FA8750-20-R-1001 UNICORN BLUE QA 20200706.docx

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

1. The notice mentions integrating technologies as well as developing prototypes, is there a pre-existing target hardware platform, or is the goal to develop a new stand-alone device?

UPDATED ANSWER; BOTH – Use COTS hardware if not obsolete, but development of new prototypes always welcomed or if modifications are determined to be a requirement by the government

2. If there is a pre-existing target platform, are there specifications or requirements available?

UPDATED ANSWER; No, there is no pre-existing platform

3. The notice mentions “real-time processing solutions”. Is the goal to have every technical ability done in real-time, including detection, exploitation and geo-location?

YES, the goal is to EVENTUALLY have all technical abilities done in real-time, but non-real-time is acceptable as a stepping stone to a real-time solution within limits to be determined by the government.

4. What type of exploitation is envisioned, e.g., predicting open frequency, jamming, spoofing, repeating?

All types of SIGINT and Cyber exploitation are on the table and acceptable for proposed work or discussion.

5. In reference to the phrase “…to automatically extract the contents of the transmissions”, is the goal to sync, decode, and receive a variety of unknown signals? Or is it to recognize different signals as a previously seen signal to group them into a friend or foe category?

YES to both

6. Will there be requirements for reverse engineering signals/waveforms as a countermeasure?

YES

7. Is the purpose of the deliverables meant for R&D prototype systems (that inform the AF of viable paths to follow for future procurements) or is the purpose of the deliverables the actual fielded systems themselves that fulfill operational missions?

The expectation is both approaches will be considered as developed from requirements. Requirements may be for a prototype or for integration of technology for a system that will evolve into actual fielding. This is entirely based on the results of technology and the end customer expectations. Generally the government will not push for total fielding in the acquisition sense, as many tools are developed end to end state that can be accepted by an external entity that does the final integration and fielding and are tested through the government capability capacity.

8. Are phase array antennas, which offer directionality to assist in geolocation of transmitter, of interest?

No, not at this time.

9. Is mobile node synchronization in the absence of GPS signal of interest?

Yes, this would be of interest.

10. Do you anticipate the primary interest will be in edge detection solutions or minimal hardware or algorithm prototypes on lab type solutions?

Yes. While not necessarily a “primary” interest, this would be of interest.

11. What is an acceptable initial Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and an anticipated end TRL?

4 and 7 are the expected TRLs.

12. Will this contract be limited to the collection and analysis of signals from a single domain (space, ground, air, sea)?

No. Any/all domains are intended.

13. Is there an expectation that signals will be collected at frequencies across the entire RF spectrum that are commonly used for communication purposes? (Ex. S-band, C-band Ka-band, etc. for spacecraft communications, and Wi-Fi, 5G terrestrial cellular communications frequencies and more). ?

This effort is not limited to only commonly used frequencies. The entire RF Spectrum will be of interest.

14. Would certain signals and sources (spacecraft vs ground transmitters) be weighted the same?

In this effort, weighting will be determined both by government direction and customer requirements.

15. Will there be any benefit to having the capability to collect signals from different domains? (ex. having both ground and space based sensors) Will different collection capabilities be weighted the same? (ex. would space based collection capability carry a higher value than ground based)?

The ability to collect from differing domains is of value. See above response to item number 14 for correlation

16. Is there any value in combining collections and observations from different technologies / phenomenologies? (ex. collecting both optically and in the RF spectrum on an emitting spacecraft and fusing that data together to provide additional insight into operational behavior, potential mission objectives and status) ?

At present this is not a determining factor but would potentially have relevance in the future or on other efforts.

17. Is there an expectation that collected data and analysis will be provided to the UDL (Unified Data Library) or some other kind of common access government-owned repository?

At present this is not a determining factor but would potentially have relevance in the future or on other efforts.

18. Is it expected that work performed under Unicorn Blue would be local to AFRL Rome, or are there other locations?

AFRL is not able to fund establishment of new SCIFs at other locations. If no SCIF is available, performance in the SCIF at the Rome Research Site is provided and preferred. If an existing, accredited SCIF can be utilized for the work under this effort that is acceptable.

19. Are you seeking algorithm development that is optimized across CPU, GPU, and FPGA technology?

YES

20. With preexisting hardware, how much effort should be focused on modifying new algorithms to use preexisting hardware? For example, current Machine Learning algorithms exploit latest generation of hardware architectures to improve speed and efficiency.

The government is interested in utilizing open-architecture software and hardware technologies so that the focus of development is on the new algorithms, and not on increasing efficiency of the pre-existing hardware.

21. Can the Government provide a percentage estimate of “Base Support” required at the AFRL Rome site for Task Order No. FA8750-20-F-1003?

80%

22. Will there be a storage classification requirement?

NO

23. Will the Government need verification of company policy with respect to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)?

All DoD procedures must be followed as per DoD Manual 5200.01 Vol 1 and 4.

24. In RFP Section L, TO 1 has a Period of Performance of 36 months and an estimated level of effort (LOE) of 18,250 hours. Please confirm that the estimated LOE provided is for the entire Period of Performance (e.g., expended at approximately 6,083 hours per year, assuming a constant level of staffing).

YES

25. In RFP Section L, please explain what is meant by the term “Base Support” in the TO descriptions. Is this the intended Place of Performance? If yes, please provide the following additional information for each TO:

Base Support is performance at the Rome Research Site location

26. For TO 1, how many workspaces will the Government provide in the Rome, NY facility? Does all work need to be accomplished at the Government Site?

8-10

27. For TO 2, since Base Support is “None”, please confirm that the Contractor may perform the work at any location of its choosing.

YES as long as security considerations can be met at that location.

28. Can you provide the UAS platforms(s) the Government envisions for UNICORN BLUE to ride on?

There are no specific UAS platforms identified as part of this solicitation. Any relevant platform could be presented as an example transition platform

29. Concerning the limitations on subcontracting, is the 51/49 percent workshare paid to subcontractors counted towards the total dollar amount awarded under the IDIQ or at the Task Order Level?

The 51/49 percent workshare paid to subcontractors will be counted towards the total dollar amount awarded at the task order level.

30. Does AFRL intend to procure a new sensor under a task order?

No. The government is not intending to acquire a new sensor.

31. The DRFP calls for small business to have access to NSA Net and JWICS. Are both required? Especially in the Intelligence Community’s IC ITE era, JWICS can be accessed through NGA Net and other DoD/IC Agencies’ home networks.

The DRFP is stating the security specification and identifying the system access requirements a company will require if awarded a contract. Offerors do not have to prove they have these system accesses during the solicitation phase (but are free to if they believe it fits with the proposal information requested through the Section L instructions). Having access to NSA Net or JWICS is not a minimum qualification to be considered for contract award, but are requirements for performance after contract award.

PROCUREMENT QUESTIONS

1. How many awards does the government anticipate making?

The government anticipates multiple awards (ex. 2-5). The range can be provided more precisely when the acquisition strategy is approved.

2. Does the government plan to hold an Industry Day prior to final RFP release?

The government does not intend to hold an Industry Day prior to final RFP release, but plans to post a draft RFP and allow for industry Q&A.

3. Is it anticipated the RFP will only ask for a company’s general capabilities and past performance in the area, essentially to qualify the company to do work on an IDIQ contract, and thus the RFP will not request specific technical solutions to specific technical tasks? Or will there be an awardable technical task (e.g., involving more than delivery of a management plan) or sample task included in the RFP? If so, what would be the potential scope and schedule?

The government anticipates having 1 or more awardable technical tasks which will require specific technical solution(s). Additional requirement information will be included in the draft RFP.

4. Will task orders be competed under the effort? If so, what is the anticipated turnaround time from Task Order Request to proposal submission?

The government anticipates using the ordering procedures at FAR 16.505 after basic IDIQs are awarded. Most, or all, requirements should be subject to fair opportunity competition. An anticipated turnaround time from task order proposal request to submission has not been yet determined; it may be 30 calendar days unless circumstances warrant a different response time.

5. Can subcontractors be added to a winning team after contract award?

The government anticipates subcontractors can be added after contract award as needed to fulfill task order requirements.

6. What is the anticipated source of funding for tasks under the effort? Is this only for the Air Force, or will this be for other services too? If so, what services?

Funding sources are to be determined but are expected to include AFRL and customer funds.

7. Will TS/SCI clearances be required? Is there a classified spec and what classification level will it be?

The presolicitation notice stated "at time of award, a successful Offeror must have Top Secret facility security clearance at the prime level and at any tier where work will be performed" and do anticipate the need for TS/SCI clearances.

8. The presolicitation notice mentions that Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Orders may be issued under this contract. Is it a requirement for the small business to have an approved cost accounting system in order to participate in this solicitation?

To be awarded a CPFF task order, a prime contractor needs to have in place a cost accounting system determined adequate by DCAA. DCMA is able to issue an approval after DCAA completes its determination.

9. The presolicitation notice also mentions that this is a Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5). What percentage (if any) of the work could be subcontracted to a large business by a small business prime contractor?

The RFP will include FAR 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting. DFARS Class Deviation 2019-O003 Revision 2 applies. The small business prime contractor must not pay more than 50 percent of the amount paid by the Government for contract performance to subcontractors that are not similarly situated entities. Any work that a similarly situated entity further subcontracts will count toward the 50 percent subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded.

A “similarly situated entity” means a first-tier subcontractor, including an independent contractor that has the same small business program status as that which qualified the prime contractor for the award and that is considered small for the NAICS code the prime contractor assigned to the subcontract the subcontractor will perform.

10. Will the GSA OASIS Pool 5B small business set aside contract vehicle be utilized?

The plan is to solicit this requirement as a Small Business set-aside through BetaSAM

11. Would you be able to send me the original RFI that was sent out? It is not attached in GovWin IQ or SAM; only your responses to the Q&A are attached.

An RFI was not issued. The BetaSAM notice has the information made available to industry.

12. Could you please tell me if this is a new requirement, or if there is a current or previous contractor who has performed similar services? If available, can you please send along the incumbent contract or task order number?

This is a new requirement, there are no incumbent Contractors for this new requirement and the government has defined the requirement with no contractor involvement in defining or shaping the requirement.

13. What is the OCI Mitigation Plan for the incumbent companies that have support AFRL in defining and shaping the requirements?

The government has defined the requirement with no contractor involvement in defining or shaping the requirement. There are no incumbent Contractors for this new requirement, and the CO has not observed any conditions indicating the existence or potential of an OCI. As a result, there is no OCI Mitigation Plan.

14. As AFRL has stated they are not conducting an industry day, how will small niche businesses (an RF algorithm developer for example) reach out to potential primes?

Recommend any company add its name to the Beta SAM posting so other potential teammates can be aware of the company’s interest. Section L instructions). Having access to NSA Net or JWICS is not a minimum qualification to be considered for contract award, but are requirements for performance after contract award.

15. Is there still an intention to make multiple awards as stated in the draft SOW?

Yes, AFRL plans to award multiple prime contracts under an IDIQ.

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FA8750-20-R-1001

UNICORN BLUE Q&A 20200706