Industry_Day_Questions_29_March_2019_BAA_7009_Final.pdf

Information Analysis for Multi-Domain Operations and Targeting Support Industry Day Questions and Responses

29 MAR 2019

BAA FA8750-19-S-7009

1. When are whitepapers due?

a. The FY19 suggested submission date is 31 MAR 2019 to best align with projected funding.

However, white papers will be accepted at any time while the BAA is open. The BAA was amended on 30 APR 2019 to remove the FY19 white paper date as FY19 awards are no longer planned. The FY20 white paper due date is 30 May 2019.

2. Are you leaning towards specific hardware or software?

a. The Government is looking for software solutions to our dynamic targeting problem. No specific hardware, High Performance Computing (HPC) or other hardware solutions are being considered at this time.

3. Are you looking for new ideas for how to do Cognitive Workflow Analysis, CWA, help to do CWA, or both?

a. The CWA is a small effort with the BAA for FY20. If CWA areas or ideas for CWA are identified, the

Government would entertain ideas.

4. Is the BAA interested in contested environments and enabling the wing and squadron level targeting cells?

a. Contested environments are of high interest, but there are a multitude of situations (permissible, low-intensity, etc) that will need to be considered as well. Contested environments represent the most challenging scenarios due to the additional threat variables that will need to be accounted for in the optimization framework. The program has a heavy focus on Air Operations Center (AOC) dynamic targeting entities, however, other relevant Air Force entities which conduct dynamic targeting operations will need to be considered.

5. Will the selection process choose winners just based on a small subset of good idea/technologies in their overall proposal submission?

a. The Government will require white papers to be submitted first. Proposals will be requested from offerors whose white papers have the greatest potential to meet the Air Force’s needs based on the BAA’s stated evaluation criteria.

6. Will the selection process select individual contractors from different proposals to assemble a brand new team?

a. No, the Government will evaluate white papers/proposals received strictly against the evaluation criteria stated in the BAA. Contractors are welcome to assemble teams at their discretion.

7. Which contractors, if any, will be involved in supporting algorithm evaluations? Will they be excluded out of performing on this effort?

a. All are welcomed to submit white papers for the BAA regarding algorithm development and evaluation.

8. Will AFSIM be used on the Government side to evaluate the contractor developed algorithms?

a. Advanced Framework for Simulation, Integration, and Modeling (AFSIM) is a part of the modeling and simulation testbed to validate algorithms. Modeling and Simulation is the first phase of Validation and Verification, but not the only testbed.

9. Is $100K to $500K award range per year, or per award?

a. Typical range is from 100K-500K per award. Awards may exceed 500K or be less than 100K.

10. What is meant by “Multi-Objective”?

a. In the context of optimization, multi-objective decisions are decisions that use trade off considerations for the best possible outcome.

11. What is the target TRL for the capabilities to be delivered on this BAA?

a. The target TRL is 4 - 5+.

12. What is the relationship, if any, between this BAA and RIED’s Predictive Consequence Modeling and

Analysis (PCMA) BAA FA8750-19-S-7008?

a. There is no direct relationship. The PCMA effort is looking at interdependencies between critical infrastructure systems, to better understand the effects, of any changes that occur in the network. This BAA does not address this.

13. What level of collaboration do you anticipate between AFRL & Contractors, and between different contractors, under this BAA?

Collaboration is very important for the team. Level of collaboration will not be able to be predicted but a high level of collaboration is anticipated as we anticipate an agile development process.

a. What’s the expected funding supporting this award?

b. The BAA is for $49.9M over 5 years.

14. Is any of this program informed by what Sheryl Thorp is doing on MDC2? “Blockchain” & “Mobile Node”

a. If there are opportunities for using Blockchain technology, please address in your whitepaper.

We are unfamiliar with Mobile Node in the context of this BAA.

15. Will Industry Day Slides be made available on FBO?

a. Slides will be disseminated via email to participants.

16. How do the knowledge areas relate to the BAAs? Are you interested in whitepapers on the knowledge areas? If so, to do what?

a. The intent of the knowledge areas is to provide context to the technical areas of the BAA.

Solutions developed under the various technical areas should account for the processes, information, and challenges highlighted in knowledge areas. The main effort of the BAA is on TA1 – Optimization. A combined or separate white papers per TA will be accepted per TA as desired.

17. Will there be 6.1 publishable work that comes out of this contract?

a. No, awards will be made using Budget Activity 2 (6.2) funding. However, awards made to Universities may be considered publishable fundamental research, but this determination will be made on a case-by-case basis.

18. Is there a relationship between this program and Arury’s Multi-Domain Targeting Center (MDTC) at Ft.

Sill? Requirements, CONOPS, Objectives?

a. The Government is unaware of the aforementioned program. A POC would be appreciated.

19. Is the Government interested in distributed computation/coordination?

a. Not at this time.

20. Can you identify the FY19 Funding that you currently have?

a. This is for FY20. There are no plans for any FY19 awards.

21. What can you say about FY20 Funding?

a. Funding is available.

22. Do you have any interaction with Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT)?

a. The Government has discussed the possibility to involve AFIT in the effort, but has not actively discussed to date.

23. For whitepapers due May 30, is there a preference or emphasis on one (or more) of the Technical Areas over the others? e.g, is it expected that more efforts will be awarded, more money will be spent, or the problems are more important in one (or more) of the TAs?

a. Area 1 Optimization, and Knowledge Area 2 Dynamic Targeting are high priority, but we are seeking whitepapers in each of the Technical Areas.

24. Will AFRL make the relevant data sets in the M&S TA (e.g, Pacifica, Green-Flag) available to us?

a. Yes. Both data sets will be made available as the effort progresses, along with any other data sets that might help.

25. Kessel Run is already working similar issues – How will the vendor be expected to work Kessel Run for development and transition? (and 363rd Visual Reality efforts collaboration with DARPA? Independent or no?)

a. The Government is working with Kessel Run and the 363rd is aware of the effort. The Government will be collaborating with both organizations. The Government has not established a link to DARPA other than R-SPACE Program and the follow-up to that.

26. Who is the government sponsor and has the 363rd SMEs provided input?

a. There has been direct AFRL coordination with 363rd and advocates are ACC A2, ACC A5 and the three AOCs.

27. Will this be a Small Business set-aside? Multiple award?

a. There is no small business set aside. The Government anticipates multiple awards.

28. Do you have a definition of time request to strike target? For example, under 10 minutes from the time of detection?

a. Under 10 minutes. Specifically, around 6 minutes.

29. Is there a specific definition of a Dynamic Target?

a. The BAA uses the definition of Dynamic Target as defined in the Joint Doctrine Publication.

30. Is dynamic targeting focused on manned or unmanned platforms, or both?

a. For this program, no distinction is made between manned or unmanned platforms.

31. Is the Air Force interested in discussing interoperability with other forces (e.g., US Army), allies, and partners?

a. Yes. The Government is working with Navy and the Joint Targeting Community.

32. Would the Air Force consider methods to integrate the current ground picture into dynamic targeting?

Will the Air Force consider this in the white paper response?

a. Yes, blue force disposition (on all domains) will need to be considered in the optimization framework, along with TA 4 - Virtual Reality.

33. Does the Air Force have a time frame in mind for interoperability, particularly in an integrated COP?

a. Most likely, “Not at this time” as this is a 6.2 effort and a specific transition platform has not been identified yet.

34. On Visual Reality / Augmented Reality (VR/AR) – Would the Air Force be prepared to discuss passing of export data into, say, Army Common Operating Pictures?

a. If possible yes, but VR/AR is an exploratory efforts. After we have figured out if it is possible to import and export 3D data between VR and AR. We will like to meet with any ground force squadrons and discuss how they like the idea of being able to be export/share 3D model of a target or ROI to their AR headsets. We are also hoping that VR and AR will make it possible for ground forces to have a 3D model representation of their target and with the motion capture data integrated into Blue Force Tracker we will know the location of the blue force at all time.

The government will make this determination at a later date.

35. Is there a DD254 associated with this BAA?

a. No. There is no DD254 associated with this BAA because there is no classified addendum.

However, classified submissions can be accepted by sending to: michael.j.manno@mail.smil.mil.

To make sure the submission is received, please notify michael.manno@us.af.mil that a classified whitepaper has been submitted.

36. Per “Dynamic Targeting” are there a consistent set of data sources or are we looking at ad-hoc sources?

a. Several unclassified data sets have been identified for initial testing, however, a challenge under the Modeling and Simulation and Optimization technical areas will include collecting and curating other data relevant to the MD2T program. The Government is looking at Pacifica, and Red Flag in the beginning of the program, but looking forward to move on to classified data set as The program progresses.

mailto:michael.j.manno@mail.smil.mil mailto:michael.manno@us.af.mil

37. Per the Framework for optimization support to decision support and user interaction, is it assumed that uses can optimize workflows or apps by directly touching/interacting with data as it becomes known?

a. Yes

37a. Would it be better that the framework build on work with Kessel Run?

a. Efforts being developed under the Kessel Run program are being considered for this program.

37b. Is the above helpful in better shaping Dr. Kroecker vision for Cognitive Workflow Analysis?

a. Not at this time.