Attach_1a_BASIC_SOO.docx

BAA-10-RD-01

Call 0011 Statement of Objectives (SOO) (Basic IDIQ) “Optical Research and Critical Applications (ORCA)”

Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate

1.0 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WORK TO BE PERFORMED

Applicable Technical Areas from BAA 10-RD-01:

Topic Area 4 – Space Situational Awareness (SSA)

The scope of this effort is to develop advanced technologies to further exploit current and future Electro-Optical (EO) Space Situational Awareness (SSA) systems. The anticipated research effort will include theoretical and/or experimental research, technology development, prototype system development and engineering, software development and use, system testing, and validation in the EO SSA technology areas associated with five overarching SSA topic areas: Tasking, Collection, Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination. Additionally, results of research for AFRL and other Government agencies in SSA-related test programs must be validated as required. Documentation of results in the form of technical status reports will be required. Offerors should propose efforts in all of the overarching SSA topic areas.

2.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION

AFRL/RDSM at the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing (AMOS) site (Maui, HI) requires research, development, system engineering, and test support for programs as requested for EO/SSA technology research, development, and demonstration. This includes but is not restricted to development of operation concepts, support for observations, and assessment of capabilities and performance relative to goals and objectives. Technical expertise from subject matter experts is desired for all SSA topic areas to conduct systems level research that includes concept and technology assessment, engineering design reviews, cost and schedule risk assessment, system & architecture modeling & simulation, system level testing and analysis, and program management.

The government requires validation of developed standalone and integrated networks of SSA technology assets. Prototyping and demonstration in laboratory and field environments are necessary components.

3.0 OBJECTIVES OF WORK TO BE PERFORMED

· Tasking

· Conduct research and development of tasking & scheduling algorithms for SSA sensor networks.

· Develop algorithms to improve the effectiveness/efficiency of SSA data collection based upon expected information gain, balancing multiple collection objectives, and dynamically rescheduling sensors based upon emerging events.

· Develop and demonstrate the algorithms using a closed-loop, high-fidelity physics-based simulation environment.

· Develop algorithms to focus on improving autonomy, timeliness, and robustness as well as improved performance of SSA sensor networks through dynamic tasking.

· Collection

· Conduct research and development in the areas of novel search techniques and control of telescopes for SSA collection.

· Develop collection techniques to support platforms and sensors that are both ground- and space-based, possibly involving new advanced sensing systems.

· Design, procure, and integrate new or unique ground-based sensing capabilities.

· Employ and field remote electro-optical sensors as required and ensure test program readiness.

· Processing

· Conduct research and development of image processing in the presence of high atmospheric turbulence, low light level detection, and other advanced sensor algorithms.

· Develop processing techniques for anomaly detection, resolution of uncorrelated tracks, data reduction, advanced data basing technologies, and data fusion.

· Develop autonomous or semi-automated processing tools as required by the collection and processing situation.

· Develop processing techniques to reduce processing timelines and allow for handling of larger data sets; high performance computing software expertise may be necessary to meet this objective.

· Exploitation

· Conduct research and development of novel exploitation methods for satellite characterization including orbit information and change detection from spatially resolved and unresolved data at diverse wavelengths and under different lighting situations.

· Develop exploitation methods using active as well as passive observation data.

· Develop high-fidelity modeling and simulation capabilities for data exploitation, as required.

· Develop near real-time as well as post-processing exploitation methods.

· Develop realistic confidence bounds for exploitation methods used.

· Dissemination

· Conduct research and development of novel methods for disseminating data/information from SSA assets to operational command and control and/or intelligence organizations.

· Develop dissemination methods using “software as a service” and advanced data basing technologies, as required.

· Develop dissemination techniques for near real-time sharing of data and integrated tasking information among multiple SSA sensors.

4.0 POSSIBLE KNOWN CONSTRAINTS

This work requires close coordination with in-house personnel at AFRL/RDSM, Kihei, HI. Work will be performed primarily at the AMOS site, including facilities in Kihei, the Remote Maui Experiment (RME) site, and the Maui Space Surveillance System atop Haleakala on Maui. Participation in tests at other remote locations may be required.

AFRL/RDSM will provide facility access to the AMOS site, which includes access to the 1.6m telescope and sensors; Maui Space Surveillance System (MSSS) data; 3.6m telescope and sensors including adaptive optics system; RME facility; and Raven telescopes. Successful offerors must be able to obtain and maintain appropriate security clearances (See Attachment 6) to gain access to classified facilities and data.

All applicable health, safety, and environmental regulations shall be followed. The regulation requirements change periodically and the most current rules in use at the time will be those that are followed. As part of laboratory safety/security requirements, the contractor shall comply with and generate Safe Operating Procedures, Maintenance Procedures, Technical Reports, Safety Permits, Frequency Allocations, Environmental Analysis, Hazard Analysis, Test Plans, Operational Concepts/Employment Guides, and Experimental Plans, in addition to other related documents as required. All experiments require Test & Safety Plans and must be approved w/AFRL System Safety Permit IAW local regulations.

5.0 RESEARCH SCHEDULE AND REQUIRED DELIVERABLES

The following deliverables are required for this contract. Refer to the Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL), Attachment 5, for specific details of each deliverable:

Title for all property developed or acquired under this effort will vest in the Government at the end of the technical effort.

6.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

Reference: BAA 10-RD-01, CALL 0011, Attachment 7, “ORCA GFP Listing”

7.0 CONTRACTOR ACQUIRED PROPERTY (CAP)

IAW FAR 45.402, title vests in the Government for all property acquired or fabricated under any resultant contract(s) in accordance with the financing provisions or other specific requirements for passage of title in the contract(s). All property acquired or fabricated in the performance of the resultant contract(s) shall be delivered to the Government and subject to reimbursement by the Government.

8.0 REQUIRED TRAVEL

Study/expertise/demonstration related work may come from various CONUS locations requiring travel to/from those locations. Furthermore, participation in equipment assessment, equipment removal or transport, system test studies or technical exchange meetings or demonstrations, and technical conferences at various locations may be required.

9.0 PROGRAM SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS

The ORCA program will be classified at the Top Secret (TS) level and will require access to Sensitive Compartmentalized Information (SCI). The following security classification guides provide security guidance on information, hardware and equipment pertinent to the ORCA program:

· Ground-Based Imaging Research and Development Technology Program Security Classification Guide, April 2006.

· United States Strategic Command Directorate of Global Operations, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska: Security Classification Guide for Space Surveillance Operations, 15 July 2006.

Refer to Draft DD Form 254 (Attachment 6) for additional security guidance.

10.0 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST (OCI)

Identify and propose mitigation for any potential OCI associated with this effort, at both the prime and subcontracted levels. Offerors shall identify an appropriate management approach and consider the submission of a corrective management plan as necessary.