BAA-AFRL-RQKH-2015-0008.pdf

As of April 2015

1-Step Broad Agency Announcement

Overview Information

To access hyperlinks from this electronic solicitation – Hit CTRL and click on the link.

NAICS Code: 541712

Federal Agency Name: Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), 711th Human Performance Wing (711 HPW), Human Effectiveness Directorate (RH), Human- Centered Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division (RHX)

Broad Agency Announcement Title: Trust in Autonomy for Human-Machine Teaming

Broad Agency Announcement Type: This is the Initial Announcement.

Broad Agency Announcement Number: BAA-AFRL-RQKH-2015-0008

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): N/A

Proposal Due Date and Time: 28 SEP 2015, 3:00PM, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH local time. NOTE: Proposal receipt after the due date and time shall be governed by the provisions of FAR 52.215-1(c)(3). It should be noted that this installation observes strict security procedures to enter the facility. These security procedures are NOT considered an interruption of normal Government processes, and proposals received after the above stated date and time as a result of security delays will be considered “late.” Furthermore, note that if offerors utilize commercial carriers in the delivery of proposals, they may not honor time-of-day delivery guarantees on military installations. Be advised, if the U.S. Postal Service is used, this building only receives U.S. Postal Mail twice a week and delivery by that means may not meet the proposal due date and time.

Early proposal submission is encouraged.

Solicitation Request: Air Force Research Laboratory, 711th Human Performance Wing , Human Effectiveness Directorate, Wright Patterson Air Force Base is soliciting technical and cost proposals on the research effort described below.

Proposals should be addressed to the Contracting Point of Contact (POC) stated in Section VII of the Full Text Announcement. This is an unrestricted solicitation.

Small businesses are encouraged to propose. The NAICS Code for this acquisition is 541712 and the small business size standard is 500 employees. Proposals submitted shall be in accordance with this announcement. There will be no other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. Offerors should be alert for any BAA amendments that may permit extensions to the proposal submission date.

INDUSTRY DAY: An industry day of the relevant Human Effectiveness Directorate, Human- Centered Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division, Human

Trust and Interaction Branch (711 HPW/RHXS) facilities will be conducted on 26 August 2015 at 8:30 am, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH local time beginning in

Building 33, 2215 First Street, Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433. The day will be a group session consisting of a research overview, technical briefings, and a group walk-through and tour of the facility. The purpose of this lab tour is to provide an overview of facilities in which the contractor may be working and see the current set-up of the laboratories. Visit requests must be submitted by providing written notice. If you are interested in attending, send notice to Ms. Michelle Grigsby at e-mail address michelle.grigsby.1@us.af.mil no later than 5:00 pm Wright-Patterson AFB, OH local time, 19 August 2015. Please provide the attendees name, company affiliation, and whether directions and access to the base will be needed. If you need access to the base you will need to also include: Email

Address, License/ID State, License/ID Number. Please note that Foreign Nationals will not be allowed on this tour. The limit on attendees from each company will be two (2). This visit is recommended, but not a mandatory requirement. Any non-proprietary feedback and/or questions will be documented by the Air Force and posted to FedBizOps via this solicitation. Direct questions related to the arrangements and scheduling of laboratory tour may be addressed to Ms.

Michelle Grigsby at (937) 255-8229 or michelle.grigsby.1@us.af.mil.

System for Award Management (SAM) Registration: FAR 52.204-7, System for Award Management (SAM) (JUL 2013), and DFARS 252.204-7004, Alternate A, System for Award Management (SAM) (Feb 2014) are included by reference. SAM is the primary Government repository for prospective federal awardee information and the centralized Government system for certain contracting, grants, and other assistance related processes. It replaces CCR/FedReg, On-line Representations and Certifications (ORCA) and the Excluded Parties Lists System (EPLS). By submission of an offer, the offeror acknowledges the requirement that a prospective awardee shall be registered in the SAM database prior to award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchasing agreement resulting from this solicitation. Contractors may obtain information on registration and annual confirmation requirements via the SAM accessed through https://www.acquisition.gov or by calling 866-606-8220.

Type of Contract/Instrument: The Air Force reserves the right to award the instrument best suited to the nature of research proposed. Accordingly, the

Government may award any appropriate contract type under the FAR or Other Transaction (OT) for Prototype, grant, cooperative agreement, or OT for Research.

The Air Force may also consider award of an appropriate technology transfer mechanism if applicable. It is anticipated that awards under this BAA will generally be Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract(s) with Cost Plus Fixed

Fee Completion type task orders. Cost reimbursement contracts require successful offerors to have an accounting system considered adequate for tracking costs applicable to the contract.

NOTE: All Cost Plus Fixed Fee or Cost type contracts require that the awardee have an adequate accounting system for accumulating cost, mailto:michelle.grigsby.1@us.af.mil mailto:michelle.grigsby.1@us.af.mil approved by DCAA. If you do NOT have a DCAA approved accounting system this may delay or possibly prevent contract award.

Estimated Program Cost: $7,525,000

Anticipated Number of Awards: The Air Force anticipates making one award for this announcement. However, multiple awards for smaller dollars are possible.

Brief Program Summary: The 711HPW/RHXS is interested in innovative research concepts that advance the overall mission of the branch, which is to conduct research to develop, test, evaluate, and transition methods to foster human-robot teaming, methods to calibrate trust, and methods to foster transparency in human-machine contexts. We are seeking to understand the human-machine trust process within: (1) pilots, (2) ISR operators and analysts, (3) maintenance domains, and

(4) advanced human-robot teaming concepts. We are interested in injecting the socio-emotional elements of interpersonal team/trust dynamics into human-robot teams to drive teaming effectiveness. The domains of interest include semi-autonomous, symbiotic, human-machine teaming (HMT) research; research to identify the psychological and physiological antecedents and consequences of suspicion within a human-machine context; research to understand the factors that shape trust calibration within a human-machine context; and research to understand the most significant components driving trust and performance within human-robotic interaction. The domains of application for this research may include but is not limited to automated tools within cockpits; analyst tools/aids for

ISR analysis and exploitation; software code; interactive platforms such as automated translation capabilities; and advanced robotic systems within the Air Force.

Communication Between Prospective Offerors and Government Representatives: Communications between potential offerors and the government are encouraged.

Upon issuance of the BAA, communications of a technical nature may be addressed to Dr. Joseph Lyons at 937-255-8734 or e-mail: joseph.lyons.6@us.af.mil;

communications of a contractual nature may be addressed to Devon Banks at 937-

713-9867, e-mail: devon.banks@us.af.mil or Alternate, Kimberly Warren, at 937- 713-9844, e-mail: kimberly.warren.2@us.af.mil.

Dialogue between prospective offerors and Government representatives is encouraged until submission of proposals. Discussions with any of the points of contact shall not constitute a commitment by the Government to subsequently fund or award any proposed effort. Only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government.

Address technical questions to: Dr. Joseph Lyons, 2215 First St., Bldg. 33, WPAFB, OH 45433-7028, 937-255-8734, e-mail: joseph.lyons.6@us.af.mil

Address contracting questions to: Primary, Devon Banks, 2130 Eighth St., Building 45, WPAFB, OH 45433-7541, 937-713-9867, e-mail:

devon.banks@us.af.mil or Alternate, Kimberly Warren, 2130 Eighth St., Bldg. 45, WPAFB, OH 45433-7541, 937-713-9844, e-mail: kimberly.warren.2@us.af.mil

Full Text Announcement

I. Program Description: Air Force Research Laboratory, 711th Human Performance Wing, Human Effectiveness Directorate, Human-Centered

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division, Human Trust & Interaction Branch (711 HPW/RHXS) is soliciting technical and cost proposals on the following research effort:

1. Statement of Objective/Needs: See Attachment 1, Statement of

Objectives (SOO) for the Basic Contract, and Statement of Objectives Attachments 2-3 for Task Orders 0001 and 0002.

2. Deliverable Items:

a. Data Items: See Attachment 1 for DD FORM 1423-1, Contract Data

Requirements List (CDRLs). Applicable CDRL requirements will be identified in each task order SOO. A final report will be required for each task order, but not required for the basic IDIQ.

b. Software: To be determined on individual task orders. Applicable CDRL requirements will be identified in each task order SOO. Not anticipated on Task Order 0001 and Task Order 0002. If required by Task Order, software will be delivered upon completion of the effort, or as otherwise directed by the terms of the Task Order.

c. Hardware: To be determined on individual task orders. Not anticipated on Task Order 0001 and Task Order 0002. If required by Task Order, hardware will be delivered upon completion of the effort, or as otherwise directed by the terms of the Task Order.

d. Other: TBD on Task Order.

3. Schedule: The overall period of performance for the Basic Contract is 81 months with 60 months allotted for ordering.

a. Task Order 0001, Trust Calibration and Human-Machine Teaming; the period of performance for Task Order 0001 is 33 months (30 months for the technical effort and three months for final reporting).

b. Task Order 0002, Trust-based Design Through Transparency; the period of performance for Task Order 0001 is 33 months (30 months for the technical effort and three months for final reporting).

4. Other Requirements:

a. Program security classification: This program is classified to the Secret level, offerors must verify their Cognizant Security Office information is current with Defense Security Service (DSS) at www.dss.mil. Please see

Attachment 2, DD FORM 254, for additional information. Task Orders 0001 and 0002 are not classified; therefore, classified proposals are not to be submitted under the solicitation.

http://www.dss.mil/

b. OPSEC: See attached SOO’s for OPSEC guidance.

c. Export Control: Information involved in this research effort will be subject to Export Control (International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) 22 CFR 120-131, or Export Administration Regulations (EAR) 15 CFR

710-774). If effort is subject to export control then a Certified DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, will be required to be submitted with proposal.

d. Export-Controlled Items: As prescribed by DFARS 225-7901-4, DFARS 252.225-7048, “Export-Controlled Item (JUN 2013)” is contained in this solicitation. This clause shall be contained in ALL solicitations and resulting contracts.

EXPORT CONTROLLED ITEMS (JUNE 2013)

(a) Definition. “Export-controlled items,” as used in this clause, means items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 CFR Parts 730-774) or the International Traffic in Arms

Regulations (ITAR) (22 CFR Parts 120-130). The term includes:

(1) “Defense items,” defined in the Arms Export Control Act, 22 U.S.C. 2778(j)(4)(A), as defense articles, defense services, and related technical data, and further defined in the ITAR, 22 CFR Part 120.

(2) “Items,” defined in the EAR as “commodities”, “software”, and “technology,” terms that are also defined in the

EAR, 15 CFR 772.1.

(b) The Contractor shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding export-controlled items, including, but not limited to, the requirement for contractors to register with the

Department of State in accordance with the ITAR. The Contractor shall consult with the Department of State regarding any questions relating to compliance with the ITAR and shall consult with the

Department of Commerce regarding any questions relating to compliance with the EAR.

(c) The Contractor's responsibility to comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding export-controlled items exists independent of, and is not established or limited by, the information provided by this clause.

(d) Nothing in the terms of this contract adds, changes, supersedes, or waives any of the requirements of applicable

Federal laws, Executive orders, and regulations, including but not limited to—

(1) The Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended (50 U.S.C. App. 2401, et seq.);

(2) The Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751, et seq.);

(3) The International Emergency Economic Powers Act

(50 U.S.C. 1701, et seq.);

(4) The Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR Parts 730-774);

(5) The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 CFR Parts 120-130); and

(6) Executive Order 13222, as extended.

(e) The Contractor shall include the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (e), in all subcontracts.

(End of clause)

5. Other Information:

a. Government Furnished Property (GFP) availability: Not anticipated but will be determined on a task order by task order basis and included as necessary.

In accordance with FAR 45.201(b), the contractor is responsible for all costs related to making the property available for use, such as payment of all transportation, installation or rehabilitation costs.

If GFP is included in the solicitation or requested in the proposal the following clauses/provisions apply:

i. FAR 52.245-1 Government Property or FAR 52.245-1, Alt II if the resulting contract is with a nonprofit organization or applied research at nonprofit organizations (APR 2012),

ii. FAR 52.245-9 Use and Charges (APR 2012),

iii. DFARS 252.211-7007, Reporting of Government-Furnished

Property (AUG 2012),

iv. DFARS 252.245-7001, Tagging, Labeling, and Marking of

Government-Furnished Property (APR 2012),

v. DFARS 252.245-7002, Reporting Loss of Government Property

(APR 2012).

vi. DFARS 252.245-7003, Contractor Property Management System Administration (APR 2012)

vii. DFARS 252.245-7004, Reporting, Reutilization, and Disposal (MAY 2013)

b. Base Support/ Network Access: Yes.

i. Available Base Facilities: Office work space within Buildings 33 and/or 248 will be made available for up to 5 personnel including desks, chairs, computer and phone access, access to USAF networks as well as lab equipment in various labs in 711HPW/RHX buildings.

- Building 33, Human Robot Teaming (HRT) multi-level laboratory space with entrance adjacent to Room 115

- Building 33, Human Insight and Trust (HIT) laboratory space

- Building 33, Mixed Initiative Experimental (MIX) testbed laboratory space

- Building 33, Code laboratory space

- Building 248, Speech Communication Research Engineering, Analysis, and Modeling (SCREAM) laboratory space.

Base support will be determined for each individual task order.

Task Orders 0001 and 0002 will require base support. There is the potential for other laboratory space at Wright-Patterson AFB, Yale

University, and Wright State University to become available, however, that information will be provided on future task orders that may require the base support.

ii. Voluntary Protection Program (VPP): Wright-Patterson AFB is participating in and is pursuing recognition under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Voluntary Protection

Program (VPP), VPP is a systems approach to identify, evaluate, prevent, and control occupational hazards to prevent injuries/illnesses by promoting effective worksite safety and health protection. VPP is required for applicable contractors defined as “contractors working on an Air Force Installation for more than

1,000 hours per quarter to include construction and services contracts.” Contractors are responsible for managing their own safety and health program (Public Law 91-596). Contractors are advised to become familiar with VPP and how their performance is linked to the installations pursuit of VPP recognition at the OSHA website, http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/index.html. Applicable contractors are required to submit three years of Total Case Incidence Rate (TCIR)/Day Away, Restricted and/or Transfer Case http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/index.html

Rate (DART) data with their proposal for the government’s evaluation. The TCIR and DART are the number of recordable injuries and illness cases per 100 fulltime employees resulting in days away from work, restricted work activity, and/or job transfer that a site has experienced in a given timeframe. Instructions for computing the TCIR and DART data can be found at the OSHA website. Contractors must also provide a copy of their Safety and

Health Plan and corresponding site checklist with their proposal which must be accepted by the installation safety officer prior to contract performance. The contractor’s plan shall include appropriate measures to ensure the contractor reacts promptly to investigate, correct and track alleged safety and health violations and/or uncontrolled hazards in contractor work area. Additionally, installation specific references and policies may be included/attached. The plan shall:

- Demonstrate management commitment to employee safety and health;

- Identify the application of the safety and health plan to subcontractor;

- Identify the roles and responsibilities of the following individuals: Management, Supervisors, Employees, and Safety

Coordinator;

- Identify applicable safety rules and regulations;

- Include a worksite hazard analysis to include base-line hazard identification and required control measures;

- Identify a job site analysis to include hazards of tasks required to control measures;

- Identify employee safety and health training requirements and the documentation process;

- Include a workplace inspection frequency, to include identifying the individual conducting the inspections;

- Include employee hazard reporting procedures;

- Identify individual(s) responsible for corrective actions hazards;

- Identify first aid/injury procedures;

- Identify procedures for accident investigation and reporting;

- Identify emergency response procedures; and

- Identify the process for tracking controlled hazards in contractor work areas.

An applicable contractor is responsible for establishing these requirements for all subcontractors who qualify as applicable contractors under the resulting contract. In addition, applicable contractors will be required to submit their TCIR and DART rates and OSHA Form 300A annually to the contracting office for consolidation and submission as part of the installation’s annual

VPP Safety and Health Management report. TCIR and DART rates are due by the 15th of January of each year.

The following clause will be included in the resultant Contract:

VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAM AND INCORPORATION OF

SAFETY AND HEALTH PLAN (JAN 2010)

1. The contractor accepted Safety and Health Plan dated XXX_ is hereby incorporated by reference.

2. Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) applies only to contractors whose employees work more than 1,000 hours per quarter on a government installation. VPP requires that contractors provide their employees safety and health protection equal in quality to that provided to Air Force employees. Contractors are responsible for managing their safety and health program ensuring that the safety and health rules of the installation are followed, and flowing down

VPP requirements to all subcontractors whose employees work for more than 1,000 hours per quarter on a government installation under their agreement.

3. Contractors shall provide their Total Case Incidence Rate (TCIR) and Day Away, Restricted, and or Transfer Case Rate (DART) data and OSHA Form 300A annually by the 15th of January to the Contracting Officer to inclusion in the installation’s annual VPP

Safety and Health Management Report.

c. Multiple awards subject to Fair Opportunity are not anticipated.

d. Human subjects may be used in the research studies under this effort.

DFARS 252.235-7004, Protection of Human Subjects (JUL 2009), will be included in all contracts awarded under this BAA.

e. Data Rights Desired:

(1) Technical Data: Unlimited Rights

(2) Non-Commercial Software (NCS): Unrestricted Rights

(3) NCS Documentation: Unlimited Rights

(4) Commercial Computer Software Rights: Customary License

The Air Force Research Laboratory is engaged in the discovery, development, and integration of warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace forces. As such, rights in technical data and NCS developed or delivered under this contract are of significant concern to the government. The Government will therefore carefully consider any restrictions on the use of technical data, NCS, and NCS documentation which could result in transition difficulty or less-than full and open competition for subsequent development of this technology.

In exchange for paying for development of the data, the Government expects technical data, NCS, and NCS documentation developed entirely at Government expense to be delivered with Unlimited Rights.

Technical data, NCS, and NCS documentation developed with mixed funding are expected to be delivered with at least Government Purpose

Rights. Offers that propose delivery of technical data, NCS, or NCS documentation subject to Government Purpose Rights should fully explain what technical data, NCS, or NCS documentation developed with costs charged to indirect cost pools and/or costs not allocated to a Government contract will be incorporated, how the incorporation will benefit the program, and address whether those portions or processes are segregable. The Government expects that delivery of technical data, NCS, and NCS documentation subject to Government Purpose Rights will fully meet program needs.

Offers that propose delivery of technical data, NCS, or NCS documentation subject to Limited Rights, Restricted Rights, or Specifically

Negotiated License Rights will be considered. Proposals should fully explain what technical data, NCS, or NCS documentation developed with costs charged to indirect cost pools and/or costs not allocated to a government contract will be incorporated and how the incorporation will benefit the program.

Offerors are reminded that the Identification and Assertion of Restrictions on the Government’s Use, Release, or Disclosure of Technical Data or Computer Software (the assertions list), required under DFARS 252.227- 7013 and DFARS 252.227-7014, is included in Section K and due at time of proposals. Assertions must be completed with specificity with regard to each item, component, or process listed. Nonconforming assertions lists will be rejected.

Note that DFARS 252.227-7014(d) describes requirements for incorporation of third party computer software (commercial and nonconmmercial). Any commercial software to be incorporated into a deliverable must be clearly identified in the proposal. Because many commercial software licenses are not transferrable or may not be acceptable to the Government, commercial software licenses proposed for delivery to the Government must be approved by the contracting officer prior to award.

As used in this subparagraph, the terms Unlimited Rights, Government Purpose Rights, Specifically Negotiated License Rights, and Limited Rights in technical data are as defined in DFARS 252.227-7013. The terms Unlimited Rights, Government Purpose Rights, Specifically Negotiated

License Rights, and Restricted Rights in noncommercial computer software and noncommercial software documentation are as defined in

DFARS 252.227-7014. The term Commercial Computer Software is as defined in DFARS 252.227-7014.

II. Award Information

1. Anticipated Award Date: 10 Dec 2015

2. Anticipated funding for the program (not per contract):

3. Anticipated funding for Task Order 0001:

FY 15 FY 16 FY 17 Total

$13K $500K $675K $1.188M

4. Anticipated funding for Task Order 0002:

FY 15 FY 16 FY 17 Total

$12K $500K $675K $1.187M

5. This funding profile is an estimate only and not a contractual obligation for funding. All funding is subject to change due to Government discretion and availability. Potential offerors should be aware that due to unanticipated budget fluctuations funding in any or all areas may change with little or no notice.

6. Number of awards anticipated: One. However, the Air Force reserves the right to award zero, one, or more contracts for all, some or none of the solicited effort based on the offeror’s ability to perform desired work.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Offeror: This is an unrestricted solicitation. Small businesses are encouraged to propose.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost Sharing is not required.

3. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers: The following guidance is provided for Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) contemplating submitting a proposal, as either a prime or subcontractor. FAR 35.017-1(c)(4) prohibits an FFRDC from competing with any non-FFRDC concern in response to a Federal agency request for proposal for other than the operation of an FFRDC (with exceptions stated in DFARS

235.017-1(c)(4)). There is no regulation prohibiting an FFRDC from responding to a solicitation. However, the FFRDC’s sponsoring agency must first make a determination that the effort being proposed falls within the purpose, mission, general scope of effort, or special competency of the FFRDC, and that determination must be included in the FFRDC’s proposal. In addition, AFRL must make a determination that the work proposed would not place the FFRDC in direct competition with domestic private industry. Only

FY 15 FY 16 FY 17 FY 18 FY 19 FY 20

$25K $1M $1.35M $1.55M $1.75M $1.85M

Total

$7.525M after these determinations are made would a determination be made concerning the FFRDC’s eligibility to receive an award.

4. Government Agencies: If a Government agency is interested in performing work, contact the Program Manager identified in the BAA. If those discussions result in a mutual interest to pursue your agency's participation, the effort will be pursued independent of this announcement.

5. Other:

a. Foreign participation: No

b. This acquisition involves data that are subject to export control laws and regulations. Only contractors who are registered and certified with the Defense Logistics Services Center (DLSC) and have a legitimate business purpose may participate in this solicitation. Contact the Defense Logistics

Services Center, 74 Washington Avenue N., Battle Creek, Michigan 40917-3084 (1-800-352-3572) for further information on the certification process. You must submit a copy of your approved DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, with your proposal.

c. There are no limits to the number of proposals an offeror may submit.

d. You may be ineligible for award if all requirements of this solicitation are not met on the proposal due date as identified above.

IV. Proposal and Submission Information

1. Overview: Proposals submitted shall be in accordance with this announcement. There will be no other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. The Government intends to evaluate proposals and award some, all, or none of the proposals received without negotiation/discussion;

however, the Government reserves the right to negotiate with those offeror(s) whose proposal is selected for funding. Offerors should be alert for any BAA amendments that may change proposal requirements or permit extensions to the proposal submission date. For additional information, a copy of the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Guide for Industry is located at https://cs.eis.afmc.af.mil/sites/contracting/AFRL/BAA%20Guidance/BAAIndG uide_Mar_2015.pdf

2. Content and Form of Proposal Submission: The paragraphs below identify proposal format and content. Proposals should be addressed via mail to the Contracting Point of Contact (POC) identified in Section VII.

a. General Instructions:

i. Offerors should apply the restrictive notice prescribed in the provision of FAR 52.215-1(e) Instructions to Offerors—Competitive Acquisition.

Offerors should consider proposal instructions contained in the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Guide for Industry, which can be accessed on line at https://cs.eis.afmc.af.mil/sites/contracting/AFRL/BAA%20Guidance/BA http://www.dlis.dla.mil/jcp/ https://cs.eis.afmc.af.mil/sites/contracting/AFRL/BAA%20Guidance/BAAIndGuide_Mar_2015.pdf https://cs.eis.afmc.af.mil/sites/contracting/AFRL/BAA%20Guidance/BAAIndGuide_Mar_2015.pdf

AIndGuide_Mar_2015.pdf. This guide is specifically designed to assist the offeror in understanding the BAA proposal process.

ii. Technical/management and cost volumes should be submitted in separate volumes, and must be valid for 180 days.

iii. The cover page must include the BAA title, the name and telephone number for the principal points of contact (both technical and contractual), the offeror’s CAGE and DUNS number and the announcement number. The cover page must also contain the proprietary data disclosure statement, if applicable. However, the SOW portion of the Technical proposal shall be formatted so that it is absent of any proprietary data and, therefore, can be fully incorporated into any resulting award and releasable pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act requirements.

iv. Offerors must submit one (1) original and five (5) hard copies of their proposals via mail to the Contracting POC, identified in Section VII.

v. Offerors must include two (2) CDs in Microsoft WORD Format containing all electronic versions of required submittals (Technical/Management Proposal/SOW/Cost/Business Proposal). All electronic versions must match the hard copies.

a) Technical/Management proposals, Statements of Work and

Subcontracting Plan (if Applicable in accordance with FAR 19.7) must be provided in Microsoft WORD.

b) The cost file(s) spreadsheets must in Microsoft Excel and include the formulas for calculating cost element bases (i.e., G&A, O/H, etc.)

c) The CDs should be labeled with the company name and proposal title.

vi. Offerors are advised that only contracting officers are legally authorized to contractually bind or otherwise commit the Government.

vii. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this BAA is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting or any other contract; however, it may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as specified in FAR 31.205-18.

viii. No classified technical proposals or cost volumes are expected.

Offerors are encouraged to keep all elements of the proposal package unclassified. In the rare case where an offeror has a need to submit a classified appendix, please contact the technical POC listed in Section

VII for delivery instructions.

b. Offerors must propose/submit each of the following to be considered for an IDIQ award:

i. Basic IDIQ

a) Basic IDIQ proposal-Technical and Management

b) Basic IDIQ Statement of Work (SOW) in response to applicable Statement of Objectives (SOO)

c) Basic IDIQ Business Proposal (including Subcontracting Plan, if applicable, in accordance with FAR 19.7)

ii. Task Order (T.O.) 0001

a) T.O. 0001 Proposal-Technical and Management

b) T.O. 0001 SOW in response to applicable SOO

c) T.O. 0001 Cost (T.O.s only) and Business Proposal

iii. T.O. 0002

a) T.O. 0002 Proposal-Technical and Management

b) T.O. 0002 SOW in response to applicable SOO

c) T.O. 0002 Cost (T.O.s only) and Business Proposal

c. Technical/Management Proposal:

i. Page Limitations: The following describes the page limitations on the proposal submittal:

a) The Technical/Management Proposal shall be limited to twenty-five

(25) pages for the Basic IDIQ; and the Technical/Management Proposal shall be limited to twenty five (25) pages each for T.O.

0001 and T.O. 0002 with the pages, prepared and submitted in Microsoft Word format.

b) Font shall be standard 10-point business font Arial.

c) Character spacing must be “normal,” not condensed in any manner.

d) Pages shall be double-spaced (must use standard double-space function in Microsoft Word), double sided (each side counts as one page), 8.5 by 11 inches, with at least one-inch margins on both sides, top and bottom.

e) All text, including text in tables and charts, must adhere to all font size and line spacing requirements listed herein. Font and line spacing requirements do not have to be followed for illustrations, flowcharts, drawings, and diagrams. These exceptions shall not be used to circumvent formatting requirements and page count limitations by including lengthy narratives in such items.

f) Pages shall be numbered starting with the cover page being Page 1, and the last page being no greater than page twenty-five (25) for the basic and twenty-five (25) for each task order. The page limitation covers all information including indices, photographs, foldouts (counted as 1 page for each 8.5 by 11 portion) tables, charts, appendices, attachments, etc. Resumes are not included in the page limitation. Resumes can be attached to the technical proposal with no page limitations; however, offerors are requested to keep resumes to less than 30 pages as a goal.

g) The proposal page limit does not include the offeror’s proposed

Statement of Work (SOW); however, the same formatting rules apply to the SOW, which is limited to five (5) pages for the Basic IDIQ, and five (5) pages for each T.O. 0001 and TO. 0002.

h) Please note: the Government will check the proposal and SOW for conformance to the stated requirements. Any pages in excess of the stated page limitation after the format check will not be considered.

ii. The Technical/Management proposal(s) for the Basic IDIQ, T.O. 0001 and T.O. 0002 shall include a discussion of the nature and scope of the research and the technical approach. Additional information on prior work in this area, descriptions of available equipment, use of base support (if desired), data and facilities and resumes of personnel who will be participating in this effort should also be included as attachments to the technical proposal. (This/These) volume(s) shall/ include a SOW(s) detailing the technical tasks proposed to be accomplished under the proposed effort and suitable for contract incorporation. Do not include any proprietary information in the SOW. Refer to the BAA Guide for Industry referenced above to assist in SOW preparation. If Government Furnished Property is requested you are required to submit the following information with your offer—

a) A list or description of all Government property that the offeror or its subcontractors propose to use on a rent-free basis. The list shall identify the accountable contract under which the property is held and the authorization for its use (from the contracting officer having cognizance of the property);

b) The dates during which the property will be available for use

(including the first, last, and all intervening months) and, for any property that will be used concurrently in performing two or more contracts, the amounts of the respective uses in sufficient detail to support prorating the rent;

c) The amount of rent that would otherwise be charged in accordance with FAR 52.245-9, Use and Charges; and

d) The voluntary consensus standard or industry leading practices and standards to be used in the management of Government property, or existing property management plans, methods, practices, or procedures for accounting for property.

iii. Any questions concerning the technical proposal or SOW preparation shall be referred to the Technical POC listed in Section VII.

d. Cost/Business Proposal:

i. Separate the proposal into a business section and cost section.

Adequate price competition is anticipated.

a) The business section should contain all business aspects to the proposed contract, such as type of contractual instrument, any exceptions to terms and conditions of the announcement model contract, any information not technically related, etc. Provide rationale for exceptions.

http://www.afrl.af.mil/contract/default.htm http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/52_237.htm#P814_129251

b) Identify any technical data that will be delivered with less than unlimited rights.

c) Cost/Business proposals have no page limitations; however, offerors are requested to keep cost proposals to 100 pages as a goal.

d) The Cost proposal shall be furnished with supporting schedules and shall contain a labor hour breakdown per task. Refer to the BAA

Guide for Industry for detailed proposal instructions.

ii. Subcontracting Plans: For efforts anticipated to exceed $700,000, (Note: Effective 1 Oct 2015, the threshold is increased from $650,000 to $700,000.) shall be submitted along with the technical and cost proposals. Reference FAR 19.704, DFARS 219.704, and AFFARS

5319.704(a)(1) for subcontracting plan requirements. Small business concerns are exempt from this requirement. If an IDIQ contract arrangement is anticipated, the basis for the subcontracting plan should reflect the entire ceiling amount.

e. Proposal Content Summary: You may be ineligible for award if all requirements of this solicitation are not met on the proposal due date.

Reference Section VIII for a Checklist of the requirements.

3. Proposal Due Date and Time: 28 SEP 2015, 3:00PM, Wright- Patterson AFB, OH local time. NOTE: Proposal receipt after the due date and time shall be governed by the provisions of FAR 52.215-

1(c)(3).

NOTE: Intent to Propose: Offerors that anticipate submitting a proposal are requested to submit an e-mail to Devon Banks, at devon.banks@us.af.mil containing the name of the contractor, the POC, and the contractor’s intent to submit a proposal. This “Intent to Propose” is requested by 10 SEP 2015, 3:00PM, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH local time.

4. Intergovernmental Review: None

5. Funding Restrictions: N/A

6. Other Submission Requirements: Proposals must be submitted to:

Devon Banks 2130 Eighth St., Bldg. 45

WPAFB, OH 45433-7541

937-713-9867 devon.banks@us.af.mil

*No electronic submissions will be accepted* mailto:devon.banks@us.af.mil

V. Proposal Review Information

1. Evaluation Criteria: The selection of one or more sources for award will be based on an evaluation of each offeror’s proposal (both technical, and cost/price aspects) to determine the overall merit of the proposal in response to the announcement, as well as importance to agency programs and funding availability. The following is a summary of how the evaluation team will weigh the Basic Contract, Task Orders 0001 and 0002, in order to categorize proposals and select awardee(s). The technical aspect, which is ranked as the first order of priority, shall be evaluated based on the following criteria.

Risk will be assessed as part of the below criteria. TCIR and DART data provided will be considered as an element of risk assessment.

Basic Contract relative to Task Orders: Basic IDIQ proposal is of more importance than the sum of Task Orders 0001-0002.

1) Basic Contract:

- Basic IDIQ: Technical evaluation criteria are of descending order of importance

2) Task Orders:

- Task Orders 0001 and 0002 are rated equally

- Technical evaluation criteria are of descending order of importance

- Cost/Price is a substantial factor, but ranked as the second order of priority

a. Technical (Basic and Task Orders)- Importance to agency programs will be considered as part of the below criteria (descending order of importance):

i. Unique and innovative approach proposed to accomplish the technical objectives. New and creative solutions and/or advances in knowledge, understanding, technology, and the state of the art.

ii. The offeror’s understanding of the scope of the technical effort.

iii. Soundness of the offeror’s technical approach.

iv. Availability of qualified technical personnel and their experience with the applicable technologies.

v. The potential for AFRL to transition the research and development deliverables to future Government needs. Any proposed restriction on technical data or computer software will be considered.

vi. Availability, from any source, of necessary research, test, laboratory, or shop facilities.

b. Cost/Price (Task Orders Only): Cost/Price includes the reasonableness and realism of the proposed cost and fee and consideration of proposed budgets and funding profiles. Cost/Price is a substantial factor, but ranked as the second order of priority. (If an offeror proposes the use of GFP other than any GFP identified in this BAA, and that proposed GFP provides the offeror an unfair competitive advantage, then FAR 45.202 requires rental equivalent be applied to the Cost Factor for evaluation purposes only).

2. Review and Selection Process

a. Categories: Proposals will be evaluated at the same time and categorized as follows:

i. Highly Recommended: Proposals are recommended for acceptance if sufficient funding is available, and normally are displaced only by other

Highly Recommended proposals.

ii. Selectable: Proposals are recommended for acceptance if sufficient funding is available, but at a lower priority than Highly Recommended Proposals. May require additional development. To ensure a diversity of approaches, a Selectable proposal may be prioritized over a Highly Recommended proposal if the Selectable proposal presents a unique approach unlike any of the Highly Recommended proposals.

ii. Not Selectable: Even if sufficient funding existed, the proposal should not be funded.

Note: The Government reserves the right to award some, all, or none of proposals. When the Government elects to award only a part of a proposal, the selected part may be categorized as Highly Recommended or Selectable, though the proposal as a whole may not merit such a categorization.

b. No other evaluation criteria will be used. The Air Force reserves the right to select for award any, all, part or none of each proposal received.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices: Offerors will be notified whether their proposal is recommended for award, by letter or e-mail, on or about 2 Nov 2015. The notification is not to be construed to mean the award of a contract is assured, as availability of funds and successful negotiations are prerequisites to any award.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: See Section I.

3. Reporting: See Section I.2.a.

VII. Agency Contacts

1. Address technical questions to:

Dr. Joseph Lyons 2215 First St., Bldg. 33

WPAFB, OH 45433-7028

937-255-8734 joseph.lyons.6@us.af.mil

2. Address contracting questions to:

Devon Banks

2130 Eighth St., Bldg. 45

WPAFB, OH 45433-7541

937-713-9867 devon.banks@us.af.mil

VIII. Other Information

1. Acquisition of Commercial Items: Based upon market research, the Government is not using the policies contained in Part 12, Acquisition of

Commercial Items, in its solicitation for the described supplies or services.

However, interested persons may identify to the contracting officer their interest and capability to satisfy the Government’s requirement with a commercial item within 15 days of this notice.

2. Support contractors: Only Government employees will evaluate proposals for selection. Offerors are advised that employees of commercial firms under contract to the Government may be used to administratively process proposals, monitor contract performance, or perform other administrative duties requiring access to other contractors' proprietary information. These support contracts include nondisclosure agreements prohibiting their contractor employees from disclosing any information submitted by other contractors or using such information for any purpose other than that for which it was furnished.

3. Debriefings: If a debriefing is requested in accordance with the time guidelines set out in FAR 15.505 and 15.506, a debriefing will be provided, but the debriefing content may vary to be consistent with the procedures that govern BAAs (FAR 35.016).

mailto:joseph.lyons.6@us.af.mil

4. Wide Area Work Flow: NOTICE: Any contract award resulting from this solicitation will contain the clause at DFARS 252.232-7003, Electronic

Submission of Payment Requests and Receiving Reports (JUN 2012) which requires electronic submission of all payment requests. Any contract resulting from this solicitation will establish a requirement to use WAWF-RA for invoicing and receipt/acceptance, and provide coding instructions applicable to this contract via the clause at DFARS 252.232-7006, Wide Area

Workflow Payment Instructions (MAY 2013). Contractors are encouraged to take advantage of available training (both web-based and through your local

DCMA office), and to register in the WAWF-RA system. Information regarding WAWF-RA, including the web-based training and registration, can be found at https://wawf.eb.mil. Note: This WAWF-RA requirement does not apply to Universities that are audited by an agency other than DCAA.

5. Item Unique Identification and Valuation. Any contract award resulting from this solicitation may contain the clause at DFARS 252.211-7003, Item Unique Identification and Valuation, (DEC 2013) which requires unique item identification and valuation of any deliverable item for which the Government’s unit acquisition cost is $5,000 or more; subassemblies, components, and parts embedded within an item valued at $5,000 or more;

or items for which the Government’s unit acquisition cost is less than $5,000 when determined necessary by the requiring activity for serially managed, mission essential, or controlled inventory. Also included are any DoD serially managed subassembly, component, or part embedded within a delivered item and the parent item that contains the embedded subassembly, component, or part. Per DFARS 211.274-3 Policy for Valuation, it is DoD policy that contractors shall be required to identify the Government’s unit acquisition cost for all deliverable end items for which Item Unique Identification applies. Therefore, your proposal must clearly break out the unit acquisition cost for any deliverable items. See DFARS 211.274-3, Policy for Valuation, for policy. (Per DoD, “fully burdened unit costs” to the

Government would include all direct, indirect, G&A costs, and an appropriate portion of fee). If you have questions regarding the Unique Item Identification requirements, please contact the Contracting Point of Contact listed above. For more information, see the following website:

http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/pdi/uid/index.html. The contract will also include DFARS 252.211-7007, Reporting of Government-Furnished Property

(AUG 2012).

6. Forward Pricing Rate Agreements: Offerors who have forward pricing rate agreements (FPRA’s) and forward pricing rate recommendations (FPRR’s) should submit them with their proposal.

7. Pre-Award Clearance: Pursuant to FAR 22.805, a preaward clearance must be obtained from the U.S. Department Of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Office Of Federal Contract Compliance Program’s (OFCCP) prior to award of a contract (or subcontract) of $10,000,000 or more unless https://wawf.eb.mil/ http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/pdi/uid/index.html the contractor is listed in OFCCP’s National Preaward Registry http://www.dol-esa.gov/preaward. This registry indicates that the contractor has been found to be “in compliance” within the past two years with The Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations that the OFCCP is mandated to enforce. The registry is updated nightly and facilities reviewed more than 2 years ago are removed and new ones are added. Award may be delayed if you are not currently listed in the registry and the contracting officer must request a preaward clearance from the OFCCP.

8. Limitations on Pass-Through Charges. As prescribed in FAR 15.408(n)(1) & 15.408(n)(2), provisions 52.215-22, “Limitations on Pass Through Charges – Identification of Subcontract Effort (OCT 2009),” and

52.215-23, “Limitations on Pass-Through Charges (OCT 2009),” are incorporated into this solicitation by reference. Any contract valued greater than the threshold for cost or pricing data threshold, except fixed price contracts awarded on the basis of adequate price competition, resulting from this solicitation, shall contain the Clause at FAR 52.215-23 (or Alt I).

9. Associate Contractor Agreements: Associate Contractor

Agreements (ACAs) are agreements between contractors working on Government contracts that specify requirements for them to share information, data, technical knowledge, expertise, or resources. The contracting officer may require ACAs when contractors working on separate government contracts must cooperate, share resources or otherwise jointly participate in working on contracts or projects. Prime contractor to subcontractor relationships do not constitute ACAs. For each award, the contracting officer will identify associate contractors with whom agreements are required.

10. Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation: As prescribed in FAR 19.309(d), FAR Clause 52.219-28, “Post-Award Small Business

Program Rerepresentation (JUL 2013),” is incorporated by reference in this solicitation. This clause will be contained in any contracts resulting from this solicitation.