DARPA-BAA-16-55_Q A.pdf

7 October 2016

DARPA‐BAA‐16‐55

Aerial Dragnet Questions & Answers

1. Will DARPA provide data for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) classifier training? If not, is there a sister agency (AF) that will share?

Proposers are responsible for acquiring the training data required for their proposed sensing modalities and should describe those methods in the proposal. DARPA will not provide data to performers.

2. What if the threat “hops” from building to building vs. flies?

Proposed methods should detect UASs at altitudes between 10 feet and below 1000 feet regardless of their flight paths.

3. What payloads does DARPA have access to that proposers can possibly utilize as GFE?

None. Proposers are required to develop their own payloads in this program.

4. What is the ETA for award after FY 2017 budget is approved and funds begin flowing? (30, 60, 90 days?)

Contracts will be awarded upon completion of required evaluation for selection and contract negotiation.

5. What does classification mean?

a. Classify the vehicle as enemy UAS?

b. Classify the vehicle as any UAS?

c. Classify the vehicle as enemy UAS and identify model type of UAS?

d. None of the above: specify

At a minimum, classification should discriminate UASs from non‐UASs of comparable speed.

Classification of threat versus non‐threat UAS, e.g. based on target payload, is highly desirable.

Classification of specific UAS model type is not expected.

6. Group 2 threats are not defined in BAA; please define Group 2 threats.

DARPA is using the standard DoD definition for Group 2 UAS systems, weighing between 21 and 55 lbs., as provided by the document “Eyes of the Army”, U.S. Roadmap for UAS 2010‐2035.

7. Where will the proposer’s day slides be posted?

The Aerial Dragnet program description slides have been posted on the teaming website:

https://safe.sysplan.com/team/aerial.html

8. Is Aerial Dragnet required to operate at night and in all weather (rain, snow, fog)?

Aerial Dragnet is expected to work under the same weather and operational conditions as friendly and threat Group 1 and 2 UASs.

9. Can we assume GPS is available?

Assumptions regarding the use of GPS signals should be stated in the proposal; however, it would be shortsighted to assume GPS is always available in contested environments.

10. Does the $10k/20km include both the payload & UAS, or just the payload?

The cost metric refers to an objective system, produced in high volume, including sensors and platforms.

11. What is the persistence metric in Phase 1?

In Phase 1, there is no persistence requirement. In Phase 2, the stated persistence requirement is at least 1 hour.

12. For unit cost justification, what quantities should proposers assume?

Proposers should justify the production quantities required to meet their cost‐to‐performance goals.

13. Can companies submit more than one proposal?

Yes, but each proposal needs to address the entire project and all technical areas. Proposers submitting abstracts are advised to submit a separate abstract for each anticipated proposal.

14. What is the definition of “Long Range”?

“Long range” with respect to small UAS flight paths is commensurate with the trend towards longer endurance and greater autonomy of future threat UASs. The detection range of the Aerial Dragnet system is described in the program metric section (Section 1.2) of the BAA.

15. For generating proposals and cost estimates, when will you know where the Government test facilities will be located?

Test sites will be confirmed by the end of the first quarter of 2017. For proposal purposes, costs should be based on travel to sites within the continental U.S.

16. Is 10’ the minimum altitude? If so, we will see trucks and busses in the space.

Yes. The system should be able to discriminate between UAS and non‐UAS movers between the altitudes of 10 to 1000 feet.

17. Can you elaborate on the issue of line‐of‐sight (LOS)?

All threats should be detected before becoming LOS to any friendly asset. In urban terrain, it should also be assumed that UASs’ paths will also be non‐LOS from individual surveillance nodes.

18. In the context of the network system operating timeline for detecting, publishing and responding to threats, does responding refer to action to track and maintain observation of the threat, or cueing on external defeat?

The responding timeline refers to the time interval from initial detection of new UASs to the publication of an updated common operational picture which includes these new UAS tracks.

19. Multi‐platform support. Can you be more specific for this? Payload? Focus? Where is this requirement?

“Multi‐platform” in the metric section of the BAA refers to the scalability of the system to multiple surveillance nodes for wider area coverage.

20. Is it a single platform for Phase 1?

Not necessarily. Concepts requiring more than a single surveillance node in Phase 1 are acceptable as long as the total number of platforms, including communications between them, will lead to an objective system meeting the cost‐to‐area‐coverage metric.

21. Is the volume requirement for the static system or for what is projected if parts are moving?

The Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) metrics, including volume, given in Section 1.2 are intended to ensure Aerial Dragnet payloads can be accommodated on a variety of Group 1 and 2 UAS platforms. Proposals which include payloads which exceed these SWaP metrics should include examples of existing Group 1 and 2 UASs which could accommodate their proposed payload SWaP.

22. Did DARPA fund any seedling projects prior to the release of this BAA?

No.

23. Is an approach which incorporates multiple sensor node platforms in Phase 1 acceptable, provided that the proposed approach meets the Phase 1 goal of the cost‐to‐area coverage ratio of < $10K per 20 square kilometers in total?

Yes. To quote from Page 7 of the BAA, “proposers are strongly encouraged to consider combinations of multiple sensor modalities, both active and passive, together with associated algorithms.” Also, see answer to Question 11 above.

24. Is there a contractual mechanism for small companies to participate in the Aerial Dragnet program without being a subcontractor to a larger organization when the small company has specialized capability which could be of significant benefit to the Aerial Dragnet program?

Prime contractors must have or be able to obtain a facility clearance to perform classified work and must addresses all the tasks specified in the BAA. Subcontractors may work at the unclassified level and can be either domestic or foreign entities. The website https://safe.sysplan.com/team/aerial.html is designed to encourage teaming.

25. Will an Aerial Dragnet system be provided with 3‐D model or "map" of the urban terrain for the regions where the system is deployed?

DARPA will not provide maps of urban terrain, but Proposers may use terrain information supplied by other sources that would be reasonably available for operations in a foreign urban area.

26. If so, how accurate can we expect the "map" to be, and will it likely contain information on the surface materials for the buildings in the scene? (this has a significant effect on analysis of multipath system detections) or does the system need to generate its own data/models in real time?

Proposed methods requiring greater knowledge of the terrain to inform their models should include approaches for acquiring such data as part of their concept‐of‐operation.

27. Will abstract feedback consist of information beyond "submission of a full proposal is encourage/discouraged"?

No.

28. If the system is to be deployed at echelon levels down to platoon, is the platoon expected to deploy an entire system, or just components (e.g. a single aircraft)? Are multiple ground elements envisioned? One per node? How fast is "rapidly deployable"?

The scale of deployment should be commensurate with the echelon deploying the system, e.g., an individual platoon could be expected to deploy a system covering just the area required to protect itself.

29. For the Megacity environment, what building heights / terrain elevations are expected? How

"complex" are the test sites and the ultimate operational environment? What government test sites are envisioned? Are gray‐zone environments envisioned?

The system should be effective over a significant majority of urban terrains.

30. What are some examples of the "sensor‐driven autonomous behaviors within individual and across aerial platforms" mentioned in the BAA?

This is a very active research area. Proposers are encouraged to conduct their own research on sensor‐driven autonomous behaviors.