Request_for_Proposals_(RFP),_HSHQDC-17-R-00010_Questions_and_Answers_DNDO.pdf

Questions and Answer Table

Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO)

Request for Proposals (RFP), HSHQDC-17-R-00010

Fiscal Year (FY) 17 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR).

Question # Topic Area Question Proposed by Industry Government’s Response to Industry Question

1 General Can we collaborate with the national labs?

Per section 3.3 of the solicitation, involvement of any subcontractor(s) or consultant(s) (including Federal

Laboratories, FFRDCs, universities, and technical assistance providers) is permitted.

2 General Is there a deliverable item to DNDO?

Section 5.2 of the solicitation identifies the deliverables required for all resultant Phase I contracts.

3 H-SB017.1-008

Will you consider other types of scintillators, (e.g., a TRI-MODE organic scintillator or high-performance elpasolites without Tl)?

The goal of Phase I is to demonstrate the capability of producing small high performance crystals of a thallium-based elpasolite scintillator. Therefore, elpasolites without Tl are not applicable to this topic area.

4 H-SB017.1-009

What kind of radiation detection is sought? Alpha, Beta, Gamma, or all three?

Gamma detection is required. Alpha, Beta, and neutron detectors are not required.

5 H-SB017.1-009

What is the size/weight limit? Would individual nodes of the system that exceed 1000 pounds fit the expected solution?

The specific size and weight requirement shall be determined by the specific application and operational deployment specifications. Remote and relocatable systems can be expected to have more considerable weight restrictions than those systems deployed in urban scenarios. Systems exceeding 1000 pounds will not fit the expected node weight range.

6 H-SB017.1-009 Do you want air sampling? Air sampling is not desired and not required.

7 H-SB017.1-009 Is solar power OK?

Solar power may be applicable in some operational deployment applications and not applicable in others. Approaches that adopt flexible power management sources are highly desired.

8 H-SB017.1-009

Communications...do you want cellular, or Bluetooth to some system? How often do you want to poll?

Cellular or Wi-Fi systems may be applicable in certain operational deployment applications, while IRIDIUM or

BGAN may be more applicable in others. Communication based on event triggers is desired with status updates and/or background updating occurring to the limits of the available power and communications budget. The polling will be determined by mission needs and technical limitations of the proposed technology

9 H-SB017.1-009

What is size of the on-board data storage you want? 5 minutes video/radiation data, or an hour, or 24hrs, etc?

On-board data storage of radiation and auxiliary data shall depend on the needs for a particular operational deployment application and will be dependent on the communications availability, compressibility, and power constraints.

10 H-SB017.1-009

What is the threshold for a threat to begin acquiring/communicating during such a threat?

The system shall acquire the duration of a threat and communicate the encounter either during the encounter or soon after.

11 H-SB017.1-009

Outside use for durations exceeding 24 hours...what is the desired goal? 48hrs, a week, etc.

The desired goal is dependent on the operational deployment applications, but could potentially exceed a week or more.

12 H-SB017.1-009

Is COTS on all aspects an absolute requirement or can parts be

COTS and other custom?

COTS is preferred, but not required, for all components. This will accommodate demand and maintenance for operational deployments.

14 H-SB017.1-009 Please describe typical deployment scenarios.

Specific uses cases are not currently available, but proposals should be capable of operating in rural open spaces and/or densely cluttered urban environments. It is reasonable to expect the concept of operations to include a distributed network of sensors that allow for flexible deployment and relocation

15 H-SB017.1-009

Are reference data sets of radiation detector spectra available including detectable events and normal background signals?

No reference data sets are available for phase I.

16 H-SB017.1-009 Can you recommend methods to configure test threat sources?

While not a requirement, the guidance that can be provided is to utilize ANSI Standard 42.53 (6.3 Detector Response to gamma radiation and 6.12.3.1). The radiation signatures of interest include those provided in ANSI standard 42.53.

17 H-SB017.1-009

Can you recommend methods to test false positive and false negative detection rates of the sensor network?

Previous approaches included measurements of related systems in operationally relevant environments in order to capture a relevant use case for false positive rate estimate or estimates of performance. Previous approaches to false negative detection included the use of statistical measurements or source injection within a detector replay tool

18 H-SB017.1-009

We’d like to confirm that we properly understand that the

“system” is a single integrated unit of radiation, video and other

(acoustic, GPS/IMU) sensors – that is, the scope of this solicitation is on developing the base module that might be part of a network distributed outdoors. Assuming that’s true, is containing all of the sensors in a single enclosure required for a module?

A system with a unit of radiation, video, and other sensors

(acoustic, GPS/IMU) is within the scope of the proposed effort. While containing the sensor in a single enclosure is not required, the ruggedness, operational usability, and simplicity are desired for the technical approach.

19 H-SB017.1-009

Who are some of the envisioned end users (e.g., Law

Enforcement, Reachback analysts)?

Potential end users include, but are not limited to, State/Local/Tribal Law enforcement and Federal Agencies.

20 H-SB017.1-009

We see the requirement for only transmitting data during a detection. However, we can envision applications when transmitting the spectral data continuously, or making it available on demand (e.g., for reachback analysis) would be useful. Can we interpret the real requirement as achieving 24h operating life – i.e., any amount/type can be transmitted so long as the system can operate unattended for at least 24h?

Ability to continuously transmit spectral data is desirable if the duration exceeds 24 hrs. Approaches that extend well beyond the 24 hour duration are highly desirable. The ability to switch between modes is also desirable.

21 H-SB017.1-009

Is there envisioned utility for executing advanced video and spectral algorithms, offboard (e.g.., a localization algorithm that considers a network of systems)?

The ability to execute advanced video and spectral algorithms is desirable. Provided this can be facilitated by offboard capability also maintains the ability to operate beyond 24 hours, this is also desirable. The ability to configure across multiple modes of operation to include approaches with limited bandwidth or replacement power is highly desirable.

22 H-SB017.1-009

This new solicitation appears to have a strong component of data management and communication which is not our main expertise at this point. We are thinking of joining in a proposal with another company that can bring additional expertise on spectroscopic gamma detectors and also in the data management and communications area. Does this seem to be a good approach?

Offerors are encouraged to propose teams with expertise in the elements of their technical approach.

23 H-SB017.1-009

In a Phase I effort, could the main emphasis be on perfecting and demonstrating the properties of our sensitive and low power demand neutron detector for this type of application with a Phase

II receiving more emphasis on data management, analysis and communications?

Gamma radiation detection is required as well as the ability to computationally analyze the sensor data with a low power emphasis.

24 H-SB017.1-009

Is the intended use case for constrained space, targeted “portal” type of locations or a distributed network of sensors, or both?

The radiation level which, if exceeded, would trigger communication and auxiliary sensors should be adjustable as this will vary based on the use case. Specific uses cases are not currently available, but proposals should be capable of operating in rural open spaces as well as densely cluttered urban environments. It is reasonable to expect the concept of operations to include a distributed network of sensors.

25 H-SB017.1-009

Does the Government currently have a reference system(s), perhaps attended, that does not fully meet the application needs? If so, can background information or a pointer be provided to the system?

The government does not have a current reference system for this application.

26 H-SB017.1-009

Are there specific radiation detector types targeted for this project?

The government does not have a targeted radiation detector for this topic. The proposed radiation detector type should consider the detection efficiency, threat versus non-threat discrimination, power requirements, and its deployment usability.

27 H-SB017.1-009

Any radiation level (and/or radiation-dose level) that if exceeded the system is to trigger its communication and auxiliary sensors, or this varies among use cases? If possible, please advise the detection range and sensitivity for the radiation detectors that are required across most use cases.

The radiation level which, if exceeded, would trigger communication and auxiliary sensors should be adjustable as this will vary based on the operating environment and concept of operations. Specific uses cases and their associated specifications are not currently available. Proposed technical approaches should be capable of operating in rural open spaces as well as densely cluttered urban environments, and their associated encounter distribution shall drive the detection requirements. It is reasonable to expect the concept of operations to include a distributed network of sensors.

28 H-SB017.1-009

At what range do you want to detect the radiation type(s) specified in question 1?

The desired detection range is the range to the targeted encounters for an operating environment and concept of operation. Specific uses cases are not currently available, but proposals should be capable of operating in rural open spaces as well as densely cluttered urban environments. It is reasonable to expect the concept of operations to include a distributed network of sensors.

29 H-SB017.1-009

DNDO looks to have provided significant R&D funding for a similar capability several years ago (see http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/article_archive/results/deta ils?id=3462). What specific technical problems were not solved with this previous effort that you hope will be addressed with this

SBIR?

The technology referenced is not intended for long-term (e.g., multiple days to months) of operation without power recharging. The new technology should also add contextual information (i.e., non-radiological information) when the detector alarms.

30 H-SB017.1-009 How many awards do you expect to make on this topic?

DNDO anticipates making multiple awards under this solicitation. The actual number of awards under the solicitation will be at the discretion of DNDO, based on a review of submitted proposals against the criteria listed in the solicitation and the availability of funds.

http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/article_archive/results/details?id=3462 http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/article_archive/results/details?id=3462 http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/article_archive/results/details?id=3462