Geolocation estimates and emitter metadata for Signals of Interest_RFI_18NOV20.pdf

UNCLASSIFIED

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Analysis Directorate

1.0 Description and Purpose

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) in support of the Analysis Directorate is seeking information on how an interested contractor could provide global datasets that identify, characterize, and locate Radio Frequency (RF) emitters to include AIS, EPIRB, Iridium, L- Band Telecom, UHF, VHF, and X-Band Marine Radar. The detection, identification, characterization and geolocation of emitters are required to enrich our analysis in a dynamic, scalable manner. NGA would benefit from a dataset of this scale and scope, delivered to our analysts and analytic managers in a scalable manner, as a service.

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gain information on commercial capabilities that meet this requirement, identify sources, and understand methodologies that would be used to meet this requirement. NGA also seeks to understand the drivers of cost for this requirement, and expected cost on a per-observation basis, per KM2 basis (area), or to understand alternate cost structures. This RFI seeks to gain information on the technical feasibility, methodology, and cost of acquiring commercially produced data sets processed on commercial, unclassified infrastructure, and delivered to NGA’s unclassified and classified domains.

THIS IS A RFI ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes; it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue a RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, NGA is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued.

2.0 Background

NGA has an immediate need to discover and monitor emitters of RF energy worldwide, and seeks information on existing capabilities that deliver this data. NGA requires the capability to find and research vessels of interest or other mobile emitters and their historic tracks. In addition, NGA requires the capability to monitor fixed sites related to illicit activity, such as weapon and narcotics trafficking and sanctions violations. These unclassified data sets, produced outside of NGA and independent of NGA-provided data, are expected to augment NGA’s capability to find, describe, and monitor places and things. NGA requests information on the ability of commercial vendors to independently produce unique data providing geolocation estimates and emitter metadata. Please address all of the following in responses to this RFI:

- Ability to detect emitters of interest worldwide on a daily basis (or other period) in a defined geographic area.

- Ability to provide geolocation estimates for emitter worldwide on a daily basis (or other period).

- Ability to provide emitter metadata for Signals of Interest on a daily basis (or other period.

- Ability to provide a broad area search to detect and identify new emitters.

- Ability to provide consolidated methodology for how metadata is assessed.

- Limitation to provide persistent dwell of a specific location.

- Limitation to detect signals in certain frequencies.

- Limitations on accuracy of geolocation estimates for emitter.

- Limitations on emitter metadata provided for Signals of Interest.

- Limitations on ability to detect emitter at specific latitudes.

- Limitations on ability to detect emitter in adverse weather conditions or under cloud cover.

- Limitations specific to a sensor or phenomenology; for example, degree to which geolocation estimates for emitter under triple canopy decrease in accuracy.

- Limitations on area (expressed in KM2) that can be collected on a daily revisit basis.

- Availability of automated techniques or tools including AI/ML-powered capabilities; NGA will not provide training data of any kind.

- Requirement of NGA to provide specific locations to be monitored, format requirements.

- Ability to provide image chips of source data to NGA for verification.

- Median time between acquisition and delivery of detection to NGA.

2.1 Planned Acquisition:

The contract type is to be determined.

2.2 Performance:

Period of Performance (POP): POP is one year with additional option years.

Locations: All work is to be completed at contractor facilities, not NGA.

2.3 Constraints and Limitations:

Deliverables are to be in a tabular format, such as a Comma-separated values (csv) file, kmz, GeoJSON, or via an ESRI compatible format.

All work is to be completed at contractor facilities, not at NGA facilities or using NGA equipment or resources.

2.4 Security Requirements

The work shall be completed using unclassified tools and methodologies, and using unclassified sources.

2.5 Organizational Conflict of Interest:

This acquisition is for commercial services. In accordance with FAR Part 9.5, please discuss any performance which may lead to an Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) and how the Offeror would mitigate, avoid, or neutralize the conflict.

3.0 Requested Information:

Responses must only contain UNCLASSIFIED information and be marked “UNCLASSIFIED” on all pages in both the header and footer. No classified information may be included in your response.

Neither proprietary or classified concepts, nor classified information should be included in the submittal. Input on the information contained in the responses may be solicited and reviewed by NGA non-Government consultants or experts who are bound by appropriate non-disclosure agreements.

3.1 Administrative

Information to include the following as a minimum:

3.1.1. Name, mailing address, overnight delivery address (if different from mailing address), phone number, fax number, company website, and e-mail of designated point(s) of contact.

3.1.2. BUSINESS TYPE.

Based upon North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 519130, Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals or code 518210 Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services, the responder is to provide answers to the following questions:

3.1.3 Recommendation for alternative NAICS Code? Provide rationale for any NAICS Code applicable to the planned acquisition other than the NAICS code identified above.

3.1.4 DUNS Number: _________________

3.1.5 Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code: ______________________________

3.1.6 Defense facility security clearance? What type? What level? _______________________

3.1.7 Accounting system, if applicable? Date of last audit? Audit performed by? Determined adequate/inadequate? ___________________________________________________________

3.1.8 Purchasing system? Date determined adequate or inadequate?

3.1.9 Timekeeping system? Date of last audit? Who performed? Determined adequate/inadequate? ___________________________________________________________

3.1.10 Do you hold a GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract applicable to the NAICS code

(s) identified above? If yes, provide contract number(s)._____________________________

3.1.11 Are you registered in SAM? _________________________________________________

3.1.12 Are you interested in: Prime contract? Teaming to include Joint Venture? Subcontractor opportunities? _________________________________________________________________

3.1.13 Include additional details that are not already requested based on the constraints of the information request.

3.2 Experience

3.2.1 COMMERCIAL.

Provide relevant details on the responder providing the same or similar services offered or made to the general public or to non-governmental entities for purposes other than governmental purposes in the last three (3) years. Relevant details to NGA’s proposed acquisition should include, but not be limited to, information regarding the contract value, size and length of the effort, responder performing as a prime or subcontractor, customary practices (warranty, financing, discounts, contract types, etc.) under which the sales of the service(s) are made, security details, the customary practices regarding customizing, modifying, or tailoring of a service(s) to meet customer needs and associated costs, the kinds of factors that are used to evaluate performance; the kinds of performance incentives used; the kinds of performance assessment methods commonly used; the common qualifications of the people performing the services; and requirements of law and/or regulations unique to these service(s), that can demonstrate the responder’s abilities and capacity to meet NGA’s performance requirements.

3.2.2 GOVERNMENT.

Provide relevant details on the responder providing the same or similar services offered or made to Government agencies other than NGA in the last three (3) years. Relevant details to NGA’s proposed acquisition should include, but not be limited to contract value, information regarding the contract number, agency, responder performing as a prime or subcontractor, size and length of the effort, type of pricing and/or cost, security details, the kinds of factors used to evaluate performance; the kinds of performance incentives; the kinds of performance assessment methods; the qualifications of the people performing the services; and any unique terms and conditions, that can demonstrate the responder’s abilities and capacity to meet NGA’s performance requirements.

3.2.3 NGA.

Provide relevant details on the responder providing the same or similar services offered or made to NGA in the last three (3) years. Relevant details to NGA’s proposed acquisition should include, but not be limited to contract value, information regarding the contract number, program name, size and length of the effort, responder performing as a prime or subcontractor, type of pricing and/or cost, security details, the kinds of factors used to evaluate performance;

the kinds of performance incentives; the kinds of performance assessment methods; the qualifications of the people performing the services; and any unique terms and conditions, that can demonstrate the responder’s abilities and capacity to meet NGA’s performance requirements.

3.3 CAPABILITIES

The following is the responder’s capabilities to meet the proposed acquisition set forth in section 2 of this RFI.

3.3.1 Government requirements needed to support the RFI’s performance requirements.

3.3.1.1 Requirement capabilities that the responder currently possesses. Responses should include the relevant information regarding specific skills, experience, and security clearances that its employees, by labor category, currently possess in performing these services, and any needed hardware or software.

3.3.1.2 Detail the service capabilities that the responder currently does not possess in order to meet the performance requirements.

2. 3.3.2 Recommended type of pricing for this type of service (e.g. FFP, FPIF CPIF)

3. 3.3.3 Extent to which the responder has the ability to meet the proposed acquisition

4. 3.3.4 Notional schedule and type of plan for transition-in and transition-out (based on previous or similar work efforts).

3.3.5 Security capabilities and plans that demonstrate the ability to meet NGA’s security requirements beginning at contract award and throughout the POP.

3.3.6 Extent to which the responder is aware of any potential OCI issues in accordance with FAR Part 9.5 or any non-mitigatable OCI related to current development work at NGA.

3.4 RECOMMENDATIONS

The responder is invited to provide information and recommendations for fashioning this proposed acquisition. Recommendation areas may include the type of contract, anticipated contract terms & conditions, incentives, variations in delivery schedule, price and/or cost proposal support, and data requirements, contract pricing, and any other areas that the responder believes is relevant for the Government to achieve its stated objectives. The responder may opine regarding what portion of the work could be set-aside for small businesses if all the required work cannot be provided by a small business. Details to support any recommendations for partial small business set-asides should be included.

4.0 RESPONSES

4.1 Interested parties are directed to respond to this RFI with a white paper.

4.2 White paper shall be in Microsoft Word for Office or compatible format and shall not exceed three pages. A page is defined as each face of an 8 1⁄2” x 11” sheet with information contained within a one inch margin on all sides. Font type shall be Times Roman 12 point.

4.3 A complete submission includes a white paper and the comment matrix (if applicable).

Responses are due no later than 9:00 am CST on 3 Dec 2020 and shall be via e-mail only as a message attachment to timothy.j.hull@@nga.mil and ryan.a.switzer@nga.mil with the message subject line “RFI Response – Geolocation estimates and emitter metadata for Signals of Interest-[INSERT Business name]”.

4.4 Interested vendors are reminded not to include any proprietary information in their responses. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. RFI responses will not be accepted after the cut-off date and time stated in paragraph

4.3 above.

5.0 MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS

The Government representatives may or may not choose to meet with RFI responders. Such meetings and discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability, any development and certification risks, etc. to benefit of the Government’s acquisition strategy.

6.0 QUESTIONS

Questions/comments/suggestions regarding this RFI should be submitted in writing by e-mail to timothy.j.hull@nga.mil, alberto.d.valverde@nga.mil, and keith.j.texara@nga.mil.

7.0 SUMMARY

This RFI is only intended for the Government to identify sources that can provide the needed services to fulfill the Government’s technical requirements. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding to the Government. The Government has not made a commitment to procure any of the RFI requirements discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.