DRAFT_BIGST_BAA_GeneralSolicitation_09052023.docx

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)

Boosting Innovative GEOINT - Science & Technology Broad Agency Announcement

(BIG-ST BAA)

General Solicitation

HM0476-23-BAA-0001

HR001119S0071 NGA-RESEARCH OFFICE-WIDE 1

DRAFT - HM047623BAA0001 BIGST BAA 2

Table of Contents

Overview Information

The BIG-ST BAA is a general announcement of NGA’s research interest, including criteria for selecting proposals and soliciting the participation of all offerors capable of satisfying the Government’s needs.

The requests for abstracts and/or proposals are transmitted via Topic Calls that are published separately under the BIG-ST BAA general solicitation at various times during the open period of the general solicitation. The Topic Calls will further define the technology/ government needs or just request abstracts or full proposals.

Interested parties should periodically check these websites for updates.

Any resultant negotiations and/or awards will follow all laws and regulations applicable to the specific award instrument(s) available under this BAA.

HM047623BAA0001 BIGST BAA 1

Full Text Announcement Introduction The mission of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Research Directorate is to deliver future Geospatial-Intelligence (GEOINT) capabilities to users for operational impact. NGA Research supports the National Security Strategy by solving hard defense and intelligence problems for the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense.

In support of this mission, NGA Research promotes research initiatives across a broad spectrum of science and engineering disciplines, and transforms these initiatives into disruptive GEOINT capabilities in support of U.S. national security. The Boosting Innovative GEOINT-Science and Technology Broad Agency Announcement (BIG-ST BAA) invites proposers to submit innovative concepts to address hard GEOINT problems that align to one or more of the following technical domains: (1) Foundational GEOINT, (2) Advanced Phenomenologies, and (3) Analytic Technologies. Each of these domains is described below and includes a list of example research topics that highlight several (but not all) potential areas of interest. Throughout the open period of this Announcement, posted Topic Calls will specify areas associated with these technical domains.

Each posted Topic Call will provide specific timelines for abstract and proposal submission. Proposers will be responsible for maintaining awareness of these Topic Calls and associated timelines for submissions. No submissions shall be accepted to the general solicitation; abstracts and proposals will only be reviewed in response to Topic Calls.

Work under this BAA will consist of projects funded under the Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) Budget Activities 1 to 4: Basic Research (Budget Activity 1), Applied Research (Budget Activity 2), Advanced Technology Development (Budget Activity 3), and Advanced Component Development and Prototype (Budget Activity 4). See Department of Defense (DoD) 7000.14-R Vol. 2B Chapter 5 Section 1.5 for more information [https://comptroller.defense.gov/portals/45/documents/fmr/current/02b/02b_05.pdf].

In accordance with FAR Part 35, the scope of this BAA is limited to research and development of concepts and technologies that fall within the above budget activities and Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1-6. Topics under this BAA may further specify proposed solutions to a subset of budget activities and expected TRLs.

The definitions of Budget Activities and TRLs can be found in Appendix 6, Definitions.

Technical Domains of Interest

FOUNDATIONAL GEOINT

The Foundational GEOINT portion of the Research portfolio focuses on the creation of always accurate, high-resolution, continually updated representations of the earth’s properties, available on demand.

Topics of interest in this domain include, but are not limited to, innovations advancing the GEOINT physical sciences in the areas of:

(1) terrestrial/celestial reference frames;

(2) earth gravitational models;

(3) world magnetic models;

(4) assured positioning, navigation and timing, and resilience;

(5) geopositioning;

(6) feature extraction, attribution, classification and modeling;

(7) infrastructure models;

(8) human geography and environmental models;

(9) bathymetric/topological models; and

(10) maritime environmental mapping.

ADVANCED PHENOMENOLOGIES

The Advanced Phenomenologies portion of the Research portfolio employs novel methods and efficient strategies to drive development and delivery of improved spatially, spectrally, radiometrically, polarimetrically, and temporally resolved data from a growing number of traditional and non-traditional sources.

Topics of interest in this domain include, but are not limited to, innovations advancing the design and development of algorithms, components, and enabling technologies for systems in the areas of:

(1) detection, tracking, and identification of the most challenging targets in complex environments;

(2) sensing and real-time processing of both static and dynamic targets;

(3) novel source exploitation and optimization:

(4) collection technologies to optimize use of phenomenology sources;

(5) space situational awareness;

(6) information assurance, data integrity and quality validation;

(7) error propagation modeling; and

(8) multi-domain data aggregation.

ANALYTIC TECHNOLOGIES

The Analytic Technologies portion of the Research portfolio enhances the definition and utility of GEOINT by leveraging new sources of data and developing novel analytic techniques to deliver a geospatial dimension to multi-INT analytics, in particular to address emerging threats and mission domains. New data sources drive use of these technologies to provide accurate, timely, reliable and scalable methods for data exploitation, integration, and analysis.

Topics of interest in this domain include, but are not limited to, innovations in advanced processing techniques and enabling technologies for:

(1) geospatial signatures detection, analysis, and tracking;

(2) derivation of GEOINT from non-traditional data in cyberspace;

(3) stand-off detection of counter proliferation and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive activities;

(4) water security;

(5) image/video understanding and computer vision;

(6) image and product standards development and enhancement;

(7) automated target recognition;

(8) temporal and activity modeling and contextualization;

(9) event forecasting and prediction;

(10) knowledge and ontology modeling;

(11) artificial intelligence, to include novel learning techniques;

(12) automation, to include software tools;

(13) natural language processing;

(14) social media analytics;

(15) location-based insights;

(16) workflow effectiveness and analyst workflow modernization;

(17) human-machine interaction;

(18) tools that provide better human understanding of automated solutions;

(19) tools to guide algorithm and automation governance; and

(20) immersive GEOINT visualization tools.

Award Information The NGA Office of Contract Services - Research (OCS-R) Division has the authority to award a variety of instruments on behalf of NGA. Anticipated awards under this BAA may take the form of Procurement Contracts, Grants, Cooperative Agreements, or Other Transactions (OTs) for prototypes and follow-on Production.

The NGA OCS-R Division reserves the right to award the type of instrument most appropriate for the effort proposed. Proposers should familiarize themselves with these instrument types and the applicable regulations before submitting an abstract or proposal. In all cases, the Government Contracting Officer shall have sole discretion to select award instrument type, regardless of instrument type proposed, and to negotiate all instrument terms and conditions with selectees.

NGA anticipates multiple awards which will be subject to the availability of funds. Awards will be made to proposers whose proposals are determined to be the most advantageous to the Government.

The Government reserves the right to:

Select for negotiation all, some, one, or none of the proposals received in response to specific Topic Calls;

Make awards without discussions with proposers;

Conduct discussions with proposers if the Government determines they are necessary;

Divide awards into base and option periods;

Not execute one or more option periods, if an award is divided into a base and option periods;

Accept proposals in their entirety or to select only portions of proposals for award;

Fund awards in increments;

Request additional documentation once the award instrument has been determined (e.g., representations and certifications); and Remove proposers from award consideration should the proposer and the Government fail to reach agreement on award terms within a reasonable time, or if the proposer fails to provide requested additional information in a timely manner.

The following is a list of possible award types and award instruments to help inform your organization in determining which award type and instrument may be the most appropriate. Proposed award type and instrument are subject to negotiation based on details of each Topic and the proposed approach. The allowable award instruments and their allowable award types are as follows (and are further defined in Appendix 3):

· Fixed Price

· Fixed Price Level of Effort

· Time and Materials

· Labor Hour

· Cost Plus Fixed Fee

· Cost Reimbursable (No Fee)

· Fixed Price

· Time and Materials

· Labor Hour *NGA has authority to award Prototype and Production OTs

· Cost Reimbursable (No Fee)

Follow-on work resulting from prototype Other Transactions (OT):

In accordance with 10 U.S.C. 4022, NGA may award a follow-on production contract or OT for any OT awarded under this BAA if: (1) the participant(s) in the OT successfully completed the entire prototype project provided for in that OT, as modified; and (2) the OT provides for the award of a follow-on production contract or OT to the participant(s).

Eligibility Information Eligible Applicants All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit a proposal for NGA’s consideration.

Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and Government Entities NGA will consider FFRDC and Government Entity eligibility submissions on a case-by-case basis; however, the burden to prove eligibility for all team members rests solely with the proposer. Sufficient information shall be provided at the time of proposal submission; NGA will not evaluate eligibility outside of any proposal submissions. Currently, NGA does not consider 15 U.S.C. § 3710a to be sufficient legal authority to show eligibility. While 10 U.S.C.§ 4992 may be the appropriate statutory starting point for some entities, specific supporting regulatory guidance, together with evidence of agency approval, will still be required to fully establish eligibility.

FFRDCs FFRDCs are subject to applicable direct competition limitations and cannot propose to this BAA in any capacity unless they meet the following conditions: (1) FFRDCs must clearly demonstrate that the proposed work is not otherwise available from the private sector; (2) FFRDCs must provide a letter, on official letterhead from their sponsoring organization, that (a) cites the specific authority establishing their eligibility to propose to Government solicitations and compete with industry, and (b) certifies the FFRDC’s compliance with the associated FFRDC sponsor agreement’s terms and conditions; and (3) The FFRDC should disclose any current work being performed within NGA Research or NGA that is similar in scope to this work. The Contracting Officer will determine if an Organizational Conflict of Interest exists. These conditions are a requirement for FFRDCs proposing to be awardees or sub-awardees.

Government Entities Government Entities (e.g., Government/National laboratories, University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), military educational institutions, etc.) are subject to applicable direct competition limitations. Government entities must clearly demonstrate that the work is not otherwise available from the private sector, and provide written documentation citing the specific statutory authority and contractual authority, if relevant, establishing their ability to propose to Government solicitations and compete with industry. This information is required for Government Entities proposing to be awardees or sub-awardees.

Grants and Cooperative Agreements Eligibility Requirements While the intent of awarding grants and cooperative agreements is to further fundamental research for the public good, NGA acknowledges that such research may have implications that are important to U.S. national interests and must be protected against malign foreign influence and exploitation.

Nation Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33) mandates the establishment of research security programs to protect against foreign government interference and exploitation at research institutions receiving federal funds in excess of $50 million per year. Qualifying research institutions must establish a four-part research security program focused on:

In accordance with the USD(R&E) memorandum titled “Policy for Risk-Based Security Reviews of Fundamental Research”, dated 8 June 2023, NGA shall conduct risk-based security reviews of fundamental research project proposals, and an annual verification in accordance with section 10632(a)(1) of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167), to confirm that each participant listed on the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) is not a participant in a malign foreign talent recruitment program (MFTRP) meeting any of the criteria in section 10638(4)(A)(i)-(ix) of the CHIPS and Science act of 2022.

Beginning in Fiscal Year (FY 2024), no U.S. institution of higher education that hosts a Confucius Institute may receive DoD funding, unless the institution of higher education has been issued a waiver by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to section 1062 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2021.

Congruent with the executive, congressional, and departmental direction above, NGA will decline any proposal in which:

1. The proposer is a research institution and:

(a) receives federal funds in excess of $50 million per year and has not established a research security program; or

(b) hosts a Confucius Institute, unless the proposer has been issued a waiver by the Secretary of Defense; or

(c) is an entity identified as a Chinese military company operating in the United States in accordance with section 1260h of the William M. ("Mac") Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 113; Public Law 116-283); or

(d) has a covered individual who is published on the list under section 1237(b) of the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105-261; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note.); or

(e) has a covered individual that is party to a malign foreign talent recruitment program (MFTRP); or

(f) does not have a policy or procedure addressing MFTRPs; or

2. The proposer, its parent company or its subsidiary is:

(a) located in foreign country of concern (FCOC); or

(b) has an owner or covered individual that has a foreign affiliation with a research institution located in an FCOC; or

(c) has an owner or covered individual that is party to a MFTRP; and

3. The relationships and commitments described in clauses 2(a) through 2(c):

(a) interfere with NGA’s capacity to carry out activities it supports;

(b) create duplication with DoD-supported activities;

(c) present concerns about conflicts of interest (CoI) or commitment (CoC);

(d) were not appropriately disclosed to NGA;

(e) violate Federal law or NGA terms and conditions; or

(f) pose a risk to national security.

Foreign Participation Each Topic will specify whether non-U.S. organizations and/or individuals may participate and any specific controls or security regulations that apply. If allowable under the Topic, any and all forms of foreign participation must be clearly and fully disclosed within the proposal. For controlled unclassified information (CUI) and classified submissions, this includes disclosing and mitigating any Foreign Ownership Control and Influence (FOCI) issues prior to transmitting the submission to NGA. Additional information on FOCI can be found at https://www.dcsa.mil/mc/isd/foci/.

Cost Sharing/Matching Cost sharing is not required; however, it will be carefully considered where there is an applicable statutory condition relating to the selected funding instrument (e.g., OTs under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 4022).

OTs for Prototypes require cost sharing unless at least one nontraditional defense contractors is significantly involved, or all significant participants in the transaction are small businesses or nontraditional defense contractors. If the proposing team is not composed of the required entities listed above, it is required to provide at least 1/3 cost share from their own funds, unless a case can be made for a waiver. Waivers are not common and will require significant justification.

Notwithstanding these requirements, cost sharing is encouraged where there is a reasonable probability of a potential commercial application related to the proposed research and development effort. Any cost sharing arrangement should be noted in the abstract and detailed in the final cost proposal.

Abstract and Proposal Submission Information Proposers are reminded that submission deadlines as outlined in Topic Calls are in Eastern Time and will be strictly enforced.

When planning a response to this solicitation, proposers should consider that some parts of the submission process may take from one business day to one month to complete (e.g., registering for a TIN).

Amendments to General Solicitation and Topic Calls: If the General Solicitation or a Topic Call is amended, all terms and conditions that are not amended remain unchanged. Offerors shall acknowledge receipt of any amendment by the date and time specified in the Topic Call amendment(s).

NGA will acknowledge receipt of complete submissions via email. If no confirmation is received within two business days, please contact NGA at BIGSTBAA@nga.mil to verify receipt.

Solicitation Application Package No request for proposal or additional solicitation regarding this announcement and subsequent topic calls will be issued outside of publications to the Sam.gov website (https://sam.gov), the Grants.gov website (https://www.grants.gov), and the Acquisition Research Center (ARC) (https:/acq.westfields.net). Topic Calls will be published as updates to the BIG-ST BAA General Solicitation on Sam.gov and Grants.gov. Topic Calls further define the technology/Government needs or request submission to specific areas. Classified Topics, if applicable, will only be posted to the ARC, but the posting will be announced on Sam.gov and Grants.gov.

Content and Form of Application Submission Abstracts and proposals shall adhere to the instructions within this part (Part 4: Abstract and Proposal Submission Information).

In general, proposers are only allowed to submit one abstract and one proposal per Topic Call. Exceptions will be outlined in specific Topic Calls.

Proposers who did not submit an abstract are ineligible to submit a proposal.

Completeness of Information Proposers are responsible for including all necessary information in their proposal to merit award under the solicitation criteria. Information that is not included within the proposal will not be evaluated and may result in a proposal not conforming with the solicitation instructions.

Application Process Overview SAM Registration:

Register with the System for Award Management (SAM) Registration at https://www.sam.gov. You will also be able to obtain your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) at Sam.gov, which replaced the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number in April 2022.

Proposers are required to be registered in SAM when submitting a proposal and shall continue to be registered until time of award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract resulting from this solicitation.

ARC Registration: For classified topics, you must register in the ARC to access the specifics of the topic call. More information is available at https:/acq.westfields.net.

See section 4.5.7 for additional registration instructions.

Abstract Submission:

For topic calls requesting abstracts, it is mandatory that prospective proposers submit abstracts prior to submission of a complete proposal. The purpose of submitting an abstract is to minimize the labor and cost associated with the production of a detailed proposal that has little chance of being selected for funding. Feedback on an abstract will be provided to the proposer regarding the concept’s scientific merit, potential contributions to the NGA Research mission, and affordability considering available funding. A favorable response to an Abstract is not a guarantee that a proposal based on the abstract will ultimately be selected for award. If NGA does not recommend that proposer submit a full proposal, NGA will provide feedback to the proposer regarding the rationale for this decision. Regardless of NGA’s abstract feedback, proposers may choose to submit a full proposal.

Proposal Submission:

Interested proposers are required to submit a proposal as awards will not be made from abstracts. Proposals must adhere to instructions contained within this solicitation and any instructions provided in the specific topic call. Proposers who did not submit an abstract, are ineligible to submit a proposal.

Abstract Preparation and Submission Information Abstract Submission An abstract of the proposed effort shall be submitted electronically, via email, to the email specified in the Topic Call.

E-mail Subject Line: “BIGST BAA Topic X Abstract (Company Name)”.

Please see Topic Call for specific timelines for abstract submission.

NGA will attempt to reply to abstracts within 30 calendar days. These official notifications will be emailed to the Technical POC and/or Administrative POC identified on the abstract cover sheet.

Abstract Format Notwithstanding specific abstract format instructions provided in the topic calls, abstracts shall be submitted in accordance with this announcement.

Proposers shall use the Abstract Template in Appendix 1.

Proposers are prohibited from altering any of the settings in this template (i.e. font, font size, line spacing, margins). Graphics/illustrations are allowed and are not subject to the format restrictions. Tables are allowed but are subject to the format restrictions.

Section 1 – ‘Proposed Research’ is limited to 5 pages.

Proposers shall replace/delete all grey instructions within the template after completion of the abstract.

Any abstract that does not utilize the required template at Appendix 1 will not be considered for review.

Restrictive Markings on Abstracts Records or data subject to restrictions on their use may be included in the abstract, but shall be clearly marked. The proposer shall clearly identify and mark any proprietary data that is intended to be used by the Government only. The proposer shall also identify any technical data or computer software contained in the abstract that is being provided with restrictions on its use by the Government. In the absence of such identification, the Government will assume to have unlimited rights to all technical data or computer software contained in the abstract.

It is the intent of NGA to treat all abstracts as procurement sensitive information before the award, and to disclose their contents only to Government employees or designated support contractors for the purpose of procurement related activities only. Refer to BIG-ST BAA Provisions and Clauses (Separate File posted with this BAA General solicitation), 5x52.209-9004, Use of Contractor Support, for specific information concerning NGA use of contractor support. Classified, sensitive, or critical information on technologies should not be included in an abstract.

Proposers are cautioned that portions of an abstract may be subject to release under terms of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552, as amended.

Proposal Preparation and Submission Information The proposal is the only vehicle available to the proposer for receiving consideration for award. Proposers who did not submit an abstract, are ineligible to submit a proposal.

Proposal Submission The proposal shall be submitted electronically, via email, to the email specified in the Topic Call.

E-mail Subject Line: “BIGST BAA Topic X Full Proposal (Company Name)”.

All forms requiring signature shall be completed, printed, signed, and scanned into a PDF document or electronically signed.

Proposals shall be submitted in accordance with this announcement and any instructions in the individual Topic Call.

Proposal Preparation and Submission Information for Grants and Cooperative Agreements See Appendix 5 for detailed instructions on how to submit a proposal for a Grant or Cooperative Agreement.

Proposers shall provide a courtesy copy of their complete Grants.gov submission to the email specified in the Topic Call.

Sections 4.5.3 - 4.5.8 of this document do not apply to Grants and Cooperative Agreement Proposals.

Proposal Format Proposers shall use the Proposal Template in Appendix 2, which is made up of a BIG-ST BAA proposal submission coversheet, table of contents, 4 proposal volumes, and 9 attachments.

This template includes detailed instructions on required proposal volume information. Proposers are prohibited from altering any of the settings in this template (i.e. font, font size, line spacing, margins). Graphics/illustrations are allowed and are not subject to the format restrictions. Tables are allowed but are subject to the format restrictions.

Any proposal that does not utilize the required template at Appendix 2 will not be reviewed and will not be considered for award.

(Digital signature required)

Bibliography:2 pages (not incl. in page count) Relevant Papers: max. 3 papers on 10 pages total (not incl. in page count) Resumes: max. 2 resumes with max. 3 pages each (one shall be of PI; not incl. in page count)

Table of deliverables is not incl. in page count

(Digital signature required)

(Digital signature required)

(Instructions at Topic Level)

Lists Contractor and Subcontractor information (Instructions at Topic Level)

(Instructions at Topic Level)

(Instructions at Topic Level)

(Instructions at Topic Level)

FILE NAMING CONVENTION

Proposers shall submit each proposal volume and attachment as a separate file in accordance with (IAW) the structure laid out above.

Files shall be labeled by the following naming convention (Short Version of Proposer Name + Topic Number + Volume or Attachment Number):

Proposer Name_T#_Vol # Proposer Name_T#_Att # Proposal Content The proposal shall stand on its own merit. Only information provided in the proposal will be used in the evaluation process leading to an award. The proposal should provide straightforward and concise descriptions of proposed work.

Do not use acronyms or abbreviations without defining acronyms and abbreviations at the first use; place the abbreviation in parenthesis immediately following the phrase. This provides the definition for each subsequent reuse.

The proposal shall be signed by the authorized institutional representative. If the electronic version of the proposal does not include a signature from the appropriate representative of the proposer, the Government Contracting Officer may determine the proposal to be non-conforming.

Volume 1 -Technical/Management The detailed proposal portion of Volume 1, including any appendices, tables, or figures, shall be no greater than twenty (20) pages in length, unless otherwise specified within the topic call instructions. Reviewers will not review any pages beyond the 20-page limit. The information required within this volume is listed within the proposal template.

Proposers shall submit a Statement of Work as Attachment 1 to Volume 1, using the Proposal Template in Appendix 2. The SOW is limited to five (5) pages (excluding table for deliverables). Proposers are prohibited from altering any of the settings in this template (i.e. font, font size, line spacing, margins). This document will become an attachment to the contract in the event of an award. The SOW needs to stand on its own without making references to the technical proposal. Do not include any proprietary information within the SOW.

Volume 2 – Cost/Price Narrative The Cost/Price volume shall justify the need for and amount of major direct expense categories, including (but not limited to) labor, equipment, and travel. The cost estimate for the proposed effort shall sufficiently detail elements of cost and the need for these items to allow for meaningful evaluation. The Cost/Price volume shall clearly and closely align with the planned methodology presented in the Technical/Management Volume.

A cost estimate shall be detailed for each task of the proposed work.

Proposers shall submit a Cost/Price Breakout as Attachment 2 to Volume 2 using an MS Excel spreadsheet.

Cost Type Contract: All proposals may be subject to the requirements of the Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA). Prior to closing negotiations, a Certificate of Current Cost/Price data will be required if proposed costs are over the TINA threshold and the Contracting Officer deems it necessary in accordance with FAR 15.403-4.

Sub-contractor Cost Proposals:

Proposers shall include cost information for subcontracted work. Subcontractor cost proposals shall contain the same type of information and level of detail as the proposer’s cost proposal. All subcontracted work shall be properly identified as such. If a subcontractor elects to submit an abbreviated cost proposal to a proposer, it is the proposer’s responsibility to see that the submitted subcontractor information is simultaneously submitted to the Government Contracting Officer as part of their proposal. Proposers shall carry out responsibilities in accordance with FAR 15.404-3, DFARS 215.404-3 and PGI 215.404-3.

Volume 3 – Administrative and National Policy Requirements Solicitation Provisions and Award Clauses, Terms and Conditions Solicitation provisions relevant to NGA BAAs are listed at acquisition.gov and within the file 'BIG-ST BAA Provisions and Clauses' (separate File posted with this BAA General Solicitation).

SAM.gov and ‘BIG-ST BAA Provisions and Clauses’ also list award clauses that, depending on their applicability, may be included in the terms and conditions of awards resultant from NGA solicitations. This list is not exhaustive and the clauses, terms and conditions included in a resultant award will depend on the nature of the research effort, the specific award instrument, the type of awardee, and any applicable security or publication restrictions.

The above information serves to inform potential proposers and awardees of proposal requirements and award terms and conditions to which they may have to adhere to.

0. Representations and Certifications Representations and certifications shall be completed by successful applicants prior to award. FAR Online Representations and Certifications are to be completed through SAM at https://www.SAM.gov.

As appropriate, DFARS and contract-specific certification packages as listed in BIG-ST BAA Provisions and Clauses (separate File posted with this BAA General Solicitation) shall be filled out and submitted with the proposal.

Other Transaction Proposals Terms and Conditions will be negotiated at the time of award.

Subcontracting Plan (Applicable to Procurement Contracts) Pursuant to Section 8(d) of the Small Business Act [15 U.S.C. § 637(d)], it is the policy of the Government to enable small business and small disadvantaged business (SDB) concerns to be considered fairly as subcontractors.

All other than U.S. small businesses proposing contracts expected to exceed $750,000.00 (total contract value including option periods) are required to submit a subcontracting plan IAW FAR 19.702(a), and shall do so with their proposal. A subcontracting plan is required regardless of whether the prime contractor is proposing a subcontractor or not.

Per FAR 19.702, large businesses are required to provide small businesses ‘the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in contract performance consistent with its efficient performance.’ Large business proposals that exceed the above stated threshold are required to include the required subcontracting plan, explaining and justifying the proposed level of small business participation.

The submission of a Master Subcontracting Plan (with individual subcontracting goals if applicable), Commercial Plan or Comprehensive Subcontracting Test Program (CSP) Plan is acceptable; a copy of the applicable plan shall be included with the proposal as Attachment 3.

Proposals failing to include a subcontracting plan (when required) will be deemed non-conforming and will be removed from consideration for award. For further information on this requirement, see FAR 19, specifically 19.702 and 19.704, and NARI 5X52.219-9002 –Small Business Goal.

Subcontracting plans are determined to be acceptable or unacceptable based on the criteria established at FAR 19.705-4 and DFARS 219.705-4. Subcontracting goals are established by the Government on an individual contract basis; see NGA clause 5x52.219-9002, Small Business Goal under BIG-ST BAA Provisions and Clauses (separate File posted with this BAA General solicitation). The goals should be realistic, challenging and attainable which, to the greatest extent possible, maximize small business participation in subcontracting for Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically-Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), and Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Small Business, consistent with applicants’ make-or-buy policy, the pool of and availability of qualified and capable small business subcontractors, their performance on subcontracts, and existing relationships with suppliers.

Subcontracting goals should result in efficient contract performance in terms of cost, schedule, and performance and should not result in increased costs to the Government or undue administrative burden to the prime contractor.

For additional reference, DoD Small Business Subcontracting Goals may be found at: https://business.defense.gov/About/Goals-and-Performance/ Intellectual Property Intellectual property and data rights for concepts, research findings and developed products under this Broad Agency Announcement will vary due to topic, security protection requirements, and final negotiated contract vehicle type. Proposers should note that the Government will not own the intellectual property, including technical data/computer software, developed under this BAA. Instead, NGA, as a DoD Component, does reserve a royalty-free, nonexclusive and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use the work for Federal purposes, and to authorize others to do so as well. In addition, as allowed by 35 U.S. Code 202, NGA may determine that it is best to restrict or eliminate the right to retain title on any subject invention funded under this BAA to protect the security of such activities due to U.S. export control laws, Government furnished information, or security classification.

For Procurement Contracts, proposers are required to assert any data right restrictions that are directly applicable to the deliverables of the proposed effort, using the template provided in Attachment 4 to Appendix 2 - Data Rights Assertion Table Template of this solicitation; proposers shall submit this Table as Attachment 4 of Volume 3 - Administrative & National Policy Requirements.

For Other Transactions, proposers shall specifically identify any asserted data right restrictions that are directly related to the deliverables of the proposed effort. Proposers shall propose specific Intellectual Property terms and conditions and a data deliverable list. Proposers shall fill out the template provided in Attachment 4 to Appendix 2, - Data Rights Assertion Table Template of this solicitation; proposers shall submit this Table as Attachment 4 of Volume 3 - Administrative & National Policy Requirements.

The table under Attachment 4 shall be dated and signed by an official authorized to contractually obligate the Proposer. If the Proposer will deliver all technical data and computer software to the Government without restrictions, enter “NONE” in this table under the heading “Technical Data or Computer Software to be Furnished with Restrictions.”

(1) Patents:

The Proposer shall list any known patents, patent applications, or inventions which the Proposer may be required to license in order to perform the work described in the proposal, or which the Government may be required to license to make or use the deliverables of the contract, should the proposal be selected for award. For any patent or patent application listed above, the Proposer shall provide the patent number or patent application publication number, a summary of the patent or invention title, and indicate whether the Proposer is the patent or invention owner. If a patent or invention is in-licensed by the Proposer, identify the licensor.

If any listed patent, patent application or invention is owned or licensed by the Proposer, the Proposer shall provide a statement, in writing, if it either owns or possesses the appropriate licensing rights to patent, patent application or invention to perform the work described in the proposal and/or if the Proposer will grant the Government a license to make or use the deliverables for the proposed program. If any listed patent, patent application or invention is not owned or licensed by the Proposer, then the Proposer shall explain how it will obtain a license, how the Government may obtain a license and/or whether the Proposer plans to obtain these rights on behalf of the Government.

Be advised that no patent, patent application or invention disclosure will be accepted if not pre-identified in Attachment 4, Data Rights Assertion Table (Volume 3) and included in your proposal. Existing inventions, patents and patent applications shall be discussed in the above list. Government rights in any technology that might be invented or reduced to practice under this BAA are addressed in the patent rights clause to be included in the contract.

(2) Data Rights Proposals submitted in response to this BAA shall identify, to the extent known at the time an offer is submitted to the Government, the technical data or computer software that the Proposer, its subcontractors or suppliers, or potential subcontractors or suppliers, assert should be furnished to the Government with restrictions on use, release, or disclosure, in accordance with DFARS 252.227-7017, Identification and Assertion of Use, Release or Disclosure Restrictions, and DFARS 252.227-7028, Technical Data or Computer Software Previously Delivered to the Government. The restrictions, if any, shall be directly applicable to the deliverables of the proposed effort and shall, therefore, reference the respective deliverables listed within the SOW. The Proposer's assertions, including the assertions of its subcontractors or suppliers or potential subcontractors or suppliers, shall be submitted as Attachment 4, Data Rights Assertion Table, under Volume 3, Administrative and National Policy Requirements (Template is at Attachment 4 to Appendix 2).

Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) Disclosure and Analysis Form(s) Proposers and their subcontractors shall each submit an OCI Disclosure Form as Attachment 5 of Volume 3; template is at Appendix 2, Attachment 5 - OCI Disclosure and Analysis Form. This form shall also be submitted if no actual or potential OCI is identified.

If the Government determines that a proposer failed to fully disclose an OCI; failed to provide the disclosure of NGA support; or failed to reasonably provide additional information requested by the Government to assist in evaluating the proposer’s OCI mitigation plan, the Government may reject the proposal and withdraw it from consideration for award.

Volume 4 - SECURITY Technology and Program Protection Some Topic Call proposals may require a Proposal-Specific Protection Plan (PSPP). Topic Calls that require a PSPP will state so in the Topic Call. PSPP submission information can be found in Attachment 7 of Appendix 2, Proposal Template.

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) NGA will provide specific instructions at the Topic Call level for projects that require access to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

For unclassified proposals containing CUI, applicants will ensure personnel and information systems processing CUI have security requirements in place.

Classified Submissions and Topics For Topic Calls that will require classified work and/or access to classified information, NGA will provide specific instructions for submitting a Security Plan and all required attachments at the Topic Call level. Instructions will also provide information on how NGA will evaluate the Security Plan and attachments. If additional security requirements are released at the Topic level, proposers shall adhere to the security requirements to be eligible to participate in the applicable Topic Area.

Classified questions or comments regarding this BAA must be submitted via email to BIGSTBAA@coe.ic.gov. (An unclassified email shall be sent to the BIGSTBAA@nga.mil to notify the Contracting Officer of the intent to submit classified information.)

Topic Calls will identify the highest classification level for that topic; if the highest classification level is classified, the Topic Call will provide an email address where proposers can submit classified proposals.

If a Topic is posted on the classified ARC, NGA will provide a Sam.gov notice that a classified Topic has been posted on the classified ARC site.

Classified ARC Sign Up Instructions: Proposers will first need to set up an account on the unclassified ARC at https://acq.westfields.net/. Logon to the Classified ARC with same logon and password used on the unclassified ARC. The high side ARC website is: https://acq.nro.ic.gov. Once you log in, it will send an email to your high side email and you shall verify using the link in the email before it will log you into the site. You shall validate/activate your high side account within 24 hours of trying to login to the classified ARC or it will be disabled. If it is disabled, you shall contact the ACE Helpdesk at secure 855-4ACE or unclassified 703-230-6300.

For Classified Topics, once registered and logged in at the ARC, potential Proposer’s can click and select the BIG-ST BAA ARC page under NGA. Proposers will need to use the Q&A link on that page to submit a question or comment, and to view the responses to all questions and comments, including those submitted by other organizations. For assistance, please refer to ARC 20 Users Guide under the Help Resources button at the top of the ARC page. Please email the Contracting Officer whenever a question or information is submitted to the ARC site to ensure a timely response.

Abstract and Proposal Review Information Abstract Review Criteria & Process During the review of the Abstracts the following will be considered in accordance with the BAA intent:

Proposed concept constitutes Basic Research, Applied Research, Advanced Technology Development and/or Advanced Component Development and Prototype efforts IAW DFARS 235.016.

Proposed concept is within the scope of the specific posted topic.

Overall scientific and technical merit of the proposed research; approach that enables novel/innovative advances over current state of practice.

Potential contribution to NGA’s Research mission.

ROM Cost/Price presents an affordable path for the Government based on the Topic Area Budget.

Abstract Feedback: After abstract review, feedback will be provided to the proposer as to whether they are or are not recommended to submit a full proposal. Regardless of NGA’s response to an abstract, proposers may submit a full proposal.

Proposal Review Process Proposals received in response to the BIG-ST BAA solicitation will be evaluated in accordance with the 8-step procedures set forth below:

Step 1: Conformance Review An administrative conformance review will be performed to verify that the proposal includes all required documentation and information as set forth within this BAA and the applicable Topic Call; proposals that fail to do so will be deemed non-conforming and may be removed from consideration. The Government may provide proposers with the opportunity to fix administrative errors or supply missing attachments if it is in the best interest of the Government and does not create an unfair advantage for a proposer.

Step 2: Scientific/Technical Review NGA will conduct a scientific/technical review of each conforming proposal. Proposals will not be evaluated against each other because they are not submitted in accordance with a common work statement. NGA’s intent is to review proposals as soon as possible after they arrive; however, proposals may be reviewed periodically for administrative reasons.

CONFIDENCE RATING

NGA will conduct the scientific/technical review of each proposal using two (2) Technical Evaluation Factors; section 5.2.2.1 discusses each one. The Government will assess its level of confidence that the Proposer understands the goals and objectives of the research topic, proposes a sound approach, and will be successful in performing the proposed work. As warranted, the confidence assessment will consider the extent to which successful performance will require Government intervention, or Government participation beyond what is stated in the proposal. After evaluation of the technical proposal, NGA will assign each technical factor a Confidence Rating of High, Some, or Low; the definitions are shown below.