Q A_-_DARPA-BAA-14-27_-_4-10-14.pdf

DARPA-BAA-14-27

Upward Falling Payloads Phase 2 and 3 10 April 2014

Questions & Answers for DARPA-BAA-14-27

IN THE EVENT OF ANY INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE ANSWERS

PROVIDED HEREIN AND THE BAA, THE BAA SHALL TAKE PRECEDENCE

Q1. How can one receive the slides presented at the Proposers Conference?

A1. Qualified requestors, US Department of Defense contractors, may submit a data request form found in Appendix 2 of BAA-14-27 to obtain the slides from the Proposers Day Conference.

Q2. What data rate does the communications subsystem (Technical Area B) provide to the payload?

A2. Data rate to wake up the UFP node is up to the proposed Technical Area B subsystem developer. Data rate to initialize the payload is dependent on the payload, and should be as high as feasible for the proposed solution. Communications after payload release is the responsibility of the payload developer (Technical Area A subsystem).

Q3. For Phase 3, at least two UFP nodes must be demonstrated. Should the two nodes be the same type of node, or is it expected that at least two Phase 3 performers will each provide one UFP node?

A3. Each UFP Node performer must provide at least two nodes of the same type.

Q4. Is it acceptable to demonstrate capability in two demonstrations rather than one? For example, show a UFP node woken up to deliver a payload to the surface in one test, then show a payload to launch and achieve effects in a second test?

A4. No. Engineering tests showing partial performance can be planned, but a single demonstration is required to show the metrics.

Q5. The BAA refers to “fixed paths to specific points.” What does this mean?

A5. “Fixed paths” relates to communication paths. “Specific points” imply specific geographic positions advantageous to the proposed mission.

Q6. For a winning Technical Area A proposal, can DARPA award separate contracts to each payload provider?

A6. DARPA intends to provide a single award to a UFP node prime contractor responsible for both the riser and payload.

Q7. Given that multiple risers can host multiple payloads, should abstracts and proposals be submitted for every paired combination?

A7. While permitted, all such pairs cannot be equally compelling. Capable proposers should discern the best solutions. Abstracts and proposals can include more than one riser or more than one payload given that a credible down selection plan is proposed that leads to the demonstration of a single UFP node.

Q8. If an awarded prime contractor has a payload subcontractor that is a subcontractor on another awarded prime contract for the same or similar work, will the government consider awarding the payload performer separately?

A8. No. And the government will ensure contract awards do not result in duplication of effort.

Q9. Are deployment costs a consideration for estimating UFP system costs?

A9. Operations and maintenance are considered part of the system costs for each Technical Area subsystem.

Q10. Section 4.3.1 of BAA-14-27 states, "If proposers have multiple subsystems within a technical area, they should submit a single abstract for each distinct subsystem unless the subsystems are being combined for comparative down selection or are dependent on each other in their use. Abstracts should not depend on other abstracts for proper review.

Abstracts can include other subsystems descriptions for context and to show ease of integration though."

We request further clarification on this statement as it pertains to the term "subsystem."

Does a subsystem refer to, for example in Technical Area A, the payload or riser? Or does it refer to different missions and their associated payloads or similarly different riser approaches for different types of payloads? Since combined riser and payload proposals are desired for Technical Area A, can you confirm that the Abstracts can be submitted for parts of this solution ("subsystems")?

A10. Subsystem in this context implies a payload, and is relevant to Technical Area A. The integration of a riser and payload defines a UFP node. A single abstract should be used to fully describe a plan to develop one type of UFP node(s). If multiple payloads, or multiple risers, will be examined and down-selected to realize one type of UFP node(s), then a single abstract and proposal can be used to describe multiple types of these subsystems.