FINAL_IARPA-BAA-18-04_MAEGLIN_PHASE_2.pdf

IARPA

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT

IARPA-BAA-18-04

MAEGLIN Phase 2 Program

IARPA-BAA-18-04

July 10, 2018

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT: IARPA-BAA-18-04

MAEGLIN Phase 2 Program

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Dates

Agency Points of contact

Questions

SECTION 1: FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

1.A. Program Overview

1.A.1 Introduction and Concept of Operations

1.A.2 Current Approaches and Motivation

1.A.3 MAEGLIN – Phase 1 Recap

1.A.4 MAEGLIN Program Goals

1.A.5 MAEGLIN Phase 2 Approach

1.A.6 Team Expertise

1.A.7 Out of Scope

1.B. Program Structure, Metrics, and Milestones

1.B.1 Program Phases

1.B.2 Program Metrics and Milestones

1.B.3 Waypoints

1.B.4 MAEGLIN Phase 2 Chemical List

1.B.5 Meetings and Workshop

1.B.6 Site Visit

1.B.7 Program Structure, Goals and Approach

1.B.8 Benchmark and Final Testing for Brass Board System

1.C. Program Timeline and Deliverables

1.D Meeting and Travel Requirements

1.E Place of Performance

1.F Period of Performance

1.G Data Package

1.G.1 Phase 1 Government Testbed and Test Plans

1.G.2 MAEGLIN Phase 2 RFI Responses

1.G.3 Test and Evaluation Team Capabilities

1.G.4 Chemical Lists

SECTION 2: AWARD INFORMATION

SECTION 3: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

3.A. Eligible Applicants

3.A.1. Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI)

3.A.2 Multiple Submissions to the BAA

3.B. U.S. Academic Organizations

3.C. Other Eligibility Criteria

3.C.1. Collaboration Efforts

SECTION 4: PROPOSAL AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

4.A. Proposal Information

4.B. Proposal Format and Content

4.B.1 Volume 1: Technical and Management Proposal

4.B.1.a. Section 1: Cover Sheet & Transmittal Letter

4.B.1.b. Section 2: Summary of Proposal (see below for page limit)

4.B.1.c. Section 3: Detailed Proposal Information

4.B.1.e. Section 4: Attachments

4.B.2. Volume 2: Cost Proposal (No Page Limit)

4.B.2.a. Section 1: Cover Sheet

4.B.2.b. Section 2: Estimated Cost Breakdown

4.B.2.c. Section 3: Supporting Information

4.C. Submission Details

4.C.1. Due Dates

4.C.2. Proposal Delivery

4.D. Funding Restrictions

SECTION 5: PROPOSAL REVIEW INFORMATION

5.A. Technical and Funding Availability Evaluation Factors

5.A.1. Technical Evaluation Factor (technical criteria listed below)

5.A.1.a. Overall Scientific and Technical Merit

5.A.1.b. Effectiveness of Proposed Work Plan

5.A.1.c. Contribution and Relevance to the IARPA Mission and Program Goal

5.A.1.d Relevant Experience and Expertise

5.A.1.e Resource Realism

5.A.2. Funding Availability Factor

5.A.2.a. Budget Constraints

5.A.2.b. Program Balance

5.B. Method of Evaluation and Selection Process

5.C. Negotiation and Contract Award

5.D. Proposal Retention

SECTION 6: AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

6.A. Award Notices

6.B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

6.B.1. Proprietary Data

6.B.2. Intellectual Property

6.B.3 Human Use

6.B.4. Animal Use

6.B.5. Publication Approval

6.B.6. Export Control

6.B.7. Subcontracting

6.B.8. Reporting

6.B.9. System for Award Management (SAM)

6.B.10. Representations and Certifications

6.B.11. Lawful Use and Privacy Protection Measures

6.B.12. Public Access to Results

6.B.13. Cloud Compatibility APPENDIX A: Templates for Volume 1: Technical Proposal

Cover Sheet for Volume 1: Technical Proposal

Academic Institution Acknowledgement Letter

Intellectual Property Rights

Organizational Conflicts of Interest Certification Letter

Three Chart Summary of the Proposal

Research Data Management Plan (RDMP) APPENDIX B: Templates for Volume 2: Cost Proposal

Cover Sheet for Volume 2: Cost Proposal

Prime Contractor/Subcontractor Cost Element Sheet for Volume 2: Cost Proposal

GENERAL INFORMATION

This publication constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) and sets forth research areas of interest in remote, ultra-low power chemical analysis. Awards based on responses to this

BAA are considered to be the result of full and open competition.

Federal Agency Name – Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA)

Funding Opportunity Title – MAEGLIN Phase 2 Program

Announcement Type – Initial

Funding Opportunity Number – IARPA-BAA-18-04

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers (CFDA) – Not applicable

Dates o Posting Date: July 10, 2018 o Proposal Due Date for Initial Round of Selections: September 10, 2018 o BAA Closing Date: December 31, 2018

Anticipated individual awards – Multiple awards anticipated

Types of instruments that may be awarded – Procurement Contracts and Other

Transactions1

Agency Points of contact

ATTN: IARPA-BAA-18-04

Office of the Director of National Intelligence Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity

Washington, DC 20511

Electronic mail: dni-IARPA-BAA-18-04@iarpa.gov

Unclassified Fax: 301-851-7557

Program Manager ‒ Dr. Kristin M. DeWitt, IARPA

Program website – http://www.iarpa.gov/index.php/research-programs/MAEGLIN

BAA Summary – The Molecular Analyzer for Efficient Gas-phase Low-power

INterrogation (MAEGLIN) Program seeks to develop an ultra-low-power chemical analysis capability for the detection and identification of hazardous chemicals, explosives and their related chemicals, chemical weapons, industrial toxins and pollutants, narcotics, and nuclear materials in chemical environments with significant background and interferents. In Phase 1 (IARPA-BAA-16-01), the MAEGLIN program developed component technology for chemical collection, separation, and identification. In Phase 2

(this BAA), MAEGLIN will develop an integrated capability in two separate tracks:

Forensic Identification (FID) and Screening Identification (SID).

Questions

Submit questions on administrative, technical, or contractual issues by email to dni-

IARPA-BAA-18-04@iarpa.gov. All requests must include the full name and affiliation

1Procurement Contract: This is a standard government contract that follows the processes, format and terms and conditions as outlined in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and supplementing Agency specific regulations.

Other Transaction: These agreements generally are not subject to the federal laws and regulations governing procurement contracts and thus are not required to comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), its supplements, or laws that are limited in applicability to procurement contracts. They may be used with non-traditional contractors under certain circumstances.

of a point of contact. Do not send questions with proprietary content. A consolidated

Question and Answer response will be posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website (http://www.fbo.gov) and linked from the IARPA website

(http://www.iarpa.gov/index.php/research-programs/MAEGLIN). No answer will go directly to the submitter. IARPA will accept questions until August 10, 2018.

SECTION 1: FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) often selects its research efforts through the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) process. The use of a BAA solicitation allows a wide range of innovative ideas and concepts. The BAA shall be posted on the FedBizOpps website

(http://www.fedbizopps.gov) and then linked from the IARPA website (http://www.iarpa.gov).

The following information is for those wishing to respond to this Program BAA.

IARPA is seeking innovative solutions for Phase 2 of the Molecular Analyzer for Efficient Gas-

Phase Low-power Interrogation (MAEGLIN) program. Phase 2 of the MAEGLIN program is envisioned to begin in January 2019 and end by January 2021.

1.A. Program Overview

1.A.1 Introduction and Concept of Operations

Chemical detection is a priority for the Intelligence Community (IC) with applications such as forensic analysis, border/facility protection, and stockpile/production monitoring. In particular, the

IC has an interest in long term monitoring of a chemical environment without human oversight. The technology necessary for local and continuous monitoring of this type must provide high sensitivity and accuracy, be robust in the presence of complex chemical mixtures, and be contained in a small, ruggedized package with autonomous operation. Unfortunately, current technology cannot simultaneously meet these requirements.

The overall MAEGLIN program intends to develop an ultra-low-power chemical analysis capability for the detection and identification of hazardous chemicals, explosives and their related chemicals, chemical weapons, industrial toxins and pollutants, narcotics, and nuclear materials in chemical environments with significant background and interferents. In Phase 1, the MAEGLIN program developed component technology for chemical collection, separation, and identification. In Phase

2, MAEGLIN will develop an integrated capability in two separate tracks: Forensic Identification

(FID), and Screening Identification (SID). Systems in the Forensic Identification track will be able to collect a moderately complex mixture and perform a full analysis of the complex mixture with positive identification of a broad range of target species, including a capability for offline analysis of true unknowns. Systems in the Screening Identification track will be able to collect a moderately complex chemical mixture and provide an automated identification of the presence of a target compound that is in the system’s library of chemical targets. A more detailed description of the goals and capabilities of each of these tracks, and associated technical metrics are provided in sections 1.A.4, 1.A.5 and 1.B.2.

There will be two components to the MAEGLIN Phase 2 effort. The first will be a demonstration of chemical identification capability (in either the Forensic or Screening track) against the program metrics, conducted using hardware at the brass board system level. The second will be the design of an integrated prototype with the same functionality in terms of chemical identification capability as the brass board systems, but which also fully meets the MAEGLIN Phase 2 design requirements for size, weight, and power consumption.

Chemicals of interest in the MAEGLIN program include, but are not limited to, the following classes:

explosives and energetics; including military, commercial, and home-made varieties, as well as common oxidizers and fuels and chemicals related to or indicative of explosives preparation;

chemical weapons, precursors, and byproducts;

poisonous or toxic environmental chemicals and industrial pollutants;

narcotics; including illicit, prescription, and designer drugs of abuse and related chemicals;

nuclear fuel cycle materials and related chemicals;

signatures indicative of common natural and industrial chemical processes, such as:

combustion, petroleum fractionation, and pesticide manufacturing; and chemicals associated with the manufacture and deployment of biological warfare agents.

Direct detection of bio-agent species is not a goal of the MAEGLIN program, however, chemical signatures of bio-agent production and weaponization may be detectable. Table 1 provides some representative examples of potential MAEGLIN applications. These examples are intended to motivate an understanding of the goals and metrics and should not be taken as either a comprehensive list of potential applications or as a definitive set of specific applications that will be used for program test and evaluation (T&E).

Table 1: Representative MAEGLIN Applications

User/Application Description

Domestic

Counterterrorism

Monitoring effluent from suspected explosives, chemical agent, or bio-agent manufacture or storage sites. Screening/early warning at large public gatherings.

Transportation

Security

Testing cargo holds and package storage areas for illegal substances and explosives.

Drug

Enforcement

Monitoring effluent from suspected drug manufacturing sites for warrant issuance and evidence collection.

Food and

Pharmaceutical

Security

Autonomous monitoring of food and drug production and storage to ensure safety and quality standards and lack of tampering

Mining & Other

Confined Spaces

Autonomous monitoring of safety conditions in mineshafts and other confined spaces.

Environmental

Safety

Monitoring of industrial and nuclear sites to enforce public safety and compliance standards. Serve as early warning system for inadvertent or intentional release. Monitoring remote areas for illicit dumping of materials, unusual uses, and early warning system for forest fires. Monitoring petroleum harvesting sites. Early warning system for volcanic eruptions.

It is anticipated that proposals which successfully address all aspects of the Phase 2 requirements will require a multidisciplinary team. Proposals must encompass both an integrated brass board demonstration and prototype design to be funded. Offerors may propose to the Forensic

Identification track or the Screening Identification track. If one offeror or team of offerors desires to submit a proposal for both the Forensic Identification and Screening Identification tracks, these should be submitted as separate, independent proposals following the guidelines in Section 4. Any common work between the two proposals should be indicated. If desired, offerors may submit multiple distinct proposals as either prime contractors or subcontractors. Each complete proposal will be evaluated on the basis of its responsiveness to the MAEGLIN Phase 2 BAA metrics and evaluation criteria. In the event that the same offeror is selected for negotiation on more than one proposal as either a prime contractor or subcontractor, de-confliction of any duplicative work will take place during contract negotiations.

1.A.2 Current Approaches and Motivation

Current chemical detection field techniques range from those that require transporting samples to a laboratory for analysis to small point sensors that identify the presence of a particular chemical (or chemical class) in relatively clean environments. Both passive and active optical sensors have been developed that search the ground for chemical targets from an airborne platform. Each technique has both strengths and limitations.

Figure 1 summarizes the current state of the art in chemical detection and identification technology in terms of portability and performance.

Figure 1: Summary of Current Chemical Analysis Capabilities and Limitations

Figure 1 Legend

FTIR – Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

IMS/DMS – Ion Mobility Spectrometry / Differential Mobility Spectrometry

IR/Raman – Infrared / Raman Spectroscopy

GC – Gas Chromatography

LC / IC – Liquid Chromatography / Ion Chromatography

MS – Mass Spectrometry

NMR – Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

TOF MS – Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

XRD – X-Ray Diffraction

Laboratory analysis techniques, such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier

MAEGLIN

Forensic ID

MAEGLIN

Screening ID

Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and various types of mass spectrometry (MS) provide the underpinnings for the vast majority of analytical chemistry determination, but as laboratory fixtures they are large, stationary, and do not allow for analysis at the site of sample collection. These techniques require time for sample transportation to the laboratory, followed by time consuming sample preparation and/or separation steps, and analysis in instruments that range from desktop to room size. In return, these forensic gold-standard laboratory techniques can uniquely identify a single chemical from a library of 100,000+ spectra. A trained spectroscopist can also deduce the structure of unknown compounds from their spectra. Due to their lower detection thresholds, MS techniques

(ng-pg sample size) are most commonly used to analyze samples collected in the field. FTIR requires g range sample size and NMR milligram range sample sizes.

Field portable techniques, including portable MS systems and alternative non-MS detection systems, sacrifice gold standard laboratory performance for portability. The MS-based systems tend to exhibit a monotonic trade-off between size/power requirements and sensitivity, specificity, and library size.

Smaller systems rarely include a separation front-end, so are susceptible to interferents and clutter.

Non-MS-based approaches, such as ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), fluorescence spectrophotometry, and Raman spectroscopy, have issues with sensitivity, long-term calibration, and cross-sensitivity to interferents. Many of these devices are also not reliable for true chemical discrimination and work best when used as screening tools for target-class detection.

Ultraportable techniques, including test strips and colorimetric sensors as well as other types of small point detectors, tend to be single-use and single-target (specific for particular chemicals or chemical classes).

In summary, there is a significant capabilities gap for persistent long term, field-based, high-fidelity detection and identification of a broad range of chemical species.

1.A.3 MAEGLIN – Phase 1 Recap

In Phase 1 (IARPA-BAA-16-01), the MAEGLIN program was structured into three Thrust Areas

(listed below) with specific metrics for each Thrust Area independent of the others:

Collection – Low-power, reversible gas phase collection/storage/release technology.

Optional modular front end sampling adaptor for additional capability for liquid and particulate aerosol and/or bulk liquid and solid phase collection and volatilization.

Separation – Low-power, non-destructive separation of chemical mixtures with a broad concentration range, potentially including the ability to “bleed off” all or part of the collected sample if desired. System will use minimal (preferably no) consumables.

Identification – Low-power, high-accuracy identification of chemicals as pure compounds or low-count mixtures with a large library. System will use minimal (preferably no) consumables.

Performers in Phase 1 of the MAEGLIN program developed innovative solutions to component level technology. The program consisted of four approaches to the Collection thrust area, three approaches to the Selection thrust area, and four approaches to the Identification thrust area.

Combined thrust area technologies were developed by two performers. In Phase 1, program metrics were defined for specific thrust areas, while Phase 2 metrics are defined for the integrated system performance.

1.A.4 MAEGLIN Program Goals

The overall MAEGLIN program intends to develop an ultra-low-power chemical analysis capability for the detection and identification of hazardous chemicals or chemicals related to explosives, chemical weapons, industrial toxins and pollutants, narcotics, and nuclear materials in chemical environments with significant background and interferents. In Phase 1, the MAEGLIN program developed component technology for chemical collection, separation, and identification. In Phase

2, MAEGLIN will demonstrate integrated prototype systems in two capability tracks: Forensic

Identification, and Screening Identification.

Systems in the Forensic Identification track will be able to collect target and related chemicals at concentrations potentially several orders of magnitude lower than the ambient chemical background, separate these chemicals from interferents, and perform a full analysis of the complex mixture with positive identification of a broad range of species. An interferent is any chemical with similar physical or spectral properties to the target chemicals and is known to be false alarm triggers.

The ability to screen for multiple chemical targets will allow for analysis of subtle changes in the overall chemical effluent from monitored locations – especially when there are several possible target molecules, or when the target molecules themselves have vapor pressures too low to be detected in gas phase effluent, so their presence must be inferred by the presence of a cocktail of precursors, decomposition products, and ancillary production chemicals. Forensic Identification systems will also be able to provide a spectrum or other distinctive signature modality for all detected compounds that would allow automated detection of the presence of a compound not in the system library (true unknown), and allow a trained scientist to evaluate the recorded spectrum or signature modality offline for probable determination of the identity of the unknown compound.

Systems in the Screening Identification track will be able to collect a moderately complex chemical mixture, screen out common background materials and interferents, and provide an automated identification of the presence of a target compound that is in the system’s library of chemical targets.

Screening Identification systems must have a high probability of detection for target chemicals, and a low false alarm rate in the presence of common interferents such as hydrocarbons. These systems will not be required to detect the presence of a true unknown, or provide a signature modality that is fundamentally distinctive for all possible chemical targets.

For the Forensic Identification track, MAEGLIN Phase 2 program goals include definitive chemical identification of molecules with an atomic mass under 500amu; a system footprint of less than or equal to 1.5 liters; a weight of less than or equal to 7kg, including sufficient power and, if necessary, any consumables for two-year operation with daily sample analysis; and autonomous operation that includes calibration. For all chemical identifications the system must be able to provide a spectrum or other distinctive signature modality for offline forensic confirmation of identification.

For the Screening Identification track, MAEGLIN Phase 2 program goals include identification of molecules in the target list with a detection rate, PD > 95%, coupled with a false alarm rate, PFA of

<1% for molecules not on the target list; a system footprint of less than or equal to 0.5 liters; a weight of less than or equal to 1.5kg, including sufficient power and, if necessary, any consumables for at least six month operation with daily sample analysis; and autonomous operation that includes calibration.

For either track autonomous collection and analysis of gases is a required capability; modular, interchangeable input units enabling the analysis of bulk liquid, solid, and particulate aerosol samples (either introduced by a user or collected autonomously) are desirable additional capabilities.

In summary, the major difference between the MAEGLIN goals and previous systems (such as miniaturized chromatography/mass spectrometers) is the emphasis on both low power and broad chemical identification in the presence of a significant amount of interferents and background, as well as autonomous operation. MAEGLIN does not restrict the sensor package to a chip scale device, but instead specifies that the final prototype must fit into the overall 0.5 liter (Screening

Identification track) or 1.5 liter volume (Forensic Identification track), which includes power and consumables. There is significant flexibility in the analysis and processing timelines.

1.A.5 MAEGLIN Phase 2 Approach

There will be two components to the MAEGLIN Phase 2 effort. The first will be a demonstration of chemical identification capability (in either the Forensic or Screening track) against the program metrics, conducted using hardware at the brass board system level. The second will be the design of an integrated prototype with the same functionality in terms of chemical identification capability as the brass board systems, but which also fully meets the MAEGLIN Phase 2 design requirements for size, weight, and power consumption. The capability of the brass board systems will be evaluated using the MAEGLIN Government testbed housed at the Naval Research Laboratory. The design portion of the program will be evaluated by a team of Subject Matter Experts at both the

Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and Critical Design Review (CDR) stage.

For the physical hardware (brass board) demonstration, key system components for chemical collection and analysis should be either at their final prototype-level functionality, size, weight, and power consumption levels, or there should be a clearly defined level of low risk engineering required to reach the final prototype form factor (for example development of custom driver boards or detector arrays). Data collection and processing may be done using laboratory-style boards and processors (data acquisition cards, desktop or laptop computers). Compound identification must take place via an automated (no human-in-the-loop) algorithm, but a sophisticated graphical user interface is not needed. Power and vacuum systems in the brass board do not have to meet either the size or power consumption requirements of the program, but the overall system must be traceable to a cumulative design that would.

For the integrated prototype design, at CDR a “ready to build” prototype design must be provided that meets all of the program size, weight, power, and functionality goals. This includes incorporating all chemical collector and identifier hardware, consumables, pumps, batteries or fuel cells, power conditioning, and processing hardware into the required footprint and weight goals of the track being addressed. The only item in the design allowed to exist outside of the “envelope” demarcated by the BAA requirements is a tablet or laptop for user interface, and this device may only function as an “observation screen”, not perform any of the chemical identification processing.

Table 2: Top-Level Overview of the MAEGLIN Program Structure

Phase 1 Recap, 18 month duration, IARPA-BAA-16-01

Track Collection Separation Identification

Goals

Low power, reversible gas phase collection, storage, release technology. An optional modular front end sampling adaptor to add additional capability for liquid or particulate aerosol and/or bulk liquid and solid phase collection and volatizilation.

Low power, non-destructive separation of chemical mixtures with a broad concentration range, potentially including the ability to

“bleed off” all or part of the collected sample if desired. System will use minimal (preferably no) consumables.

Low power, high-accuracy identification of large library of chemicals from pure compounds or low-count mixtures.

System will use minimal (preferably

no) consumables.

Phase 2, 24 month duration, IARPA-BAA-18-04

Track Screening Identification Forensic Identification

Goals

Low power, high accuracy, integrated system capable of collecting a moderately complex chemical mixture and identifying all target chemicals in the mixture that are in the system’s library, with a high PD and low PFA .

Low power, high accuracy, integrated system capable of collecting and identifying target chemicals at low concentrations (potentially several orders of magnitude below ambient background chemical concentrations).

Full analysis of complex mixtures with positive identification of a broad range of species, including multiple target chemicals.

MAEGLIN Phase 2 is a separate, fully open solicitation distinct from MAEGLIN Phase 1.

Participation in MAEGLIN Phase 1 as a prime or subcontractor is not a requirement for participation in MAEGLIN Phase 2. Because MAEGLIN Phase 2 is an integration phase culminating in a brass board demonstration and prototype design, it is expected that the majority of the component technology proposed for MAEGLIN Phase 2 will have been developed past the proof of concept stage either through funding in MAEGLIN Phase 1, or through similar levels of development via private funding or funding by other government development efforts. While some developmental research at the component level is not precluded in MAEGLIN Phase 2, the majority of the component technology proposed for Phase 2 integrated prototypes should already be at the proof of concept level with laboratory performance data. Instructions are provided in Section 4 of the BAA for submitting supplemental component performance and test data from both company internal and independent external testing to quantitatively substantiate component performance claims.

In Phase 2 (IARPA-BAA-18-04), the MAEGLIN program is focused on system integration, with both tracks culminating in a brass board capability demonstration. Unlike in Phase 1, the metrics have been devised for complete systems without regard to individual component specifications. The program is designed to specify preferred performance characteristics, not technological approaches.

While some specific technological approaches may be discussed in this solicitation as reference exemplars, this in no way indicates a bias towards these particular technologies. It is IARPA’s goal to develop novel, low-power remote site sensors with the ability to detect or identify a broad range of chemical targets. Accomplishing these goals will require significant innovations, not limited to those made in Phase 1 of the MAEGLIN program.

1.A.6 Team Expertise

IARPA anticipates offeror teams may include, but are not limited to, experts in the following technical areas:

preconcentrators or trap and purge devices;

Sorbents;

aerosol, liquid, and solid concentration and separation;

gas chromatography;

liquid chromatography;

flow cytometry;

ion mobility spectrometry;

ionization techniques;

mass spectrometry;

micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) device design and fabrication;

optical spectroscopy;

micro-fluidics;

computational fluid dynamics;

spectral library development and use;

chemical detection and clutter filter algorithms;

miniature vacuum pumps;

low power electronics;

device size, weight, and power (SWaP) optimization; and batteries, fuel cells, and other power sources.

1.A.7 Out of Scope

The following are examples of topics considered out of scope for this program.

Research that does not have strong theoretical and experimental foundations or plausible scientific support for the offeror’s claims;

Approaches that propose or are likely to result in only incremental improvements over the current state of the art;

Approaches that require significant or exotic consumables or present safety hazards incompatible with remote, unattended operation;

Approaches with significantly limited operation parameters such as: not accommodating day/night, indoor/outdoor, or variable climate operation;

Solutions that address component technology instead of an integrated system prototype; and

Development of component technology that is not required for the offeror’s proposed approach.

In Phase 2, development of component technology is expected but must be in support of enabling the offerors’ system to achieve system-level performance goals.

1.B. Program Structure, Metrics, and Milestones

1.B.1 Program Phases

The overall MAEGLIN program is envisioned as a 4.0 year total effort. Phase 1 of the program

(IARPA-BAA-16-01) began in February 2017 with a period of performance of 18 months. Phase 1 was structured as component technical development in three separate Thrust Areas. Phase 2 of the program (covered by this solicitation) will last 24 months, with the goal of a brass board demonstration and prototype PDR/CDR in each of the tracks. The overarching goal of MAEGLIN

Phase 2 is not just development of systems that can meet sensitivity or capability requirements in a controlled laboratory setting, but to develop fully integrated proof-of-concept demonstration brass board systems that can detect or identify target chemicals at mission relevant concentrations in the field with a real-world cluttered background, and the design for a prototype that can meet the size, weight, power, and consumable constraints for use in long-term unattended applications.

1.B.2 Program Metrics and Milestones

The Government will use the following Program Milestones and Metrics (Table 3) to assess the effectiveness of proposed solutions in each track at achieving the stated program objectives. The milestones are intended to circumscribe the scope of the effort, while affording maximum flexibility, creativity, and innovation in proposing solutions to the stated problem. Proposals with a plan to surpass the listed milestones in one or more categories are desirable, provided that all of the other milestones are met, and the offerors provide clear justification as to why their proposed approach will be able to meet the enhanced milestone(s).

Table 3: MAEGLIN Programmatic Requirements, Metrics, and Milestones

3.A Forensic Identification (FID) Track

Category Brassboard Hardware Metrics

Chemical Library 200 identifiable chemicals (targets), 10 true unknowns

Chemical Range Polar, non-polar, volatile, semi-volatile compounds

Background and

Interferents

Relative humidity (RH) ranging from 10-80%, hydrocarbon concentrations up to 20%, and interferents such as phosphonate esters, glycol ethers, and fuel additives.

Molecular Weight

Range

Threshold: 25 – 300 Da

Goal: 3 – 500 Da

Identification Capability

Pfa < 1%

Example planned test conditions for Pfa are: 25C, 50% RH%, and interferent chemicals at equal concentrations to the target chemical.

Input Required (base component): gas-phase samples in ambient air

Optional: liquid or particulate aerosol, bulk liquid or solid

Output Automated compound identification (not real time)

Minimum Detectable

Exposure

Persistent Exposure:

Threshold: >5x10-5 mg/m3 continuous

Goal: >5x10-6 mg/m3 continuous

Short Term Exposure:

Threshold: >1x10-3 mg/m3 for 30 minute exposure

Goal: >1x10-4 mg/m3 for 30 minute exposure

Sampling Duration Minimum: 30 minutes

Maximum: 24 hours

Limit of Identification

(neat compound)

Ambient Chemical Concentration:

Threshold: >1x10-3 mg/m3 over 30 minute collection time

Goal: >1x10-4 mg/m3 over 30 minute collection time

Chemical Mass at Analyzer: 10ng

Response Range to a

Single Compound

Threshold: 1000x

Goal: 10,000x

Maximum Input Flux Identification of neat library compounds at 1-10µg/L concentration

Data Output

Analysis Mode: Automated identification of compounds in target library and spectral output of compounds identified as present but not in target library

Test Mode: Output of calibrated spectral data in .csv or similar format both with, and without, any background subtraction or other data processing needed prior to comparison with the target library

Form Factor of Optional

Aerosol or Bulk

Collectors

Modular, removable adaptor attached to base gas phase collector; may increase SWaP by 0.25L, 1kg, including consumables.

Category Prototype System Design Metrics

Reusability 730 analysis cycles

3.B Screening Identification (SID) Track

Category Brassboard Hardware Metrics

Number of Chemicals 75 identifiable chemicals

Chemical Range Polar, non-polar, volatile, semi-volatile chemicals

Background and

Interferents

Relative humidity ranging from 10-80%, hydrocarbon concentrations up to 20% and interferents such as phosphonate esters, glycol ethers, and fuel additives.

Molecular Weight

Range

Threshold: 25 – 300 Da

Goal: 3 – 400 Da

Identification Capability

Simultaneously collect and identify the constituents of a mixture of up to 15 chemicals from the target library, with the concentration of any single target being as low as 1% of the total chemical mixture volume or 10ng absolute concentration with

PD > 95%, PFA < 1%. Demonstrate no more than 10% degradation in identification capability with relative humidity ranging from 10% - 80%, and hydrocarbon background of 20%.

Maintenance-free deployment (mean free time between critical failure of components) of 2 years, including quiescent or dormant periods.

Size 1.5 Liters

Weight Less than or equal to 7kg

Power Threshold: <7.5kJ per analysis run

Goal: <1.5kJ per analysis run

Consumables

Minimal consumables (none preferred); no exotic consumables

– must be safe and transportable; sufficient consumables for 730 cycles must be included in package size and weight evaluation

User Interface

All data collection, data processing, and chemical identification must take place using hardware that fits within the system envelope and power budget. The one exception is that prototype system designs may (but are not required to) have a separate, remote user interface in tablet or laptop form that has only results reporting and system command entry functions. The physical envelope and power consumption of this remote user interface will not count against the SWaP requirements of the prototype system design.

Noise Threshold: <20dB

Goal: <10dB

Heat Output <5°C increase in ambient air temperature at a distance of 10cm from device wall

Electromagnetic

Radiation 10 W/m2

Environmental

Tolerance

Temperature variations of 30°C in a 24 hour period

Annual humidity range 7-98%

Ruggedization Maintain functionality after a drop of 80cm

Input Required (base component): gas-phase samples in ambient air

Optional: liquid or particulate aerosol, bulk liquid or solid

Output Automated chemical detection (not real time)

Minimum Detectable

Exposure

Persistent Exposure:

Threshold: >3x10-4 mg/m3 continuous

Goal: >3x10-5 mg/m3 continuous

Short Term Exposure:

Threshold: >1x10-3 mg/m3 for 30 minute exposure

Goal: >1x10-4 mg/m3 for 30 minute exposure

Sampling Duration Minimum: 5 minutes

Maximum: 4 hours

Data Output

Analysis Mode: Automated identification of compounds in target library

Test Mode: Output of calibrated spectral data in .csv or similar format both with, and without, any background subtraction or other data processing needed prior to comparison with the target library

Form Factor of Optional

Aerosol or Bulk

Collectors

Modular, removable adaptor attached to base gas phase collector; may increase SWaP by 0.25L, 1kg, including consumables.

Category Prototype System Design Metrics

Reusability

Threshold: 180x

Goal: 500x

Maintenance-free deployment (mean free time between critical failure of components) of 6 months, including quiescent or dormant periods.

Size 0.5 Liters

Weight Less than or equal to 1.5kg

Power Threshold: <4.5kJ per analysis run

Goal: <1.0kJ per analysis run

Consumables

Minimal consumables (none preferred); no exotic consumables

– must be safe and transportable; sufficient consumables for 500 cycles must be included in package size and weight evaluation.

User Interface

All data collection, data processing, and chemical identification must take place using hardware that fits within the system envelope and power budget. The one exception is that prototype system designs may (but are not required to) have a separate, remote user interface in tablet or laptop form that has only results reporting and system command entry functions. The physical envelope and power consumption of this remote user interface will not count against the SWaP requirements of the prototype system design.

Noise Threshold: <20dB

Goal: <10dB

Heat Output <5°C increase in ambient air temperature at a distance of 10cm from device wall

Electromagnetic

Radiation 10 W/m2

Environmental

Tolerance

Temperature variations of 30°C in a 24 hour period

Annual humidity range 7-98%

Ruggedization Maintain functionality after a drop of 80cm

Table 3 – Legend and Notes

Target: Specific chemical of interest identified in the GFI library listing that performers must be able to identify. Targets can include both species directly of interest as well as precursors, byproducts, decomposition products, and ancillary compounds used in synthesis, purification, or packaging that are indicative of production or storage of species of interest.

The chemical library will also include specific compounds that are common interferents or ambient background chemicals, in order to challenge the system’s ability to positivity discriminate between chemicals of interest, and these ambient chemicals that are common false alarm triggers. All chemicals listed in the library for the FID or SID tracks, respectively, are considered for the purposes of MAEGLIN Phase 2 to be “targets”, independent of their functional identity as chemicals of interest, or confuser/interference chemicals, and must be positively identified.

Background: Chemicals commonly present in ambient air under a variety of environmental conditions (urban, suburban, or rural) that form a chemical background which targets must be detected in the presence of. Examples of background species include water (humidity), hydrocarbons (fuels), dry cleaning solvents, autoclave emissions, industrial cleaners and solvents. Chemicals which fall into the functional category of ambient background chemicals, but which are listed in the MAEGLIN Phase 2 chemical lists, must be treated as target chemicals and positively identified when present. Additional background chemicals which are not part of the chemical list(s), such as water, or hydrocarbon mixes may be used in testing as backgrounds to challenge the systems, but do not have to be positively identified, only discriminated against and the target chemicals identified in their presence. The general identity of background species used in testing will be provided to performers, but performers will not be provided with the background mixture identity used in each specific test.

Interferents: Chemicals with similar physical or spectral properties to target chemicals of interest that are known to be false alarm triggers. Certain species that act as interferents to one chemical detection modality may not be intereferents to another modality. Therefore a variety of interferents will be tested to challenge all detection modalities funded by the

MAEGLIN Phase 2 effort. Interferents which are part of the Phase 2 chemical lists must be positivity identified. Interferents which are part of a background mixture do not have to be positively identified, but must be discriminated against.

True Unknown: A compound provided in a physical test sample that does not appear as either a target or background chemical in the GFI library listing. True unknowns will be individual chemical species selected from the International Union of Pure and Applied

Chemistry (IUPAC) catalog of known, named chemicals. The Government will not use new, custom synthesized compounds as true unknowns. The purpose of true unknowns is to determine the system’s ability to recognize and flag the presence of a chemical that is not in the library.

Threshold: Minimum performance baseline for offeror to satisfy the given metric.

Goal: Desired performance level for a given metric.

Molecular Weight Range: Use of Dalton (Da) as a metric does not indicate that only mass based analysis techniques are responsive. This metric provide a physical property based bracket on species in the target list, and should not be interpreted as anything more.

Minimum Detectable Exposure: This is a system level requirement that can be addressed through a combination of sorbent capacity, sampling intervals, and/or other input adaptations.

Exposure is described in terms of weight/volume quantities, to avoid the ambiguity of describing exposure in the more conventional “part per volume” units for compounds with significantly varying molecular weights.

Sampling Duration: This is a system level requirement for exposure to ambient chemical concentrations; performers may adapt their actual sampling duty cycle.

Limit of Identification (neat compound): Ambient chemical concentration is a system level metric that demonstrates the ability of a system to detect target chemicals when a concentration at a given time-averaged value is presented to the system for a given period of time. Chemical Mass at Analyzer is the minimum mass that an analyzer must be able to detect. For system approaches without preconcentration, the chemical mass at analyzer value may be lower than 10ng in order to meet the ambient chemical concentration metric.

Response Range to a Single Compound: This is a system level metric that can be addressed by a combination of dynamic range and/or the ability to bleed off high concentration compounds.

Maximum Input Flux: This is a system level metric. Systems may use various methods to protect internal components from saturation, if necessary.

The compound library will include challenges for both physical (retention time, ionization cross section, etc.) and functional (similar spectra) characteristics. No proposals that involve chemical reactions or degradation during storage or sample release will be considered. Isotopic analysis is desirable in the Forensic Identification track, but not required. Table 4 lists a subset of chemicals that were used in MAEGLIN Phase 1 as a representative example of the types of chemicals that may be used in Phase 2. A portion of the Phase 2 chemical list is available in the data package accompanying this BAA.

Table 4: MAEGLIN Phase 1 Chemical List (Subset)

4. MAEGLIN Phase 1 Chemical List (Subset)

Chemical Molecular

Weight (amu)

Vapor Pressure

(mmHg)

Hexane 86.18 124

Vinyl Acetate 46.07 83

Isopropanol 60.10 33

Trimethylphosphite 124.08 17 o-Xylene 106.17 7

Safrole 162.19 1

Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) 78.13 0.42

Dimethyl Methylphosphonate (DMMP) 124.08 0.1

Power systems for MAEGLIN Phase 2 are anticipated to be either battery or fuel cell based. They must fit within the overall design envelope, “used” portions must be safely stored for the duration of the system emplacement (no leaks or degradation), and “exotic” or dangerous power systems

(such as nuclear) are not responsive. In addition to the Government-specified milestones, offerors should provide a clear listing with supporting modeling and/or calculations of other milestones relevant to their particular collection, separation, and identification approach. Table 5 is a non-inclusive list of milestones that may be relevant to anticipated component technologies. See the

MAEGLIN Phase 1 BAA (IARPA-BAA-16-01) for more details on some of these milestones.

Table 5: Non-inclusive list of potential milestones for prototype components

Collection Separation Identification release efficiency resolution mass resolution (per mass range increment) heat time to target temperature dynamic range vacuum requirements

(if needed) volume of air (or time) required to present the chemical bolus to the separation component response range detailed performance metrics of analyzer subcomponents effective percentage of bolus delivered to exit orifice pressure drop required library and collection approach thermal control (overshoot) stationary phase chemistry details of chemical identification and library search algorithms thermal uniformity during desorption stationary phase uniformity processor requirements effective or practical desorb flow rate peak resolution processing time resilience to refractory particle loading retention times for select compounds

Kovats retention index stationary phase thermal stability optimum carrier gas flow rate carrier gas type requirements stationary phase selectivity/chemical types that are separable injection chemical capacity total time required for separation

If a respondent has a technology approach that could bridge one or more of these listed categories, or eliminate one of the expected subsystems in an overall integrated system, respondents should present these approaches at the subsystem level. Notional examples include a combined collector and separator, or a collector and analyzer combination that does not need a separator. Responses discussing creative subsystem approaches, beyond just the approaches funded in MAEGLIN Phase

1, are encouraged. If any of notional milestones listed in each of the categories above does not apply to your novel approach, please provide alternative/substitute milestones that numerically describe performance capabilities.

1.B.3 Waypoints

Proposals must include preliminary offeror-defined waypoints as task-driven intermediate steps towards a milestone. The waypoints should be quantitative accomplishments reflected in the work plan and depicted on the schedule that indicate progress towards milestones and reduction of program risk. Waypoints are how the offeror clearly explains to the Government the quantitative and timely progress that must be made for their overall concept to meet end-of-program milestones.

In other words, the intent of these waypoints is to provide a clear measure of progress towards meeting the program milestones so that the Program Manager and advisors can provide more effective guidance and assistance to the offerors. Final waypoints, developed in coordination with the Government Test and Evaluation (T&E) team and logically tied to the T&E schedule and test plan will be due to the Government as a Month 3 Deliverable. Performance against these waypoints will be reviewed throughout the program, and the Program Manager and advisors will use performance against the waypoints to assess whether course corrections are needed to ensure program success. In addition to demonstrating the milestones listed in 1.B.2, offerors are expected to develop means and methods to quantify how their systems support the broader goals of the program. Depending on an offeror’s specific approach, progress towards a milestone is not necessarily expected to be linear.

Offeror waypoints must include specific performance goals against the program metrics. Offerors shall include waypoints which address each metric category and provide quantitative performance checks. Each waypoint should be distinct and demonstrate progress in longer-term research activities. These offeror-defined waypoints may include the execution of key experiments and successful integration of key capabilities. For guidance, a top-level anticipated Phase 2 performance schedule is provided in Table 6 below. This schedule is intended as a guide, not a specific prescription.

Table 6: Top-Level Anticipated Performance Schedule

Months After Kickoff Performance

Component design complete, long-lead fabrication started. Brass board system design showing traceability to SWaP requirements

6 Brass board integration started

12 First data from integrated brass board system

First benchmark test of integrated brass board system against a subset of Phase 2 library

14 Prototype design PDR

18 Final brass board hardware component upgrades

Second benchmark test of integrated brass board system against full

Phase 2 library

21 Prototype design CDR

22 Final brass board software, algorithm, and library updates

23 Meet all Phase 2 Milestones/Metrics at final benchmark test

24 Final Report

A synopsis of the offeror’s technical and programmatic waypoints shall be listed and described. A table format (see Table 7) is strongly preferred.