FA8650-17-S-1009-IndustryDay-Q&As.pdf

Industry Day Q&As

FA8650-17-S-1009

Advanced Laboratories for Analysis of Sensors (ALAS) Industry day (09 January 2018) * Questions (Q) and Answers (A)

1) Industry Day Slides - Clarifications

Slide 25 – “Load limits from 50 lbs to 10,000 lbs” should read “Load limits up to 10,000 lbs” Slide 32 – Technical Period of Performance (Task Order 0002) should read “21 months”.

2) Q: Is a proposal for the Niche “C” contract required if only interested in proposing on the Basic IDIQ and Task Orders (TOs)?

A: No, the niche contract is a small portion of the overall Basic IDIQ and therefore will already be addressed within the IDIQ technical volume for those proposing to the overall IDIQ/Task Orders. The niche contract is designed for those wanting to propose to that smaller portion of the overall effort only. However, if you choose to submit a niche proposal, in addition to the IDIQ/TO proposals, it will be evaluated independently IAW the stated criteria.

The Air Force reserves the right to buy all, some, or none of the proposed approaches.

3) Q: There is no associated SOO in the BAA for the “Niche C-Type contract” for the EO-RF Data Fusion Research for Near Earth Objects. Was this an administrative oversight, or is there no SOO for this “fourth” proposal effort?

A: An individual SOO is intentionally not provided for the niche contract. Paragraph 3.4 of the Basic IDIQ SOO, as stated within the BAA, provides the necessary objective information for the niche area.

4) Q: TO-0001 Flexible Emitters, Reference Targets, Environmental Monitoring and Characterization, Instrumentation Radar: Is the precision timing infrastructure already in place? If so, what information is available?

A: Yes, the AFRL precision timing infrastructure is in place. AFRL maintains absolute time reference and distributes it through fiber to the location of sensor experiments. The device at each location provides time information through a networked NTP server and discrete (1 pulse-per-second, 10 MHz reference, and IRIG-B) signals.

5) Q: TO-0001 Flexible Emitters: How many emitters are envisioned? Portable or permanent mount? For permanent mount locations, are the sites connected via fiber links?

A: The program goal is to be able to operate flexible emitters at 3 locations simultaneously. Emitters should be able to provide portable and permanent capabilities. Permanent mount locations are not all connected via fiber links.

6) Q: In regards to paragraph 3.4 of the IDIQ SOO: What are the target ranges of interest? Are there any target or Surrogate object descriptions/signatures/motions available? What are the current sensing approaches/modes and are there descriptions available? Is this in support of an existing test/observation facility? Are there system constraints such as aperture size, power, locations, etc.?

A: Target ranges are low earth orbit to high earth orbit. Target descriptions can be described as manmade and naturally occurring objects of various dimensions and trajectories. The ALAS program seeks innovative approaches in integrating EO and RF technologies to detect, track, and/or characterize Near Earth Objects at basic research levels. There are no system hardware restraints because physics based modeling and simulation tools are the desired end product. The ability to edit model parameters of the target, EO sensor model, and RF sensor model are desired.

7) Q: With regards to Slide 36 of the Industry Day Slides; The frequency range stated is 9.0 - 10.0 GHz. Is this correct?

A: The program goal is to design a radar that operates from 9 GHz to 10 GHz. This does not preclude the bidder from proposing a system that operates at additional frequencies as long as performance in the desired band is not degraded.

8) Q: Indoor Range – What types of absorber are used in the range and in what locations?

A: Refer to Slide 26 in the Industry Day Slides.

9) Q: Outdoor Range – Does equipment get sent to PMEL.

A: Some equipment is sent to PMEL for calibration and some equipment is returned to the manufacturer for calibration.

10) Q: Is the effort expected to be on or off base?

A: Location of effort is dependent on proposed approach and contractor facility capabilities. Base support is available and includes access to/use of listed RY facilities. Please note, however, intended use of base support must be stated and identified in your proposals.

11) Q: DD-254 - Box 1b says Top Secret safeguarding is required and Box 11a is checked to indicate access at Gov’t or other contractor facility only is required. Would you please clarify if safeguarding is required by the prime contractor or if another contractor/subcontractor can provide any safeguarding required outside of

RYM?

A: With 11a marked yes the contractor will not require TS safeguarding, provided all work will be completed on base and there will be no performance at the contractor facility. If any work will be completed at the contractor’s facility, based on the proposed approach, TS safeguarding will be required. The SSO requires us to mark 1a/1b TS when 10e (1) is marked yes.

The following statement will be added to Block 13 to cover the contractor from TS safeguarding should they not have it: Ref Blks 1b: Contractor must obtain TOP SECRET safeguarding capability from the authorizing official prior to being provided TOP SECRET information.

12) Q: Under this effort is a contractor supposed to provide technician/engineers for day to day operation of the OneRY indoor and/or outdoor ranges? Is the anticipating funding for Task Orders 1 and 2 exclusive of this cost? Is the budget exclusive of range operation and staffing?

A: The objective of the ALAS program is not to operate and run the ranges. The offeror should propose the personnel they feel is necessary to complete the tasks included in Task Orders 1 and 2. The objective of this

BAA is Research and Development (R&D) of innovative technological solutions to enhance RF, EO, and MS system technologies and sensors along with advancing test measurement techniques and methods. Please review the Technical Objectives paragraph of each Statement of Objectives, as attached to the BAA, for further details.

13) Q: In the Industry Day presentation posted on the web, on slide 31, ALAS Objectives, many objectives (subsections 3.3 through subsections 3.9 and section 4.0 of attachment 1) are not listed. In the Task Order 1 slides, slides 33 through 36, of the Industry Day Presentation posted on the web, only goals 3.1 through 3.5 of the Task Order are discussed. In the Task Order 2 slides, slides 37 through 39, of the Industry Day Presentation posted on the web, only goals 3.1 and 3.2 of the Task Order are discussed. Does this mean that there is more or less emphasis on the other objectives?

A: Offerors should address all paragraphs of the IDIQ SOO, TO 0001 SOO, and TO 0002 SOO.

14) Q: Which ‘remote sites’ are required to be connected to the network? Which remote sites are currently connected to the network? Should the connection be cable or fiber?

A: No sites are currently connected to the network. Fiber was included in the construction of the 602 complex, but is not currently connected. Connecting the 602 outdoor range control room, Springfield ANGB, Tillman, and Ingram would advance AFRL’s test measurement techniques and methods necessary to meet cutting edge and emerging warfighter needs, which is an overarching objective of the ALAS program. The type of connection is dependent on the offeror’s approach and proposed design.