Question_and_Answers_DTRA_BAA_r1.docx

Questions and Answers

DTRA BAA HDTRA1-18-S-0002

Question 1: Attachment 6 states that White Papers are due 8 May. But the milestone chart also indicates that the BAA was to have been released on 2 April vice 16 April. Will the due date for White papers and Proposals be revised?

Answer 1: Amendment 01 to HDTRA1-18-S-0002 posted 18 April 2018 provided a revised Attachment 6 – Milestones Schedule. Amendment 02 to HDTRA1-18-S-0002 includes the second revised Attachment 6 - Milestone Schedule.

Question 2: Is it correct to assume that a scientist working for a small US business, who holds a valid Green Card, but is not a US citizen (he is a citizen of S. Korea) can participate either as a Principal Investigator or staff scientist on a contract that could be awarded under the subject BAA?

Answer 2: A determination cannot be made at this time. Key considerations will include, but not be limited to, whether the work may be considered export-controlled and/or whether it is or could become classified. The intended application of the technology could be another consideration.

Question 3: I am hoping to find out if there is an incumbent contractor currently performing these services or if this is a new requirement. If there is an incumbent, could you please provide the contract number?

Answer: 3: This is a new requirement.

Question 4: With respect to Topic NT-19-DET-02, will DTRA consider the development of an autonomous unmanned vehicle including: (1) an on-board radiological and nuclear (RN) detector; (2) algorithms for autonomous exploration and mapping of buildings and other enclosed environments; (3) integration of RN sensor output for path planning and detection and localization of RN materials? The system would implement this representative scenario:

A Task Force is deployed to confirm the presence of WMDs in a subterranean structure. The Task Force breaches a large hole in the 6” steel garage door and deploys an autonomous drone into the structure; the drone is equipped with a specialized nuclear radiation sensing payload. The robot moves quickly through the complex, generates a heat map of detected radiation levels, and navigates to localize the source. Concurrently, the robot identifies and localizes people, confirms the presence of visually observable weapons, and highlights inaccessible regions on the 3D map. The autonomous system confirms the presence of nuclear weapon materials and relays this information back to the assault force. The assault force deploys its EOD technicians to secure the materials.

Answer 4: DTRA will consider novel algorithms to analyze multisource tactical edge data for both CBRN force protection and post radiological/nuclear incident response missions. Solutions that are compatible with existing situational awareness tools used by the Department of Defense CBRN forces will be given preference.

Question 5: With respect to NT-19-DET-02, specifically “algorithms for search, localization, and identification”: what is the required level of precision for localization of RN materials? For example, does automated localization need to identify the precise room, vault, or container of interest, or is a determination that RN material is present in a given building or wing of a larger complex sufficient?

Answer 5: Consideration will be given to technical solutions that narrow the search space and/or enable faster decision making in an operational environment.

Question 6: With respect to NT-19-DET-02, and assuming the development of an autonomous system as described above, does DTRA have any recommended or required sensors or sensor types for integration?

Answer 6: Preferable solutions are compatible with existing situational awareness tools used by the Department of Defense CBRN forces, such as Mobile Field Kit CBRN (MFK-CBRN) or Tactical Assault Kit (TAK).