STORM Industry Day_Virtual Briefing Questions_Answered.docx

STORM Industry Day Q&A

Virtual Briefing:

Question: I didn't see Army listed as users of STORM. Do they use a different model?

Answer: Army runs their own campaign level model. They provide us inputs to our scenarios, and then those are integrated into our scenario development.

Question: AI software; computational war plan – Is there interest to add intelligent adversary?

Answer: This contract is for the care and feeding of the tool. Adding an intelligent adversary would not be included under this contract. If you are interested in that type of opportunity, SAM.gov is one of the best places to look.

Question: How does this relate to AF SCARS program?

Answer: SAF/SA is not familiar with the AF SCARS program, so they are not aware of any relation to the STORM requirement. There are three types of mod and sim. SCARS is for training simulators, then there is wargaming and finally decision analysis. STORM falls under the decision analysis tool set.

Question: What is system classification?

Answer: STORM is classified at different levels. It is developed in an unclassified environment, but it is ITAR restricted. The scenario input data is at a classified level.

Question: Is the system capable of "current" campaign adjustments? – once you do model and simulation, are you able to inject modifications Answer: SAF/SA primarily uses STORM to assess the future force structure. Other analytic organizations, like Joint Staff, use STORM to conduct current-day analyses.

Question: Is the system capable of modeling post-events for lessons learned (AI/ML food)?

Answer: No, time only moves into the future in the model. As we develop out our scenarios, and looking at CONOPS, we do take lessons learned into account. Software does not automatically provide lessons learned.

Question: Do the model updates include adversary modeling/Red-Force laydowns include inline or distributed adversaries?

Answer: It depends on who the users are and what they are trying to model. The STORM Configuration Control Board (CCB) identifies capability gaps and submit software update requests to address them based on their importance and impact to analyses.

Question: Is there any relationship between STORM and AFSIM?

Answer: SAF/SAF does a lot of the capabilities looks. Interactions will run a lot of missions at AFSIM and calibrate them to run at mission level tool.

Question: Does the contract include VV&A of models and S/W updates?

Answer: Yes, part of that is to send methodology through some form of VV&A because not just used by AF. It gives best approach for modeling campaign. In terms of software security, it will be a part of the support we are looking for.

Question: What is the VV&A Process?

Answer: It is a formalized way of verifying and validating software. For example, is the software performing as expected? It ensures that STORM is being used in the way that it is intended to be used.

Question: It appears that this contract was a Small Business Set-aside in the past. Is there a chance that it will be SB again? And if not, what is the reasoning for widening the competition?

Answer: The purpose of Industry Day is market research, so the Government can obtain an understanding of the capabilities available in the marketplace. The information gathered from Industry Day will assist the Government in deciding whether the requirement will be a small business set-aside again.

Question: Total Contract Value?

Answer: The Government will not be releasing this information.

Question: Are you looking for infrastructure improvement? Storm relies on data. We provide novel data coding and compression technology to enable fast, secure, and efficient delivery of data to the point of need. is that relevant to your program need?

Answer: SAF/SA has gone back and worked to figure out how to speed it up, which is part of the software maintenance requirement of this contract. However, at this point, this requirement does not cover infrastructure improvement for faster and efficient data processing / delivery.

Question: Will there be an opportunity during these types of events to meet with other potential responders for teaming possibilities?

Answer: Yes, a list of interested companies and attendees will be attached to the SAM.gov posting to facilitate networking, teaming, subcontracting, etc. possibilities.

Question: What is the current contract vehicle for STORMS (e.g., NETCENTS, ALLIANT, OASIS?) Depending on the acquisition, is there flexibility to change contract vehicles?

Answer: The current contract vehicle is an internal IDIQ. The purpose of Industry Day is market research, so the Government can obtain an understanding of the capabilities available in the marketplace. The information gathered from Industry Day will assist the Government in determining whether to change the contract vehicle or not.

Question: The IC was mentioned earlier. Can you state who? NASIC, MSIC, etc.

Answer: Yes, we work with both NASIC, MSIC, and the Air Force A2/6 for system intel conops development within the scenarios.

Question: Is there any interest in moving this work to the cloud and would that be a part of this contract? & tool and analytic processing in the cloud that is Answer: There is no plan to move it at this point, and this would not be a component of this contract. SAF/SA has started to investigate it but are not sure if it is viable at this time.

Question: Will you be considering Multiple awards or just Single award?

Answer: The purpose of Industry Day is market research, so the Government can obtain an understanding of the capabilities available in the marketplace. The information gathered from Industry Day will assist the Government in determining whether a single award or multiple award is most practicable.

After Session Questions:

Question: STORM currently requires the user to guess the strategy for the adversary, which is very risky. Computational game theory AI enables one to avoid that. Can this crucial improvement be part of this recompete?

Answer: This will not be a part of the re-compete as this requirement is for the care and sustainment of STORM.

One-on-one Questions:

Question: Do you guys intend is the plan to do another small business set aside for the recompete?

Answer: We haven't decided that yet; Industry Day is all part of the market research to see if there are enough small businesses to make it competitive between small businesses, so at this point we don't have our strategy pinned down. The information that we get from this week, we will be able to better define how we would like this requirement to look in the future.

Question: Do you anticipate that the section L&M will look somewhat similar as the 2018 RFP?

Answer: Sections L&M from the 2018 RFP would likely be used as a baseline. It depends on where the requirements are at now and how different they may be, and if they found that to be valuable in their evaluation process. It is likely that we will need to make some updates.

Question: Has the draft RFP been posted or is this still at the RFI level?

Answer: The draft RFP has not been posted. The Industry Day is pre-RFI. We may or may not post an RFI.

Question: Can additional capability models could be integrated into the current model?

Answer: This contract is for the sustainment and the maintenance of the model in its current state to include any mods that would come down from the community to be in incorporated into it.

Question: What that suspense would be, who was the user who was requesting the update to achieve a certain capability? What is the acceptable time frame to complete the mods to the contract?

Answer: Each year, the CCB members gather to review software update requests and prioritize based on their importance and funding availability. Approved change requests are usually implemented, integrated, tested, and documented for a new version released in November.

Question: Are you familiar with what MIT was doing for the campaign looks in AFSIM?

Answer: No.