FA9453-19-S-0001_CALL_001_RFP_FINAL_Announcement_20181128.docx

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT

FA9453-19-S-0001

Air Force Research Laboratory/Space Vehicles Directorate

PROPOSAL CALL ANNOUNCEMENT (CALL) 001

1. BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT TITLE: Applications of the Space Environment Project - Space Environment Exploitation and Mitigation (SEEM) Program

2. BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: FA9453-19-S-0001

3. PROPOSAL CALL ANNOUCEMENT (CALL) TITLE: Topic 3 a): Solar, Solar Wind, and Ionospheric Effects: Oblique Ionogram Data Scaling and Quality Control Tool

4. PROPOSAL CALL ANNOUNCEMENT (CALL) NUMBER: 001

5. TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT: The technical point of contact for this CALL is primarily Lt. Anne Werkley; AFRL/RVBX, Kirtland AFB, NM; 505-846-6009; E-mail: anne.werkley.1@us.af.mil and the alternate point of contract is Leo McNamara; AFRL/RVBX, Kirtland AFB, NM; 505-846-4634; E-mail: leo.mcnamara@us.af.mil.

6. CONTRACTING POINTS OF CONTACT: The contracting points of contact for this CALL are: Contracting Officer: Francis M. Eggert, Det 8 AFRL/RVKB, Kirtland AFB, NM, Phone 505-846-7603, E-mail: francis.eggert@us.af.mil and the Contract Specialist: Mr. Michael J. LaBerge, AFRL/RVKB, Kirtland AFB, NM, Phone: 505-846-0946. E-mail: michael.la_berge@us.af.mil

7. REQUIREMENT DESCRIPTION:

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate (RV) Geospace Technologies Division (RVB) Geospace Environment Impacts and Applications Branch’s (RVBX) Space Environment Exploitation and Mitigation (SEEM) program is interested in applied research and development and advanced technology to enhance the development and implementation of space environment models and sensors to meet various Air Force space weather system needs in order to specify, forecast, mitigate, and exploit environmental impacts on Department of Defense (DoD) space and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems. The SEEM Program full text FA9453-19-S-0001 outlines the general objectives of the Technical Topic Area A: Solar, Solar Wind, and Ionospheric Effects of this CALL.

As part of the SEEM Program research mission requirements, there is a demand to ingest real-time data into regional ionospheric models that perform ionospheric inversions. These regional models inform our overall picture of the space environment, and ultimately possible impacts to Air Force systems. The ability to ingest a wider variety of data types into ionospheric models will improve the model’s performance, and provide better situational awareness of the space environment. While the models are able to automatically ingest a variety of data types, the ability to extract data from Oblique Ionograms (OI) is currently a purely manual process requiring an operator to detect and select ionogram features to be ingested into ionospheric models. Oblique ionograms are a data source of interest, as OIs are another source that can provide insight into the bottomside structures forming in the ionosphere. Under ideal ionospheric conditions and in situations where the signal to noise ratio is 30 dB or more, it may be possible to extract data from OIs automatically. For these cases, AFRL would like to develop a process that can detect ionogram features to be ingested into ionospheric models. However, ionogram quality often degrades due to the common occurrence of ionospheric disturbances such as D region absorption, sporadic E layers (which can include blanketing E), and spread F. Such disturbances can often result in weak ionogram traces or spread traces that may make automatic algorithms less than robust. In the harshest cases, ionospheric disturbances can render an ionogram unusable. Under these circumstances, we wish the operator to be notified for potential intervention and be given the ability to flag or withhold both vertical and oblique ionogram data from ionospheric model ingestion. AFRL/RVBX is interested in developing a tool that scales OI features, but allows for quality control on ionograms that the automatic process flags as difficult. AFRL would like this tool to do the following: (1) scale OI for data and flag difficult-to-scale OI (2) provide a graphical user interface (GUI) for a user to perform in-the-loop quality control on flagged ionogram data; (3) develop a quality metric from the automated tool that can be used to assess whether data should be excluded; (4) assess the quality of the tool’s outputs against a regional ionospheric model.

The development of OI data scaling and quality control tools will require a potential offeror to have the technical skills and abilities and demonstrable working knowledge of Government, Air Force and other community research, and software development processes to ensure successful automated ingestion of OI data (with person-in-the-loop quality control) into ionospheric models which will ultimately be transitioned to an operational environment. The offeror shall have the technical skills and abilities to design, develop, implement and test algorithms that will be able to automatically detect ionogram features and determine when ionogram traces (both oblique and vertical incidence) are weak and require a person-in-the-loop. The offeror should have sufficient working knowledge of ionograms and of the ionosphere to be able to develop the aforementioned algorithms.

Responsive offerors will demonstrate depth of knowledge in and breadth of knowledge across the relevant discipline areas, experience in integrating research across those disciplines, and experience in the development of advanced technology from those integrated results, as evidenced by past projects.

See attached Statement of Objectives entitled, “Topic 3 a) (Solar, Solar Wind, and Ionospheric Effects) Oblique Ionogram Data Scaling and Quality Control Tool,” dated 1 November 2018, for specific to this CALL. The Statement of Objectives (SOO), included as Attachment 2, provides the Government’s overall objectives for this solicitation. Offeror’s shall use the SOO, together with other applicable portions of this CALL, as the basis for preparing their proposal, including the CSOW and milestones. The offeror shall ensure all aspects of the SOO are addressed. The CSOW should specify in clear, understandable terms the work to be done in meeting the SOO. Preparation of an effective CSOW requires an understanding of the technical aspects that are needed to satisfy a particular objective and an ability to define what is required in specific, performance based, quantitative terms. The offerors understanding of both required technical skills, and work effort required should be fully demonstrated in the offeror's proposed CSOW. The offeror shall use its proposed CSOW to prepare data requirements and milestones. All data requirements shall be traceable to specific tasks defined in the CSOW.

8. ANTICIPATED FUNDING: Anticipated funding for this CALL (not per contract or award) is: FY 19: $500K; FY 20: $1,000K; FY 21: $700K. Total anticipated Award Amount: $2,200,000.00.

Note! This funding profile is an estimate only and will not be a contractual obligation for funding. All funding is subject to change due to government discretion and availability of funds and the technical work to be accomplished.

9. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The anticipated period of performance for individual awards resulting from this CALL is 27 months in duration. The period of performance is to be proposed in the format “includes 24 months for technical effort and 3 months for Final Report preparation.”

10. PROPOSAL DUE DATE AND TIME: The due date for proposals submitted in response to this CALL is no later than 1200 hours, NOON MDT on: 26 March 2019 to the address stated in paragraph 18 of this CALL. Proposals received after the due dates and times shall be governed by the provisions of FAR 52.215-1(c)(3). Please note, allow enough time to mail handler’s to get through security. Also, it is the offeror’s responsibility to ensure that their proposal’s arrive by the due date and time. Proposals for any other technology area identified in the baseline BAA will not be accepted at this time unless a CALL for proposals in that specific area is open.

11. CALL AMENDMENTS: Offerors should monitor FedBizOpps for any additional notices to this CALL that may permit extensions to the proposal submission date or otherwise modify this announcement.

12. ANTICIPATED TYPE OF CONTRACTS/INSTRUMENTS: The Air Force anticipates awarding a CPFF contract type as a result of this CALL but reserves the right to award the instrument best suited to the nature of research proposed. A model contract will be provided to each apparent successful offeror for review and comment as part of the BAA solicitation and award process.

13. ANTICIPATED NUMBER OF AWARDS: The Air Force anticipates awarding a minimum of one (1) contract. However, the Air Force does reserve the right to make multiple awards or no awards pursuant to this CALL.

ANTICIPATED AWARD DATE: 31 July 2019

14. INTENT TO PROPOSE: Potential offerors are requested to advise the contracting point of contact if they intend to submit a proposal in response to this CALL. Such notification is merely a courtesy and is not a commitment by the offeror to submit a proposal.

15. DELIVERABLES ITEMS: DATA; however, the government may consider all applicable data rights clauses, as necessary, in order to meet the government’s mission and technical objectives, as well as employing the use of Deferred Ordering of Technical Data or Computer Software in accordance with DFARS 252.227-7027.

16. OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:

(A) Security Requirement: Program security classification for this CALL is SECRET. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requires that a DD Form 254 be incorporated in each contract awarded under this CALL. The draft DD Form 254, Attachment 4 provides the offeror (or a subcontractor) the security requirements and the classification guidance that will be necessary to perform this effort. FAR 52.204-2, Security Requirements is included in this CALL by reference.

(B) ITAR, Export Control, DD Form 2345 required: This effort is ITAR restricted. Only offerors who are certified by the Defense Logistics Information Service (DLIS) may submit proposals. For questions, contact DLIS on-line at http://www.dlis.dla.mil/jcp or at DLIS, US/Canada Joint Certification Center, Federal Center, 74 North Washington, Battle Creek MI 49017-4312, (800) 352-3572. DFARS 252.204-7008, Export Controlled Items (APR 2010) is incorporated into this solicitation and will be in any awards resulting from this CALL.

(C) Foreign Nationals: No Foreign Nationals will be considered for this CALL.

(D) Government Furnished Property: None anticipated.

(E) Base Support: The Government intends to provide the contractor base support throughout the course of this contractual effort, such as working space, phones, network access, material, equipment, and applicable services to perform the duties of this contract. The contractor will require access to Kirtland AFB, New Mexico during the course of the contract.

(F) Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI): OCI may apply to this action but cannot be determined prior to issuance of this CALL. This issue and the need for applicable clauses will be resolved prior to the award of any instrument resulting from an offeror’s proposal.

(G) Support Contractors: Only Government employees will evaluate the proposals for selection. The AFRL Space Vehicles (RV) has contracted for various business and staff support services, some of which require contractors to obtain administrative access to proprietary information submitted by other contractors. Administrative access is defined as "handling or having physical control over information for the sole purpose of accomplishing the administrative functions specified in the administrative support contract, which do not require the review, reading, or comprehension of the content of the information on the part of non-technical professionals assigned to accomplish the specified administrative tasks." These contractors have signed general non-disclosure agreements and organizational conflict of interest statements. The required administrative access will be granted to non-technical professionals. Examples of the administrative tasks performed include: assembling and organizing information for R&D case files; accessing library files for use by Government personnel; and handling and administration of proposals, contracts, contract funding and queries. Any objection to administrative access must be in writing to the Contracting Officer and shall include a detailed statement of the basis for the objection. Consent to administrative access is included in the representations and certifications Attachment 5.

(H) Wide Area Work Flow Notice: Any contract award resulting from this CALL will contain the clause at DFARS 252.232-7003, Electronic Submission of Payment Requests, which requires electronic submission of all payment requests. The clause cites three possible electronic formats through which to submit electronic payment requests. Effective 01 October 2006, the Department of Defense adopted Wide Area Work Flow-Receipt and Acceptance (WAWF-RA), as the electronic format for submission of electronic payment requests. Any contract resulting from this announcement will establish a requirement to use WAWF-RA for invoicing and receipt/acceptance, and provide coding instructions applicable to this contract. Contractors are encouraged to take advantage of available training (both web-based and through your cognizant DCMA office), and to register in the WAWF-RA system. Information regarding WAWF-RA, including the web-based training and registration, can be found at https://wawf.eb.mil/ . Note: WAWF-RA requirement does not apply to Universities that are audited by an agency other than DCAA.

(I) Forward Pricing Rate Agreements: Offerors who have forward pricing rate agreements (FPRA’s) and forward pricing rate recommendations (FPRR’s) should submit them with their proposal.

(J) Limitations on Pass-Through Charges: As prescribed in FAR 15.408(n)(1) and 15.408(n)(2), provisions 52.215-22, “Limitations on Pass Through Charges – Identification of Subcontract Effort (Oct 2009),” and 52.215-23, “Limitations on Pass Through Charges (Oct 2009),” are contained in this solicitation. Any contract valued greater than the threshold for cost or pricing data threshold, except fixed price contracts awarded on the basis of adequate price competition, resulting from this solicitation, shall contain the Clause at FAR 52.215-23 (or Alt I).

(K) Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation: As prescribed in FAR 19.309(d), FAR Clause 52.219-28, “Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (Apr 2009),” is incorporated by reference in this solicitation. This clause will be contained in any contracts resulting from this solicitation. This clause requires a contractor to represent its size status when certain conditions apply. The clause provides detail on when the representation must be complete and what the contractor must do when a representation is required.

(L) Subcontracting Plans: Small Business Subcontracting Plans are required under FAR 19.702 for efforts anticipated to exceed $700,000. Prospective offerors shall submit applicable subcontracting plans in accordance with the requirements set forth in FAR 19.704, DFARS 219.704 and AFFARS 5319.704. Small business is exempt from this requirement. If a company has a master subcontracting plan, as described in FAR 19.701 or a comprehensive subcontracting plan, as described in DFARS 219.702, a copy of the plan shall be submitted with the proposal along with an individual plan for review. The subcontracting plan is a part of the cost/business section of the proposal and will not be included in the page count.

Additionally, please note, the Government anticipates a certain portion of this effort will be subcontracted to small businesses in order to meet the statutory goals. Large businesses shall consider, to the highest extent possible, subcontracted opportunities with small businesses. For proposed awards to be made as contracts (that exceed $650,000) to other than small businesses, Subcontracting Plans will be required in accordance with the requirements set forth in FAR 19.704, Subcontracting Plan requirements, and DFARS 219.704 as stated above. As such, Subcontracting Plans will be evaluated and negotiated to ensure that submissions are compliant with FAR Subpart 19.7.

Also, for proposed Subcontracting Plans that are below the statutory goals, the offeror will provide additional information which demonstrates how it intends to provide meaningful subcontracting opportunities and rationale to why the goals were not attainable.

Finally, in accordance with FAR 19.702, Statutory requirements, provides, if the apparent successful offeror fails to negotiation a subcontracting plan acceptable to the contracting officer within the time limit prescribed by the contracting officer, the offer will be ineligible for award.

(M) Employment Eligibility Verification: As prescribed by FAR 22.1803, FAR Clause 52.222-54, “Employment Eligibility Verification (Jan 2009),” is hereby incorporated by reference in this solicitation. Any contract awarded as a result of this BAA that is above the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, and contains a period of performance greater than 120 days, shall include this clause in its contract. This clause provides the requirement of contractors to enroll as a Federal Contractor in the E-Verify program within 30 days after contract award.

(N) Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Sub-contract/Sub-recipient Awards: As prescribed by FAR 4.1403(a), FAR 52.204-10, “Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards,” is hereby incorporated by reference in this solicitation. Any contract valued at $25,000 or more, excluding classified contracts or contractors with individuals, must contain this clause. Any grant or agreement award resulting from this announcement may contain the award term set forth in 2 CFR, Appendix A to Part 25 found at: http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=c55a4687d6faa13b137a26d0eb436edb&rgn=div5&view=text&node=2:1.1.1.4.1&idno=2#2:1.1.1.4.1.2.1.1.

(O) Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters: Any contract or assistance award that exceeds $10M; and when an offeror checked “has” in paragraph (b) of the provision 52.209-7, shall contain the clause/article, 52.209-9, “Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters (July 2013).”

(P) Contractor Business Systems: DFARS 252.242-7005, Contractor Business Systems, is hereby incorporated by reference.

(Q) DFARS 252.209-7999, Representation by Corporations Regarding an Unpaid Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction under any Federal Law (Revised 16 December 2013.)

(R) Offerors shall specifically call out elements of the effort proposed to be conducted within the confines of Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, and those that are to be performed off-site. Any differences in on-site versus off-site rates shall be specifically annotated.

17. APPLICABILITY OF BASELINE BAA: All requirements of FA9453-19-S-0001 apply unless specifically amended and addressed in this CALL. For complete information regarding FA9453-19-S-0001, refer to the initial FULL TEXT Open BAA. It contains information applicable to all CALLs issued under the BAA and provides information on the overall program, proposal preparation and submission requirements, proposal review and evaluation criteria, award administration, agency contacts, etc. Direct questions to the points of contacts identified above.

18. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION:

(C) Submission of proposal(s) are not an authorization to commence work or to incur any costs to perform the work described above. Work is not to be implemented until appropriate contractual action is taken to add the work to the contract. Any work performed or expense incurred prior to that time (including bid and proposal costs) will be at your own risk.

19. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION:

(A) Award Notices: Offerors will be notified whether their proposal is recommended for award in writing by letter. The notification of recommendation for award is not to be construed to mean the award of a contract is assured, as availability of funds and successful negotiations are prerequisites to any award.

(B) Debriefings: When requested, a debriefing will be provided. The debriefing process will follow the guidelines set out in FAR 15.505, pre-award debriefings to offerors and 15.506, post-award debriefings to offerors.

(C) Please read and complete any attachments stated below and submit with your proposal.

7 Attachments:

(1) Cost Proposal Instructions, Non-APC, dated 19 Oct 2016

(2) Statement of Objectives (SOO) CALL 001 dated 01 Nov 2018

(3) CDRLs dated 17 Dec 2018

(4) DD Form 254 dated 22 Oct 2018 and Coordination Sheet

(5) Section K dated 20 Dec 2018 (Complete)

(6) DoD Proposal Adequacy Checklist dated 20 Dec 2018

(7) DFARS 252.227-7017 Provision dtd 31 Jan 18 (Complete)

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