BAA Amendment 0001.pdf

Amendment 0001

FA8650-20-S-5007

Direct IT Computational Testing and Overall Research (DICTATOR)

Funding Opportunity Announcement Number: FA8650-20-S-5007

The purpose of this amendment is to respond to questions submitted through 18 May 2020.

Questions and answers are provided as follows:

Q1. Based on the BAA and the DD254, both SAP/SAR and SCI accesses are required. Does the contract require a SAPF and SCIF at the contractor’s facility?

A1. Preferred, but not required. Should describe as possible, ability to work off site if needed to support full mission.

Q2. Does the contract require SCI personnel to have access on award?

A2. Yes. Must be able to interact with customers and perform duties on / near award. Given the time it takes for clearances to be awarded, having the “key personnel” attributed to working on contract already have clearances facilitates the capability to perform duties at award. Additional support personnel could obtain clearances later as needed.

Q3. Is the RF analysis and measurements over standard microwave frequency ranges or should we plan on including MMW or HF through UHF bands as well? Do the developed materials and composites have to operate over these same or expanded frequency bands?

A3. The measurement wavelengths are extremely broad encompassing but not limited to MIL- STDs including 188-125, 1269, and 3023 (HEMP, VEMP waveforms), Lightening MIL- STD1757A, dedicated ns pulsed sources from the sub MHz to greater than 10GHz, high power CW sources, focused beam measurements over the range of 1.5GHz to 110GHz, high temperature focused beam measurements over the range of 1.5GHz-40GHz, Banded Waveguide measurements, 7mm air coax measurements 10MHz -26GHz, bistatic measurements 1.5GHz- 40GHz, and DC conductivity measurements.

The Contractor will often be asked to measure and evaluate externally developed materials.

These materials are typically designed to be as broadly applicable as possible, however some are purpose designed and built. The ability to measure the performance and characterize the capabilities across the broad frequency ranges is essential to contractor personnel’s ability to support contract. The ability to analyze the performance of these materials against the context of their intended application is also required. When internal material development is undertaken, it will typically focus on advancing the TRL and MRL of a material previously demonstrated at a laboratory scale that shows promise for a particular purpose.

Q4. Based on attachment 3 to the BAA, it appears that all of the work will be in the Material's Directorate or is it a mix between Corporate and Government assets? Will all of the material measurements be done in the Material’s Directorate?

A4. Measurements are conducted at several locations including customer sites. Primarily work will be accomplished using the following capabilities at WPAFB:

~2-20GHz focused beam, ~20-110GHz focused beam, bistatic measurements 1.5-40GHz, SARA PAATS EMP, combined real time laser heated specimen focused beam 2GHz- 40GHz, fast time domain acquisition system, banded waveguide measurements, 7mm air coax measurements

A second common location is the White Sands Missile Range:

HEMP testing, VEMP testing, High power microwave ns pulsed source testing including NBTS and Reltron systems, examining basic material properties, subsystem properties, component properties, full system test properties. This is a live fire, UXO environment and not suitable for persons with any implanted electronics, or personnel unable to work in a desert setting. This is also a dosimetry site, as Co source Gamma testing, Flash x-ray and FBR testing are performed in conjunction with EM testing. All testing is performed at standard outdoor temperatures/conditions present at WSMR.

Customer site EM and HEL testing as required, including travel, setup and analysis at customer site.

Additional capabilities that are supplemental to the existing capabilities are not required but considered. Please detail Contractor capabilities in your proposal. However the government systems will be considered the primary test systems.

Q5. Attachment 6b, page 1, 2.2/2.3, Does the government have a priority on one or more of the applications of concern listed in these paragraphs: antennas, radomes, structures, EO/IR apertures, RF sensors, and EO/IR sensors?

A5. No all are important across the customer base. The emphasis is on materials over components. The list here was to provide examples of the types of systems that materials would be evaluated to integrate into or protect against.

Q6. Can you comment on the overall proportion of optical to RF work?

A6. High and low power RF, high and low power optical, and nuclear environment survivability are all requirements, some situations may require combinations of these to determine material response/performance. You can see from the Base Support document which equipment is currently located in the 65X complex which will require direct operation by the Contractor while offsite capabilities will also be externally operated at locations such as at White Sands facilities.

These internal or external capabilities may change over the life of the contract to support any or all of the needs described in the BAA.

Q7. Attachment 6b, page 2, 2.7, Would the government specify or clarify the expectation for “enhance the measurement capabilities and operation of the ranges.” Are there specific known needs that contractor acquired property under this effort are expected to fulfill?

A7. Equipment that presents an unexpected measurement / capability gap, based on dynamic program / customer needs or highly specialized equipment. Ability to provide subject matter expertise on methodologies and measurement techniques or capabilities to properly assess material responses to EM stimuli.

Q8. When you talk about hardened materials, is this RADHARD (nuclear) or extremely high temperatures due to extremely high velocities (hypersonics) or due to use in exoatmospheric conditions?

A8. Hardened materials could include RF protection materials, c-DEW materials, nuclear radiation and blast protective materials. There is no limitation on the domain for material use. As with the measurement frequency, materials being evaluated or developed span the multitude of EM spectrum. Both RADHARD and hypersonic/thermal protective systems will be evaluated as well as those for other EMS protection.

Q9. The Technical Objectives for the Basic SOO references “harsh optical and electromagnetic environments.” Can you provide details on what is meant by “harsh optical and electromagnetic environments?”

A9. Including but not limited to DE & nuclear event environments. Those described in MIL STD 188-125, 2169, 464, 264 would provide levels of threat environments similar to the harsh environments materials are evaluated against.

Q10. Will this contract involve the development of new CEM code or will the contractor use existing tool sets like CREATE-RF/SENTRi?

A10. There are some existing codes available on RX high performance workstations. Codes may require modification. Predictive environment modeling is also potentially necessary. Codes that are existing that can accurately model necessary material and threat space are acceptable, additional codes have been developed by USAF/AFRL for material specific analysis, and some additional script coding may be required. New CEM tools sets should not be necessary to accomplish tasks, only understanding of existing CEM tools and basic programming language capabilities.

Q11. Can you comment on the overall proportion of hardware R&D/testing to software development/simulation/analysis?

A11. This effort covers all levels of research (6.1-6.4+) but is primarily a 6.3 effort focused on materials evaluation and development. The ratio of R&D technical evaluation/independent validation and R&D development will vary by customer driven projects. For evaluation, specialized custom commercial hardware and software tools are typically employed, but occasional hardware/software development will be required. Development of materials will typically focus on advancing the TRL and MRL of a material that fills an end user technical requirements gap.

Q12. The emphasis between fundamental research and technology transition is continually shifting for AFRL and its sub-components. Can you describe the relative importance of fundamental research vs technology transition for this program?

A12. This effort covers all levels of research (6.1-6.4+) but is primarily a 6.3, highly customer focused effort with quick turnaround times. While this effort is focused on technology transition, the team will be expected to work alongside and collaborate with the fundamental research teams of AFRL.

Q13. How are offerers to bid materials and other direct costs (ODC) including travel or will all materials be provided by the Materials Directorate?

A13. Effort involves domestic and foreign travel to multiple locations in accordance with the DD254. Example overseas locations include five eyes partners. Domestic locations include typical prime vendor locations and the greater DC area. Multiple trips spanning up to 3 weeks at a time to WSMR are also an annual expectation. Travel could range from 30days per year to 90 days per year, depending on mission. Bid should be based on standard locations and indicate rates for travel. It is expected that the contractor will purchase hardware as needed, though most consumables will be provided as needed. ODCs and travel can be included with description of expected overhead costs associated with purchases or travel expenditures. Estimations of travel for key personnel using estimated standard per diem rates for CONUS and OCONUS can provided estimated costs associated with this type of expense.

Q14. The current proposed award date is June 2020. Does the government anticipate the current quarantine and lack of base access impact this effort. Our current understanding, based on existing service contracts, is that by June the base will only be at 50% manning and could be that way for another 18 months. How much of the work can be done away from the Base?

A14. Work will traditionally be performed on base and is expected to start upon award. This is an R&D contract not a services contract. Contractor will be anticipated to be deemed essential personnel in support of mission. Work at off-site facilities as capable is acceptable on occasion or when base facilities are unavailable, but personnel will be located on base for majority of time.

Q15. Is the 63 month period or performance for both the IDIQ and T.O. 1?

A15. Both

Q16. Can you clarify what OA stands for in the Basic SOO 2.12?

A16. This was a typo, should be SOA; state of the art.

Q17. When do you anticipate award, as there are multiple dates mentioned in the BAA?

A17. Award is anticipated on or around 2 September 2020, pending any unforeseen circumstances with COVID-19.

Q18. The BAA specifies submitting hard copies of the proposal. Due to COVID-19, is this still the case?

A18. The buyer will be present at WPAFB on the due date of the proposal to accept them and our mail room is operating as normal.

Q19. Do the technical attachments (i.e. prior work, available equipment, use of base support, etc.) need to be in both the Basic IDIQ and TO 0001? Are these attachments part of the 15 page limit?

A19. The technical attachments can be provided for the Basic IDIQ only. These attachments are not part of the 15 page limit.

Q20. The BAA states that FY21 anticipated funding for TO 0001 is $800,000 (page 6, II.3). The Attachment 6b SOO for TO 0001 shows funding profile of $0.89M in FY21 (Page 2, 3.3). Can you please confirm so that we can budget accordingly?

A20. Please use the funding profile in BAA : Anticipated funding for TO 0001 FY20 / $600,000; FY21 / $800,000; FY22 / $800,000; FY23 / $900,000; FY24 / $700,000; FY25 / $700,000

Q21. BAA IV.d.ii mentions ‘computer’ amongst the type of direct costs. The type of work required may benefit from use of non-standard government computers (e.g. high power laptops for modeling). So long as they are not directly connected to government networks, does the BAA instruction imply that such contractor-acquired property would be permissible under this effort?

A21. Specialized hardware – including stand-alone computers – will be purchased by the contractor as needed to support this effort. Such hardware will be delivered to the government at the end of the contract.

Q22. Are there specific pieces or types of contractor acquired property that are required/anticipated by the government?

A22. It is expected that the contractor will purchase hardware and materials as needed, though most consumables will be provided as needed. Such other direct costs can be included with description of expected overhead costs associated with purchases.

Q23. Regarding the proposal review and evaluation, BAA V.1, please clarify if the technical evaluation of the Basic is of more importance, less importance, or equal to the technical evaluation of the Task Order 0001. (For example, assuming two contractors submit technical proposals that are all “selectable”, and cost is not a discriminating factor, which technical volume will be a priority for government evaluation?)

A23. The proposal will be evaluated in its entirety. You are encouraged to make the Basic proposal all-inclusive (capabilities, etc) and add specific details to TO 0001 as needed.

Q24. Attachment 6a, page 1, 2.0.4, and Attachment 6.b, page 1, 2.4, Would the government clarify the intent/content of “DoD codes”?

A24. This effort covers all levels of research (6.1-6.4+) but is primarily a 6.3 effort focused on materials evaluation, development, and transition. This includes utilization and development of modeling and simulation tools in support of those efforts. Custom commercial hardware and software tools are typically employed, but development of DOD codes and/or software will be required of the contractor for specialized needs or when existing tools are not sufficient.

Q25. Attachment 6b, page 2, 2.7, LHMEL is operated, in part, under a CRADA. Please clarify that the work by the contractor on this effort would be tested NOT under the CRADA and at no cost to the contractor.

A25. The work by the contractor on this effort at LHMEL would be at no cost to the contractor in the performance of mission duties. Extensive collaboration including the operation of the real time, high temperature focused beam being installed at LHMEL is expected. This may result in interaction under the existing CRADA or new CRADAs to cover simultaneous RF measurements under laser heating.

Q26. Review of external products and companies has been mentioned. Will this require nondisclosure agreements?

A26. Ability to sign a blanket NDA equivalent to a government NDA for technical evaluation of products from third party contractors and collaborators is required.