FA8650-21-S-6002 MATRIX RFI_FINAL.pdf

FA8650-21-S-6002

Mission Analytics Technology & Research for Innovative eXploitation (MATRIX)

Request for Information (RFI)

1. Contracting Office Address

Department of the Air Force, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) – Wright Research Site, AFRL/RAKHA, Area B, Bldg. 45, 2130 Eighth Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433-7541

2. General Information

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only, as defined in FAR 15.201(e), to obtain information about capabilities and other market information for planning purposes. This RFI is not a request for competitive proposals; therefore, responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responses should include information identifying whether the responder’s firm is a small or large business. The size standard is 1,000 employees. The NAICS code for this potential effort is 541715 (Research and Technology in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology). Companies that respond will not be paid for the information submitted except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in FAR 31.205-18, “Bid and Proposal Costs”. All information received shall be safeguarded from unauthorized disclosure.

Please do not submit any proprietary or classified information.

3. General Intent

The Air Force Research Laboratory, 711th Human Performance Wing, Mission Analytics Branch (711HPW/RHWA) located at Wright- Patterson AFB (WPAFB) is in the planning stage for a research program to conduct basic and applied scientific and technical research to inform fundamental design principles and theories in human-machine teaming, human performance, psychological processes, and physiological indicators to enhance Airman analytic efficiency and effectiveness across a variety of mission environments. Progress must be achieved through solutions that team human analysts with automated decision support analytics to amplify their joint ability to monitor and make sense of the world beyond what either human or automation can achieve independently. By combining perspectives and principles from human factors and cognitive systems engineering with methods and technologies from data and computer science, this results in the creation and transition of innovative technology solutions that can revolutionize analytics for the warfighter in a variety of domains.

4. Statement of Need

711HPW/RHWA requires a technical partner with experience in cognitive systems engineering and agile software development methods to envision enhanced workflows, develop and transition rapid software prototypes, and conduct scientific research and experimentation that improves analytic reasoning, insight, and meaning-making from complex and uncertain data in a variety of operational domains. Also, experience is required in applying human factors and data science principles to research foundational knowledge and constructs to develop and assess airman-centric analytics that support all mission phases in distributed, dynamic, contested, and degraded operational environments.

5. Program Information and Information Requested

Interested respondents should address the requirements described in the statement of need section and the following:

• Describe experience and knowledge in agile software development and successfully deploying software into Amazon Web Services, Amazon GovCloud, Azure cloud environments and Platform One.

• Describe experience with knowledge elicitation techniques, cognitive systems engineering, and human factors

• Describe experience in the design and conducting of experiments to evaluate the efficacy and performance of various analytic capabilities.

• Describe experience and knowledge in machine learning, data science, signal processing, and computer science techniques to process and exploit multi-dimensional data across a variety of modalities and media types, with an emphasis on multimodal human language technologies and topological data analysis.

• Explain in detail your company’s capability with respect to personnel and facilities for handling classified data – up to and including TS/SCI data.

6. Required Responses / Submission Instructions

Responses to this RFI are limited to 7 pages with one inch margins using standard letter-size 8 ½” x 11” paper. The page count includes any title page. Font must be 10-point Arial.

Responses must be unclassified, and should not contain company proprietary information. Any responses containing classified information will be returned to the responder without being assessed/considered.

Please pay attention to any company templates that automatically create a “company proprietary” or similar type statement. Please ensure your response does not have any markings stating the information is proprietary, or it will not be considered. IF APPLICABLE, clearly indicate the appropriate distribution statement (B, C, D, etc.), Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), or ITAR-restricted.

Multiple responses from a firm are acceptable. Marketing information is NOT acceptable in the response. Endorsements from elected officials at the federal, state, and/or local levels are NOT acceptable in the response.

Responses to the RFI are due to the Contracting Officer identified below by 3:00 PM EST, 22 February 2021. Responders shall provide one (1) electronic copy (in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat) of their response to the Contracting Officer, Adrianna Menker, via email at adrianna.menker@us.af.mil.

7. Request for Clarification / Technical Questions

A responder may request clarification, in writing, from the Contracting Office for any aspect of this RFI that is unclear, by sending an email to the Contracting Officer below:

AFRL/RAKHA

Adrianna Menker adrianna.menker@us.af.mil

Any requests for clarification must be received no later than seven (7) business days prior to the close of the RFI in order to receive a timely response. Clarifications may be posted on the RFI announcement website to benefit all interested parties. Interested respondents are encouraged to periodically check the website during the response period for clarifications.

Technical questions regarding this RFI should be directed in writing to Mr. David Williamson, david.williamson.7@us.af.mil.

8. Additional Information

All responsible sources may submit information that shall be considered by the agency. If late information is received, it may be considered, depending on agency time constraints. All routine communications regarding the announcement should be directed to the contractual point of contact mailto:adrianna.menker@us.af.mil mailto:adrianna.menker@us.af.mil mailto:david.williamson.7@us.af.mil.

listed above. The Government may or may not use any responses to this RFI as a basis for a subsequent project. Any projects developed from the RFI responses may be the subject of a subsequent acquisition.

Responses to this RFI will not be returned. The Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received, or provide feedback to the respondents with respect to any of the information submitted under this RFI. No requests for a bid package or solicitation will be accepted; a bid package or solicitation does not exist at this time. In order to protect the integrity of any possible future acquisition, no additional information will be provided and no appointments for presentations will be made in reference to this RFI.

9. Support Contractors:

Only government employees will review submitted capability statements. Respondents are advised that employees of commercial firms under contract to the Government may be used to administratively process submissions and perform other administrative duties requiring access to other contractor’s proprietary information. These support contractors 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.

10. Submission Checklist

• Maximum 7 pages, including any title page

• 8 ½” x 11” paper

• One inch margins

• 10-point Arial font

• Unclassified

• IF APPLICABLE, clearly indicate the appropriate distribution statement (B, C, D, etc.), Controlled

Unclassified Information (CUI), or ITAR-restricted

• No marketing information, commercial documentation, or product literature

• No endorsements from elected officials at the federal, state, and/or local level

• Submitted via email to adrianna.menker@us.af.mil

• Due date 3:00 PM EST, 22 February 2021

11. Disclaimer

There is no guarantee that any submission in response to this RFI will result in a Government program. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. Responders to this RFI will have no competitive advantage in receiving any awards related to the submitted topic area. The information submitted in response to this RFI may be used to help the Government further define its requirements. If the Government develops a program that addresses any submitted or similar topic, the resulting procurement will address technology and business specific requirements as defined by the Government to achieve the required objectives.

mailto:adrianna.menker@us.af.mil