HDTRA1-18-S-0002_FY2020_Topic_Call_Questions_and_Answers.pdf

DTRA BAA HDTRA1-18-S-0002

FY 2020 Topic Call Q&A

Question 1: Can you provide some more detail/explanation of what “…however, the application of active systems to diagnostics and characterization are allowed” means? See my reference below which appears on page 5 of the PDF BAA HDTRA1-18-S-0002 (Nuclear Detection

Technology). Does this mean that multi-mono energetic gamma radiography would be considered (where effective Z and density are determined simultaneously)?

Answer 1: DTRA will only consider funding active systems for threat diagnostics and characterization applications which are specific to non-destructive analysis of high density shielding. Other applications of active interrogation (e.g., standoff detection, portal detection) will not be considered.

Question 2: TOPIC: NT-20-DET-04: Will compliant proposals include the development of ionizing radiation detector (sensor)? If so, must the detector (sensor) display the ability to identify radioactive sources in the plume?

Answer 2: The technical solution is not limited to any particular methodology. The operational context may not necessarily require deployment within a radioactive plume.

Question 3: I see that there is an amended Attachment 7 ‘topics’ document “2020 Topic Call’ posted last week on Feb. 19, 2019. Prior to noticing the amended document, we had begun formulating a proposal based on the topic descriptions in the Attachment 7 Topics document posted May 2018: NT-19-DET-01 and NT-19-DET-02. Are the topics as described in the newer document posted last week the only ones that are suitable for submission this cycle, or can we submit a proposal more in alignment with the earlier topic descriptions: NT-19-DET-01 or NT-

19-DET-02?

Answer 3: Under this proposal call DTRA will only accept submissions based on the topics listed in Attachment 7, “2020 Topic Call” posted on 19 February 2019.

Question 4: I was wondering if I could get contact information for project managers associated with some of the 2020 Topics related to ATTACHMENT 7: LIST OF TOPICS for HDTRA1-18-

S-0002.

In particular:

* TOPIC: NT-20-DET-04 PLUME DETECTION

* TOPIC: NT-20-DET-05 FINDING GROUND MOBILE NUCLEAR THREATS

* TOPIC: NT-20-DET-06 DUAL CAPABILITY MILITARY UNIT AND EQUIPMENT

DISCRIMINATION

We have some technical questions and it might be easier to address them to a specific program manager if possible.

Answer 4: In accordance with the BAA, Section 3.2 “Questions about this BAA”, questions will only be accepted through the BAA e-mail address provided in that section.

Question 5: Our company successfully completed the first half of a development program for a dual spectrometer in 2017 under a DTRA SBIR. We do not need a proof of principle phase for our technology. For those topics in which Ionizing radiation detection is required, would it be possible to submit a Phase II proposal?

Answer 5: This is a separate solicitation with no connection to the SBIR program. As defined in

Sections 1.4 of the solicitation, a two-phase proposal process will be used. Submission to Phase

II will be by invitation only based upon an evaluation of the Phase I submissions.

Question 6: TOPIC: NT-20-DET-05: FINDING GROUND MOBILE NUCLEAR THREATS, and TOPIC: NT-20-DET-06: DUAL CAPABILITY MILITARY UNIT AND EQUIPMENT

DISCRIMINATION Both of these leave open the sensor types/identification data streams that might be used for make these determinations. Would in either or both cases either SAR/ISAR or other types of radar, or HD video or other types of streaming/still optical sensors, be appropriate as a base for determining nuclear threat capabilities?

Answer 6: Sensor types and identification data streams appropriate for determining nuclear threats will be accepted for evaluation.

Question 7: TOPIC: NT-20-DET-02, is there a target or maximum cost, size or weight? I realize that these parameters are to be optimized. But is there an upper limit where you say that, if it can't be met, don't submit a proposal? As described, this topic does not seem very challenging.

There are already detectors on the market that run several years on a battery. Adding radio communication for 1 hour when a dose rate threshold is exceeded seems trivial. What am I missing?

Answer 7: There is no specified cost, size, or weight. The disposable intent and potential large area contamination would provide some limit to the overall system size, weight, power and cost.

Question 8: TOPIC: NT-20-DET-02, the requirement is to be able to detect and alarm at 2 mR/hr. Is there any guidance on how fast the instrument has to respond to this level? For example, a very small solid state detector may take minutes or hours to accurately quantify 2 mR/hr.

Answer 8: This topic seeks a capability that will provide mission actionable information and human protection. The 2 mR/hr. rate is required for human protection per the U.S. Code of

Federal Regulations.

Question 9: TOPIC: NT-20-DET-02, should the proposal also address the distribution/deployment method or just the nodes themselves and the radio receiver?

Answer 9: The final prototype must be able to demonstrate a design that could be distributed in quantities sufficient to monitor an area. “Could” does not necessarily require a dispersal system.

Question 10: TOPIC: NT-20-DET-02, do the nodes need to be in constant or periodic communication with the receiver, either for the purpose of reporting radiation levels or general check-in to ensure the nodes are still operational; or is it only necessary to connect when an alarm needs to be transmitted?

Answer 10: DTRA is seeking the longest operational capability with a reliable data link following dispersal in an event of concern.

Question 11: TOPIC: NT-20-DET-02, do the nodes need to be aware of their location (GPS coordinates) so that when an alarm is triggered, the operator knows where the high dose rate is.

Answer 11: Some form of placement information is essential for operational intelligence.

Question 12: TOPIC: NT-20-DET-03, the requirement is to be able to delineate the 10mR/hr isodose line from 150 m AGL. Does this mean that the system has to be able to take aerial measurements and back calculate to what the dose rate readings on the ground would be?

Answer 12: Yes.

Question 13: TOPIC: NT-20-DET-03, the system is to be able to cover 100km^2 in 8 hours at

500 m AGL. At 500 m, there is significant air shielding. Is there a reason for flying so high?

Answer 13: This parameter was chosen due to a number of considerations: use of existing UAV assets, collision avoidance, minimized airframe contamination, ground contamination levels, etc.

Question 14: TOPIC NDT-20-DET-03 LARGE AREA SEARCH ON AN UNMANNED

AERIAL SYSTEM, what is the precision target to delineate the 10 mR/hr gamma isodose line?

Answer 14: The precision target will not be defined by DTRA.

Question 15: TOPIC NT-20-DET-3 contains the statement: "The end state must provide a sensor prototype integrated onto an identified platform working semi autonomously in a field environment." We are wondering if the "identified platform" and "field environment" should be specified by the contractor in our white paper or if the government intends to identify the platform after the award. Basically, do you want us to select our own drone to integrate onto or do you want us to just make a drone agnostic proposal and leave drone selection / testing venue up to the government?

Answer 15: The developed prototype must be platform agnostic. DTRA expects the contractor to identify the test location and scenarios that will fully demonstrate the capability of the prototype.

Question 16: TOPIC NT-20-DET-03: What are the upper and lower limits of the ground-level exposure (i.e., dynamic range) the system would be required to map and with what dose rate accuracy?

Answer 16: The system should be able to delineate up to 500cGy/hr. The offeror should understand that the accuracy and precision are important aspects of the system and should be specified by the offeror.

Question 17: TOPIC NT-20-DET-03: “This platform must be able to delineate the 10 mR/hr gamma isodose line from 150 m AGL” yet the 100 km2 search mission is called out for an AGL of 500 m. Please clarify. What are the expected detection limits at 500 m and for what isodose contours?

Answer 17: The exposure rate at 500 m AGL was intentionally unspecified to allow the offeror to determine their system’s best performance capabilities.

Question 18: TOPIC NT-20-DET-03: Coordinated multi-UAS aerial search and neutron sensitivity are requested. Are these separate requests or is neutron detection to be combined with multi-UAS search? Is the primary mission mapping of large area neutron contamination or is it neutron source localization? Related to this question can separate neutron and gamma detector payloads be offered?

Answer 18: Topic NT-20-DET-03 does not specifically request coordinated multi-UAS search or neutron sensitivity, it only states that these are items of interest. The focus is for the development of a fixed wing UAV to “conduct detection and mapping of human health hazardous radiological environments” over large areas (i.e., 100km^2 @ 500 m AGL). There is no requirement as to the number or type of sensors offered.

Question 19: TOPIC NT-20-DET-05: Is this topic interested in future development of sensor technologies, or it is also open to development of deployment technologies for existing sensors?

Answer 19: This topic is open to development on existing sensors and new sensors/sensor technologies.

Question 20: In reference to DTRA BAA New Initiatives for Nuclear Detection Technologies

HDTRA1-18-S-0002. 1) Are offeror’s (PIs) allowed to submit Phase-1 Letter-of-Intents for multiple topics?

Answer 20: Yes

Question 21: TOPIC 4: What operating conditions of ship speeds, environmental conditions, wind-speeds etc. should the plume detector be developed for? What would be the sensitivity requirements of the detector and how far away from the plume should the detector sense?

Answer 21:

The performance parameters were intentionally unspecified to allow the offeror to determine their system’s best performance capabilities.

Question 22: TOPIC 7: The topic clarifies that full-detector information and characterization may not be available prior to data synthesis. However, detector data such locations, count-rate, raw signals etc. tend to be highly dependent on detector efficiency and detection mechanisms.

What kind of detector information might be available prior to data synthesis?

What attributes of data synthesis are most important

Answer 22: DTRA relies on a CBRN Sensor Application Protocol Interface (API) to collect and transmit data from sensors to visualization and computation platforms. This API is built around the ANSI N42.42 standard and the Army’s Integrated Sensor Architecture (ISA). Types of data available depend on the sensors used; however, they generally include: sensor type, location and heading, background counts per second, counts per second, dose rate, identified isotope name and confidence, and sensor state of health.