Q A_BAA_13-05_Q A_II_2.21.pdf

BAA 13-05

Questions and Answers

February 21, 2013

Q1: Were there any meeting minutes for the pre-solicitation conference held on the 10/01/13? If so please can you send them to us?

A1: There are no meeting minutes from the pre-solicitation conference held on 10 January 2013, but answers to all questions were posted on FedBizOps.

Q2: Can we have a list of participants for the pre-solicitation conference?

A2: A corrected list is posted on FedBizOps in conjunction with posting these Q&A responses.

Q3: Can you give an idea as to how much of the $28.5 M in funding would be allocated to Task Area 2:

Supporting Analytical Tasks of BAA 13-05?

A3: Allocation per Task Area or Task will not be provided. As stated in paragraph 1.6, “DHS S&T reserves the right to select for award and fund all, some, or none of the submissions received in response to this solicitation.”

Q4: In Task 2.1: Information theoretic analysis – What is meant by ‘raw data’. Is this image data or detector data?

A4: Detector data, prior to reconstruction, but data at all stages of processing is of interest for information theoretic analysis.

Q5: In Figure 2b: Schedule Overview – there does not seem to be a SCR for Task Area 2.2: Classification on Data Sets. Is this an omission?

A5: No. An assumption is that classification algorithms proposed for Task Area 2.2 are relatively mature and therefore a SCR was not required. However, offerors may propose an SCR.

Q6: What are the criteria by which a white paper for Task Area 5 will be judged? By likelihood of success of a particular architecture proposed in the white paper, or by skill set of the proposer to analyze the results of earlier tasks and engineer an architecture without preconceived notions?

A6: The evaluation criteria are listed in section 5.1 of BAA 13-05 and will be updated in the final BAA release. BAA Task 5.1.1 provides requirements for performing the task. Some additional updates to Task Area 5 will be provided in the final BAA 13-05 release.

A few excerpts from the posted Draft BAA 13-05, Task 5.1.1 are:

“The Performer shall generate Trade Studies that guide the architectural decisions in development of the design concepts.”

“The Performer will consider multiple emerging technologies in the concept development and include new improvised explosive threat signature technology….”

“The Government is interested in high-impact approaches that may be capable for retrofitting into existing EDS and AT baselines as well as game-changing de-novo approaches.”

As a goal, it is anticipated that results and innovation from other task areas will be available to provide architecture insight for Task Area 5 tasks, as well as other technology sources outside of this BAA.

Q7: Can Task 2.1 and 2.4 analyze non-GFI datasets from a vendor? If so must the vendor data be disclosed?

A7: It is in the interest of DHS S&T to gain knowledge from multiple data sets in order to enhance the improvised explosive detection capability and inform architecture and algorithm development.

Appropriate non-GFI data sets are permissible for analysis; however the analysis and development should be supplemented with GFI data sets. DHS S&T will require knowledge and approval of alternative data set utilization. Release of vendor data sets will be governed by the FAR regulations. DHS S&T will adhere to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) policy on handling and disclosing of vendor data. See the response to question and answer 13 from January 30, 2013, Question and Answer posting on FedBizOps.

Q8: If the $28.5M funds indicated is for the base period, what is the anticipated funding for the optional tasks?

A8: This BAA seeks high-impact technical innovation that can be transitioned into equipment for deployment by TSA as described in the BAA. With sufficient progress, DHS S&T may consider additional funding of optional tasks in the range of $10 million dollars during the period of performance on BAA 13-05 with adequate business case justification.

Q9: Relative to Task 5: X-Ray System Architectural Design Concepts, will the Government allow incumbent vendors to bid on this task to generate the required trade studies, or will neutral third party bidders such as National Labs or FFRDC’s be required to bid on this task?

A9: As noted in the BAA, section 3, the BAA (Task Areas and tasks) is open to all responsible sources.

The evaluation criteria are noted in the BAA along with technical areas of interest. A goal of this BAA with the five separate task areas and individual tasks is to provide opportunity to draw upon diverse organizations and expertise to achieve highly innovative solutions for DHS stakeholders. Teaming is encouraged in task areas if appropriate; however teaming may not be necessary in all task areas or tasks.

Numerous reviews are planned between tasks to assist sharing of information and results as appropriate, being mindful of performer intellectual property.

Q10: For Task Area 5: X-Ray System Architectural Design Concepts, what qualifications will the Government be looking for in the successful Performer. Is it necessary for the successful Performers to come forward with specific design concepts which they are to evaluate in the generated trade study, or is this task intended for unbiased third party Performers to generate independent trade assessments of potentially competing concepts?

A10: See the answer to question 9 with additional comments to follow. There is no requirement for an unbiased third party to generate independent assessments as part of the Trade Study and Analysis. The proposers may or may not include a third party performer or teaming partner. The objective of the Trade Study and Analysis, as noted on page 57, paragraph “c” of the draft BAA 13-05, is to reach a recommended concept baseline guided by formal analysis, trade-offs and rationale that justify key architecture decisions along with a technical and business case basis. The proposer may generate multiple concepts and provide the analysis for selection of a final concept or a single, well analyzed and justifiable final concept.

Q11: Task 3 calls for a Performers Certified (or near Certified) platform to be submitted for system testing. Would a non-certified working prototype platform also be acceptable to submit for system testing?

A11: Yes, as stated in Task 3.1.1., “The Performer will prepare a test plan for submission and approval by DHS S&T prior to testing. The plan will recommend a Performer’s certified platform (or near certified platform) and include the Performer’s support at a DHS S&T selected site.”

Q12: My question is whether a company outside of the United States, can be a partner or subcontractor in the proposed research to an institution in the United States, and if so, what would be the preferred contractual method?

[Question is from a researcher/institution in the United States regarding participation of another organization outside of the United States as a subcontractor and if permissible what is the preferred contractual method. The question posted was rephrased to protect identity and topic of submitter].

A12: Yes, as noted in BAA section 3, first paragraph, “This BAA is open to ALL responsible sources.”

The preferred contractual method is up to the offeror.

Q13: When will directions be posted to FedBizOps for companies to register for submittal of white papers? A recent article in HStoday.us indicated that the deadline for company registration would be Wednesday, February 13, 2013, but nothing has been said on the FedBizOps website. Since 13 February is only a week from tomorrow, should we expect to see directions posted to FedBizOps in the near future?

A13: Directions for registering for submittal of white papers will be included in the final version of BAA 13-05, which is planned to be posted to FedBizOps in February. Interested offerors should not rely on the media for information regarding BAA 13-05.

Q14:The BAA 13-05 is only a draft version? – when will the final non-draft version be released? Will there be a non-draft version released?

A14: The draft BAA 13-05 posted to FBO is only a draft version. The final official version of the BAA 13-05 document will be posted to FedBizOps, which we hope will be by the end of February, if not sooner.

Q15: White Paper Website Registration Deadline = 25-Feb-13 - 12 p.m. – How do we register? I didn’t see this BAA at the site listed https://baa2.st.dhs.gov/

A15: A revised white paper registration deadline will be posted with the final BAA. The BAA will be available at https://baa2.st.dhs.gov/ once the final version of the BAA is posted.

Q16: White Paper Submission Due Date = 27-Feb-13 - 12 p.m. – Will the due date change once the non-draft BAA is released?

A16: Yes, the due date will change when the final BAA is released. White paper submission due date will be identified in the final version of the BAA 13-05 document.

Q17: When does the draft specification turn into an official version?

A17: The draft BAA turns into an official version when the final version of the BAA 13-05 document is posted to FedBizOps, which we hope will be by the end of February, if not sooner.

Q18: What do you expect on final submission deadline?

A18: White paper submission due date will be identified in the final version of the BAA 13-05 document.

Q19: Can you please provide an update on the expected release of BAA13-05 and associated response dates?

A19: BAA 13-05 is expected to be posted on FedBizOps by the end of February, if not sooner.

Q20: To the best of our knowledge, BAA 13-05 has not been published in its final form. The draft BAA has a question deadline of February 6, 2013. If the final version of the BAA has not yet been issued, are questions still being accepted, and if so, until when? If the final version of the BAA has been issued, could you please provide a link to it? Thank you.

A20: The final version of the BAA has not yet been posted. Questions are still being accepted. A final deadline for questions will be provided in the final version of the BAA.

Q21: Regarding the lists of attendees to the Pre-Solicitation Event (Jan 2013) and the Industry Days (Sept 2012), it appears that the names of those of us from national labs have been removed from the documents. I can envision this as an oversight in scrubbing the list of '.gov' e-mail addresses. The Q&A document states that the list is supposed to exclude government employees, and while we have a '.gov' in our e-mail address, we are not federal employees. However, I can also see this as an indication that national labs are not eligible to submit white papers to the BAA, and others are not encouraged to collaborate with the labs.

Page 61 of the draft BAA clearly states that national labs are eligible to respond. Has this policy been changed since the draft was issued? Are offerors encouraged to collaborate with researchers in the national labs?

A21: There is no policy change on eligibility of offerors. The scrubbing of the attendee list to remove federal employees used a “.gov e-mail filter.” An updated attendee list will be posted.

As noted in BAA section 3, first paragraph, “This BAA is open to ALL responsible sources. Offerors may include single entities or teams from academia, private sector organizations, Government laboratories, and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), including Department of Energy National Laboratories and Centers.”

Q22: Does DHS support SMEs (financially) through the 3 stages - innovation, testing and development?

A22: DHS S&T may support SMEs as part of any successful proposals under BAA 13-05.

Q23: How far can you share background information to support our bids and who to approach?

A23: DHS S&T has referenced sufficient background information in BAA 13-05 to support submission of white papers and full proposals. Additional information will be provided to awardees as described in the BAA.

Q24: How much detail/ effort do we need to put into the white paper?

A24: The directions for white paper and full proposal submissions are included in the BAA. There is a template for white paper submissions which addresses the format for these submissions.

Q25: What is the turn around time to get feedback from the white paper?

A25: The final schedule for submissions and responses will be published in the final version of the BAA.

Q26: Is there a preference for collaborative approaches, i.e., industry/industry, industry/academia?

A26: There is no specific preference for teaming approaches under BAA 13-05. Teaming to form multidisciplinary groups is encouraged.

Q27: Is there any benefit/advantage to collaborating with US industry or US academia?

A27: There is no advantage to teaming with any particular group under BAA 13-05. The white papers and full proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria in the BAA.

Q28: How can we avoid the ITAR issues?

A28: Given the fundamental technical nature of this BAA, ITAR issues are not anticipated.

Q29: What are the constraints around export of information/equipment?

A29: Information and equipment will be provided in accordance with the BAA.

Q30: How are IP issues managed?

A30: It will be up to the individual proposing teams to address their IP concerns. Assertion of data rights is discussed in the BAA and DHS S&T will adhere to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) policy.

BAA 13-05 requests that performers submit data rights assertions in Section H of their white papers and full proposals. This will allow the Government to include the appropriate data rights clauses from FAR

52.227 in the contract to address intellectual property concerns.

Q31: Can you share your risk based approach?

A31: The development of risk-based screening is on-going. The role of adaptive screening technology in risk-based screening has not yet been fully defined and is outside the scope of this BAA.

Q32: How will you test the effectiveness of the system in relation to HMEs?

A32: All testing arrangements will be per the BAA.

Q33: Is there any funding for nuclear trace detection in this BAA?

A33: Detection of nuclear materials is outside the scope of this BAA. However, any relevant technologies from other areas that may be applied to the topics described in BAA 13-05 are of interest.

Q34: How are you dividing the funding between fundamental maths/algorithm development and image reconstruction?

A34: Funding at this level has not yet been decided and will depend on the nature of the full proposals selected for award pending successful negotiation.

Q35: Given the range of HMEs, will you be providing non-specific information on substances to support development?

A35: All testing will be conducted per the BAA.

Q36: Are there any operational requirements that need to be factored in?

A36: As described in the BAA, it is recommended that the proposer become familiar with US and UK operational requirements.

Q37: Is this BAA more related to bulk detection rather than trace?

A37: This BAA is focused on x-ray technology.

Q38: What are the issues around cable transmission and data integrity?

A38: The issues associated with networking, data formats and cyber security will be addressed in a later

BAA.