocean wave processes, coupled ocean/acoustic processes, geology and seabed processes and predicting their impact on acoustics models as well as bottom mounted systems and scientific and technological advances in collection, processing, analysis and dissemination of all forms of geospatial and environmental information. OSD and ASMTB nowcast/forecast and simulation systems have broad and direct application to issues related to

Naval operations (Anti-Submarine Warfare, Search and Rescue, Amphibious Landings, Mine and Special Warfare, Sea Bottom Warfare, Mission Planning, etc.), simulation and design of

Global (and Local) Ocean Observing Systems (GOOS), and many facets of Global environmental prediction challenges.

Section 2 Objective/ Scope.

2.1 Highly-skilled ocean dynamics modeling will incorporate innovative computational numerical techniques and data assimilation approaches to support OSD Code 7320. The scope of this effort encompasses data collection from near-real time, in situ underwater sensors or via remote sensing at high resolution, and assimilating data into reliable, three-dimensional models and multi-horizon or extended forecasts.

2.2 Personnel support is needed to conduct research regarding the following Oceanography software and modeling functional support areas:

Remote Sensing Exploitation

Sea Surface Temperature

Ocean and Atmosphere Coupling and Processes

Regional Ocean Circulation

Arctic Sea Ice

Ocean Acoustics

Environmental Impacts on Sensors

Marine Geology, Geophysics and Geodetics with emphasis on understanding seabed geologic processes

Geospatial analysis and visualization

Program Management, Documentation and Publication of the Results.

2.2.1 For each of the above ten modeling and software support areas above, the

Contractor shall:

a) Develop higher quality data for input and assimilation with innovative approaches, especially those that can extend the capabilities of existing assets.

b) Generate numerical models, algorithms, test cases, and software to improve spatial and temporal resolution.

c) Deliver final report, documentation, and publications

2.3 Proposers should provide a description of the advanced methodology that will be provided/conducted in order to execute the tasks established for each functional support area from Para. 2.2 above. Each task area requires a summary response that demonstrates an understanding of the task, references to the capability to operate equipment needed to support the task, and any other supporting information related to the task. This should be included in the proposal’s technical approach. The task support methodology and understanding can be demonstrated by describing related challenges and technical hurdles that have been addressed by the proposer using historical capability examples where possible.

2.4 The contractor shall perform quality assurance testing and validating of models and forecasts to enable transition to operations. Off-the-shelf tools will also be modified and implemented for Navy use. Results shall be documented and suitable for publication.

Section 3 – Statement of Work (By functional support area)

3.1 Remote Sensing Exploitation

NRL needs support with scientific development and research to their real time and predicted 3D underwater optical environment and asset performance surfaces to support Mine Warfare (MIW) systems, swimmer/diver operations and non-acoustic Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) visible detection and vulnerability products. NRL will continue to develop and improve components of

NRL’s Optical Forecast Model – Consolidated System (OFM-CS). OFM-CS is under testing for transition to NAVO. The contractor shall support improvements to the 3D Optical Generator

(3DOG) software – an OFM-CS module that provides a real-time characterization of the optical environment. 3DOG defines the Mine Countermeasures (MCM) performance surface for laser systems. Glider and satellite data define coefficients that constrain the 3D model. The model extends satellite surface values vertically using model density field and mixed layer depth calculations. The contractor shall provide support to improve real-time characterization of the optical environment with continued machine learning research.

3.2 Sea Surface Temperature

Importance of weak ocean features in SST products has often been overlooked in favor of contamination-free SST as input to ocean models. Featureless (or weak feature) SST products fail to properly drive models and result in incorrectly modeled features. The contractor shall assist in developing SST software for current and future satellite missions. The contractor shall provide support for innovative near real-time data processing algorithms and analyze effects of these new feature-rich SST field on the models.

3.3 Ocean and Atmosphere Coupling and Processes

Modern high-resolution oceanographic models are being developed to operate as part of an environment where multiple large models run in a fully coupled mode. Running high resolution coupled models, requires the development of new approaches to data assimilation that includes optimizing run times using all resources available in the supercomputing environment. The contractor shall assist NRL in developing global ocean models for operational use including

Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) currently used as the operational global ocean model at the NAVOCEANO. This includes support in developing the data assimilation system and implementing it in an operational setting running in real time. The contractor shall also provide NRL with support in the computational and science issues arising when developing these systems for operational transition, with a thorough understanding of solving challenges of running large global coupled models in a supercomputing environment.

3.3.1 Improvement to the HYCOM/CICE system. The contractor shall assist NRL in optimizing the assimilation of observational data into global regional HYCOM models, including working to improve performance of the current assimilation technique based on the Navy

Coupled Ocean Data Assimilation (NCODA). This includes experiments with the 1/25 degree global HYCOM with tides and CICE 5 (GOFS 3.5) to correctly assimilate satellite ice thickness.

Also, the contractor shall support the continued development of the Earth System Prediction

Capability (ESPC), a global earth system that couples atmosphere, ocean, land, ice, and wave components for seamless prediction from 0 to 90 days. The contractor shall assist NRL in continuing to build a useful ensemble system which is crucial to the Navy’s ESPC project. Also, the contractor shall work on improving the coupled data assimilative system as well as the ensemble forecasting capability of the long-term forecasts. Finally, the contractor shall provide support to continue developing and improving the Global Ocean Forecast System (GOFS 3.1 and

GOFS 3.5), and working with NRL AutoMetrics code to create a suite of routines for use in the

Python AutoMetrics software for the end users.

3.3.2 Improved Model Coupling of WaveWatch III. An important component of the

Earth System Prediction Capability (ESPC) project is coupling of the WaveWatch III® (WW3) wave model with the ocean/ice/atmosphere/land models mentioned earlier. The contractor shall provide the support necessary to implement WW3 within ESPC, and also provide support for testing and evaluation of WW3 performance within ESPC.

3.3.3 Physo Climatology. The contractor shall provide support for validation of new GDEM versions, the new Global Digital Environmental Model for submission into Navy's

Oceanographic and Atmospheric Master Library (OAML). Also, the contractor shall provide continued support for APARMS acoustics software will be applied to GDEM and NOAA climatologies to create a monthly Acoustic Parameters Climatology (APC) and develop a future versions of the Improved Synthetic Ocean Model (ISOP) climatologies.

3.3.4 Regional Ocean Circulation Models. The contractor shall support NRL with regional models (e.g.

COAMPS, NCOM, DELFT3D) to enable enhanced investigation in a particular area. Regional models are dependent upon a host model for lateral boundary conditions (BC). This includes development and improvement of boundary conditions techniques and also data assimilation using NCODA 3DVAR and 4DVAR. Also, contractor support is needed to study error characteristics for detecting and mapping areas in an ocean model's output that contain features not constrained by current models and provide guidance to operators to evaluate prediction accuracy.

3.3.5 Arctic Sea Ice Forecasting. The Navy uses Arctic Cap Nowcast/Forecast System

(ACNFS) and Global Ocean Forecast System (GOFS) to predict ice conditions. The contractor shall support NRL with research for Polar ice forecasting improvements and analyses. This work provides support and analysis to the Naval Ice Center, COMSUBFOR ICEX exercise, civilian contracts, and GOV (GODAE Ocean View) model inter-comparison studies.

3.6 Ocean Acoustics

3.6.1 Ocean Observatory System. Collaborative university or government agencies deploy sensor systems in the water column and on the ocean floor to record scientific data which are frequently uploaded to the internet, often near real-time, and may include information on

Navy assets, posing risk to Navy. The contractor shall support NRL with the continued development of the Ocean Observatory System (OOS) which provides assessment of acoustic environments around these observatories. This includes running the Navy Standard Parabolic

Equation model (NSPE) and collating the results to produce graphics such as transmission loss and signal excess plots. For the future as systems with greater capability come on-line, the contractor shall assist NRL with OOS, which will require continuous improvement including using OOS tools/products in a GIS environment and developing a network-based ArcGIS tool.

3.6.2 Acoustic Radial Provincing (ARP). The contractor shall provide research support for

ARP which was developed to identify acoustically similar range dependent acoustic environments using quick-to-compute Environmental Acoustic Feature Vectors (EAFVs). ARP uses clustering to identify acoustic representatives that can be run in place of multiple radials reducing computation time to assess TL over areas and times of interest. ARP is a complicated hierarchical implementation of multiple clustering codes with numerous inputs requiring expertise to run. The contractor shall support NRL in continued testing and evaluation. This includes continued updates to uBand, which characterizes TL uncertainty over clusters, as part of the existing ARP C framework for implementation into Tactical Decision Aids (TDAs), demonstrated, and submitted to OAML.

3.6.3 MONACO. NRL developed a neural network to predict transmission loss (TL) based on ocean model parameters and compare modeled TL to in situ data to determine quality of the model. Graphs enable comparison with color-coded raster layers. The contractor shall provide research support to continue testing the neural network project at NAVO for transition to operations.

3.7 Environmental Impacts on Sensors

The environment has a profound effect on performance of Navy sensors and, especially in Mine

Warfare applications, the modeling of these effects need much improvement. The contractor shall provide research support that will continue efforts to support the Fleet through the following collaborative agile methodologies:

3.7.1 Network-centric Sensor Analysis for Mine Warfare (NSAM). NSAM is an enterprise application planned by SPAWAR and NAVO and engineered by NRL and Naval

Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division. Design and implementation is underway and will define the next generation of Organic Post Mission Analysis (OPMA). It is a pioneering platform for integrating multiple sensor platforms into a central services hub for distributed PMA. NSAM is one of the projects used for introducing scaled agility to the MIW Community of Interest

(COI), specifically PMS 495. The contractor shall continue researching and implementing the most effective options, culturally and technically, for moving the project team and environment to development, security, and operations (DevSecOps) and continue research necessary to reach projects and programs outside NSAM and PMS 495.

3.7.2 MSS Model Comparison. NRL creates model comparison (matchup) files which contain both in situ and model data for various parameters (water temperature, salinity, sound speed) at various depths. The contractor shall provide support and analysis using products that include root mean square (RMS) profiles, difference bar graphs, scatter plots, and simple profiles for each comparison. Specifically, the contractor shall provide research support that verifies model quality for different timeframes and can suggest adjustments to the model.

3.8 Marine Geology, Geophysics and Geodetics with emphasis on understanding seabed geologic processes

The seafloor’s structure and geologic processes, such as sediment physical properties, affects acoustic signal propagation. NRL and collaborators have developed a conceptual model, the

Global Predictive Seabed Model (GPSM), which maps the ocean’s seafloor features and predicts how the seafloor will change over time. In addition, models of particle-laden flow and boundary layer turbulence in the ocean have been generated to predict sediment morphology and transport from sub-millimeter to multi-kilometer scales. The contractor shall provide research support regarding constraining seafloor sediment models and shall provide guidance to improve model prediction accuracy.

3.9 Geospatial analysis and visualization

Navy SMEs and warfighters increasingly demand geospatially enabled analysis and visualization tools. The contractor shall provide support for research that will both modify and implement these off-the-shelf tools for Navy use and develop new geospatial analysis and visualization tools:

3.9.1 Geospatial Environmental Analysis and Visualization System (GEAVS). GEAVS is a set of GIS tools built on top of ArcMap to simplify developing GIS deliverables required by

NAVO N9 customers and aid in analysis of data. The GEAVS tools identify areas of interest based on user-input criteria using parameters from ocean model data, conduct path analysis, and analysis of multiple years of oceanographic data and ArcMap raster layers.

3.9.2 Confident Unit Testing. The Confident tool runs conflict interference between n number of naval boats using a dictionary of assignments and outputs all conflicting assignments and time of conflict. Each phase of Confident unit testing replaces the previous Jenkins to automate regression testing of Confident. When a change is pushed to Confident, the Jenkins (open source automation server) project is triggered and runs predefined tests to validate whether the changes have caused a regression in Confident’s performance. The contractor shall provide research support to actively expand the project as additional scenarios are added to the test suite.

3.9.3 Federated Bathymetric Datastore. NRL requires research support for modern visualization and project management tools integration and applications including custom Python tools to move geodatabase data across different ESRI data structures. Specifically, the contractor shall provide continued support for applications to enable editing and management within the hosting portal. The contractor shall also support NRL with continually expanded software and custom Python tools.

3.9.4 GHubMaritime. The desktop GHubMaritime application allows end users to work with geospatial data with capability to display, inspect, and compare various types of data including

Digital Nautical Chart (DNC), ESRI Shapefile, Tagged Image File Format (TIFF), Geospatial

Portable Document Format (PDF), Geospatial JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), and geodatabase. The contractor shall provide support necessary to continue front-end and back-end development to enhance ability to add new data formats and improve feature analysis, as well as quality assurance testing.

3.10 Program Management, Documentation and Publication of the Results

NRL proposed research will be conducted and succinctly documented to make all future transitions efficient and effective. This requires a shift in research methods to ensure publication and transition products are fully supported throughout the research, including testing of models and techniques. Contractor contributions to deliverable publications useful to transition results is a critical part of this required research support.

Section 4 – Additional Requirements

4.1 Kickoff Meeting/Initial Inspection:

Upon commencement of execution of the Contract, NRL OSD will host a kick-off meeting with the contractor to conduct security check-in procedures and discuss long and short-term objectives specified in this Contract. At this kick off meeting, the contractor will also refine expectations for reporting granularity, both for task reporting and financial reporting.

The Government will be represented by the Contracting Officer’s Representative and members of the Contract Technical Team, Site Security Officer (SSO) representatives, as well as NRL

OSD leadership or their delegates.

The kickoff meeting will take place in NRL OSD meeting spaces under NRL employee escort.

The Government will readdress the scope of tasking (Section 2) and respond to any contractor questions. The kick-off meeting shall occur within 30 days of award.

The Awardee agrees to assign to the task order tasks those persons whose qualifications were submitted with its proposal and who are necessary to fulfill the requirements of the task order.

No substitutions may be made except in accordance with this clause.

The Awardee understands that during the first ninety (90) days of the task order performance period, no personnel substitutions will be permitted unless these substitutions are unavoidable because of the incumbent's sudden illness, death or termination of employment. In any of these events, the Awardee shall promptly notify the Contracting Officer and provide the information described in the paragraph below. After the initial ninety (90) day period the Awardee must submit to the Contracting Officer all proposed substitutions, in writing, at least thirty (30) days in advance (sixty (60) days if security clearance must be obtained) of any proposed substitutions and provide the information required by the paragraph below.

Any request for substitution must include a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitution, qualifications for the proposed substitute, and any other information requested by the Contracting Officer. Any proposed substitute must have qualifications equal to or superior to the qualifications of the incumbent. The Contracting Officer or his/her authorized representative will evaluate such requests and promptly notify the Awardee of his/her approval or disapproval thereof.

4.2 Place of Performance:

The performance of this Contract shall take place onsite to the NRL OSD facilities, located in

Buildings 1005, 1007, 1008, and 1009 located at 1005 Balch Blvd, Stennis Space Center, MS

39529. In exigent circumstances, such as in the event of a site closure or weather event, the contractor may execute tasking remotely using approved means of connectivity.

4.3 Period of Performance

The Contract will define the period of performance to be 1-year from the start of execution, followed by 4, 1-year option years in which the Government may reevaluate their continuing need for support.

The contractor shall perform the defined tasks during NRL OSD’s normal working hours, generally 0700 to 1700, Monday through Friday or during other agreed upon hours, except for

Federal holidays. Flexible work hours may be used to ensure that some range of technical services are available during the time specified, accounting for maximum support during NRL

CGS core work hours and without exceeding eight hours per day or 40 hours per week for any one employee. Deviation from these support hours and any use of telework to meet local support requirements shall be proposed to and coordinated by the Contracting Officer's Representative

(COR). NRL CGS may require after hours or weekend efforts, for example but not limited to, support of a scheduled outage or to react to an emergency or security situation. After hours support shall be coordinated between the COR and the local site Contractor Authorized

Representative (CAR)/Program Manager (PM). The NRL COR shall provide the CAR/PM with advance notification and specific needs if known in advance. Contractor personnel shall also investigate, provide recommendations for remedial action, and pursue corrective action in case of emergency situations.

4.4 Scheduled Services

The Government will begin the 1) site, 2) building, and 3) system access procedures in a timely manner, within 10 business days of award for initially identified Contract employees. This includes the initialization of badge-request paperwork, Stennis site access paperwork, and system authorization access request-Navy (SAAR-N) and other required system access paperwork.

4.5 Unscheduled service outages

Site access, badge approval, and system access may be subject to the availability of government services external to NRL OSD management control.

4.6 Contract Data Requirements List

4.6.1 Monthly Financial Status Report/Cost Report: The Contractor shall submit to the government a status report no later than the fifth work day of the subsequent month reporting all expenditures by task name, task identifier, ACRN for: labor (person, hours worked, cost);

materials (description, cost, use); travel (traveler’s name, date, purpose, and cost). The report shall summarize work completed, technical progress, accomplishments & deliverables, short-term plans, and issues & problems.

4.6.2 Invoice Cost Detail Report: The Contractor shall provide an itemized spreadsheet (or .csv) file monthly delineating how the billed funds were expended with each invoice submitted. All items billed for on the invoice shall be delineated on the spreadsheet including Labor, Travel, Other Direct Costs (ODC), and Indirect Costs. If Indirect Costs are built into the labor rate, please state that is the case.

4.6.3 Quarterly Progress Report: The Contractor shall provide quarterly progress report every 90 days.

4.6.4 Task Technical Reports: The Contractor shall provide task technical reports as required.

Section 5 Key Personnel

5.1 Personnel Roles:

The Contractor shall provide personnel who are qualified to perform the work described in the

SOW. The personnel shall be, as a collective, technically qualified to develop, and subsequently support, all the hardware, research, mathematical models, algorithms, and software delineated in this SOW.

5.2 Experience:

Contractor shall provide personnel data that includes a detailed description of experience, education, training, certifications, and publications, and security clearances.

The effort shall include up to:

Remote Sensing Model Services (3,960 hours each per year)

Optical Forecast Model Services (1,980 hours each per year)

Sea Surface Temperature Model Services (1,980 hours each per year)

Ocean and Atmosphere Coupling and (5,940 hours each per year)

Processes Model Services

Regional Ocean Circulation Model Services (3,960 hours each per year)

Sea Ice Model Services (3,960 hours each per year)

Ocean Acoustic Characterization and (7,920 hours each per year)

Model Services

Environmental Impacts on Sensor Model (13,860 hours each per year)

Services

Geospatial Analysis and Visualization (1,980 hours each per year)

Services

Documentation and Publication Services (1,980 hours each per year)

Offeror may incorporate the FAR 8.405-4 Price Reduction request to establish the monthly unit price. Scheduled leave of contractor personnel shall be coordinated between the NRL COR and the CAR/PM to ensure that the necessary support activities are adequately covered. The NRL

COR shall be notified promptly of any unscheduled contractor leave.

5.3 Contractor employee identification requirements

Contractors are required to follow NRL Security standards for badging and identification.

Contractor employees should possess and display contractor Common-Access Cards (CAC) while conducting contract functions on site.

5.4 Contractor employee top secret facility security minimum standards:

The section describes the special security requirements for this effort.

Contractor personnel must have a current SECRET clearance prior to starting with NRL.

The contractor will NOT be required to generate, receive or store CLASSIFIED material at the contractor’s facility.

Proprietary, Privacy Act or For Official Use Only Information associated with this contract, must be handled/controlled in accordance with (IAW) DoD 5200.01 Vol. 4.

Prime contractor will provide the security classification guidance for classified work required under this contract.

NATO briefings required. NATO access authorized at SECRET level only. Initial NATO briefings must be within a 5-year scope of the completed investigation. Visit request and a copy of NATO indoctrination must be sent to Code 1231 for all initial NATO briefings, prior to access. NATO briefings date must be within the last twelve months. Annual refresher briefings for NATO access are required. A copy of the signed annual re-briefings must be forwarded to NRL Code 1231 annually.

All contractors (including subcontractors) identified in the SOW shall supplement their current security practices by requiring any personnel involved in executing the contract to complete Government-sponsored and administered Operations Security (OPSEC) training, OPSE-1301 and any OPSEC guidance that may pertain to the project.

The contractor must hold a current Top Secret Facility Clearance and provide a copy of their DD 254 and cage code with their proposal.

5.5 Contractor employee language requirements

Contractor employees must be able to communicate in English, both written and spoken forms.

5.6 Conflict of interest concerns for employees

No additional conflict-of-interest requirements are identified by this Contract.

Section 6 GFM/GFP

6.1 Government Furnished Offices

Contractor personnel working on-site in direct support of NRL’s OSD will be provided an office on-site.

6.2 Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)

The government shall provide physical access and log-in access (approved computer accounts) to the network.

6.3 Government Furnished Software

The Government shall provide all required software for the computer systems and network.

6.4 Contractor Provided Property

This Contract specifies no contractor furnished property in the execution of the specified tasking.

6.5 Government Responsibility

The Government will not be responsible for any damages or loss of Contractor supplies, materials, or equipment. The Government will not be responsible for any damages or loss of the

Contractor’s personal belongings, or those of the Contractor’s employees, due to fire, theft, accidents or other causes.

Section 7 Data Rights Assertions:

7.1 The documentation generated as a part of the performance of this Contract will be made available to the Government, at no additional cost to the Government. Documentation generated by the Contractor in the performance of the Contract will remain Government-owned upon termination of the contract.

Section 8 Deliverables:

8.1 The contractor is responsible for the Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) as detailed below. See also Exhibit ---.

CDRL No. Description Frequency

001 Progress Reports Monthly

002 Progress Reports End of Contract

003 Software As developed

004 Software Test Cases and Data

Sets

As developed