Inactive

CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS: Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Special Op... CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS: Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Special Operations Forces Directorate (AFLCMC/WI), ISR Sensors and Foreign Military Sales Division (AFLCMC/WIN) Contracting Offices, 2530 Loop Road West, Room 144, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7106, United States. SYNOPSIS: AFLCMC/WIN manages the USAF Imaging & Targeting Support (I&TS) portfolio supporting the Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Capabilities Working Group (GCWG). The GCWG manages and plans Air Force airborne GEOINT Capabilities Research, Development Test and Evaluation investments. The I&TS portfolio is a key resource of the GCWG. The I&TS portfolio identifies and provides limited funding to develop and demonstrate promising next-generation Air Force airborne GEOINT capabilities. The key focus of I&TS is on airborne hardware and/or software sensor technologies that are Government owned and that have a transition potential when completed. A demonstration is required during the planned effort with possible applicability to an Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) OnRamp (OR). The submitter will use Agile Software Management, Open Systems Architectures, and use a Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) approach. PURPOSE: In support of the I&TS program, AFLCMC/WIN is conducting market research across industry, academia and government agency programs. The intent is to identify promising candidate programs/technology efforts with projected capabilities that may improve current and future Air Force airborne GEOINT sensors and their role in enhancing the front side of end-to-end-functionality as well as identifying potential transition paths. Market research will help identify what research has been accomplished in the field of GEOINT, as well as technologies that currently exist or could be modified to fill a need. Although FY22 funding is uncertain, I&TS managers are seeking 1 - 2 year projects beginning in FY22 that require funding of less than $5 million per year with an initial Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4-6 and an objective of taking TRL to 6 or higher. AFLCMC/WIN seeks white papers and tri-charts by 1600 EST, 15 January 2021. All correspondence submitted will be protected and controlled as proprietary. After reviewing the submitted white papers and tri-charts, the Government may request technical exchanges and/or site surveys of respondents’ facilities. This market research will potentially shape Air Force efforts in the FY22-27 timeframe. The Government anticipates the information received will be used to plan and program the required efforts to support airborne GEOINT objectives. I&TS candidates will be presented to the GCWG in the spring of 2021 for consideration. SUBMISSION: Submitted white papers should identify potential candidate programs and technology efforts related to the development and demonstration of GEOINT sensors, associated on-board data processing, and algorithms and components supporting end-to-end GEOINT functionality. Components may include: electronics, gimbals, cryogenics, diffraction gratings, focusing lenses, focal plane arrays, read-out integrated circuits, atmospheric and temperature correction algorithms/techniques, airborne processing, interference filters, spectrometer, high resolution imagery subsystems, etc. Components do not need to be part of an existing sensor system; research and development of these components may be ongoing independent of a full system. However, the focus of I&TS is on airborne (or on-board) GEOINT capabilities. BE ADVISED: Review of submitted white papers will be accomplished by both United States Government (USG) employees and USG support contractors who have executed non-disclosure agreements. USG support contractor input is advisory in nature only. BACKGROUND: Candidate I&TS technologies may include on-board processing for multiple airborne platforms, and sensor technologies to increase range, resolution and/or aid in rapid targeting (geolocation models, sensor-based exploitation/recognition tools, sensor networking capabilities). Candidate Projects must address one or more of the following FY22 GCWG goals to support Next Generation Sensors requirements and the National Defense Strategy. Resilient On-board Data Processing. Technology that will support airborne processing and provide Sensor Data Pre-processing/Management. Need to be able to create a capability to improve data collection with sensors that will inject the data into an automated multi-sensor network that absorbs massive volumes of data, zeroes in on critical elements, and fuses disparate pieces of information into readily exploitable products into the Sensing Grid. Proposals will need to show how they will use or integrate the use of Machine Learning and other algorithms necessary to perform higher level cognitive tasks. This data will be inserted through an open architecture that will permit MultiINT communication among multiple modality collections allowing for real time decision making, and to allow for detection, classification, and identification of targets for attack with the accuracy and timeliness to meet the demands of specified operational scenarios. Sensor Protection. Technology that will create a capability to protect the sensor from intrusion and/or conditions that would limit the ability to complete its mission. The effort would also feed into existing requirements and future requirements using experimentation to validate the proposed solution. Highly Contested Environment Capability. Technology that will support platforms capable of operating in a Highly Contested Environment. The technology needs take into consideration platform portability, reduced Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP). The capability will also need to ensure that there is no reduction in the sensors and platform survivability. Digital Engineering - Model Based System Engineering (MBSE). Technology that enables component replacement by multiple vendors using a shared system model with digital test & simulation. Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI/ML). Technologies that create capability that delivers flexible autonomy to improve every Air Force decision, and are able to grow Air Force people, data, algorithms, & compute options to improve the ability to deliver autonomous solutions. AFLCMC/WIN requests information on the following ISR focus areas that will: Improve GEOINT capabilities in anti-access, denied areas and contested environments, Support find, fix, track, target, assess in near real time for airborne ISR assets, Detect and/or characterize camouflaged, concealment and deception targets, Detect, characterize and track dismounts in densely populated and rural areas, Detect, identify and track personnel of interest, Enhance all-weather motion imagery capabilities, Support multi-intelligence collection in triple canopy jungle, Enhance surveillance on open seas and littoral approaches, Collect and characterize information on underground facilities, Enhance current data throughput, Enhance on-board data storage capabilities, Enhance on-board real-time processing for correlation/fusion of multi-source sensor data and object/target recognition capabilities, Enhance and expand the range of application for fully automated target recognition (ATR) (all modalities). In submitting White Papers, the following ground rules, assumptions, and instructions apply: Explain how the system technology/component impacts Open Systems Architecture*, Explain how the system technology/component technologies will benefit end-to-end sensor operations and functionality, Identify current system or component TRL, expected final TRL (as defined in DoD Deskbook 5000.2-R, Appendix 6), and provide rationale for your determination, Identify potential industry or government transition partners/sponsors to include POC information, Identify any current or anticipated Critical Program Information/Critical Technology, Explain how the system or component will impact processing, exploitation and dissemination (PED), Identify any new supporting architecture or infrastructure (e.g., cryogenics, processing, computer resources, analytic tools, storage requirements, environmental requirements, ground control, communications, etc.) required for the technology (if applicable), Identify unique tools and/or peculiar support equipment, as well as any proven integration with platforms flown or tested (if applicable), Responses must provide and identify a technical and security Point of Contact (name/telephone/e-mail). *NOTE: DoD preferred approach for implementation of Open Systems Architecture (OSA), is both a business and technical strategy for developing a new system or modernizing an existing one. OSA enables acquisition and engineering communities to design for affordable and flexible change, employ evolutionary acquisition and spiral development, and develop an integrated roadmap for system design and development. Basing design strategies on widely supported open standards increases the chance that future changes to the system will be integrated in a cost-effective manner. Open Systems Architecture coordinates the development of advanced technologies for sensor modalities such as RADAR, SIGINT, EW, communications and EO/IR in support of multiple airborne reconnaissance platforms, both manned and unmanned. WHITE PAPER / TRI-CHART SUBMITTAL: The Government invites industry to submit one White Paper and Tri-Chart per project (see attached Guidance) at the unclassified or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) (formerly “FOUO”) or classified level up to TS/SCI at any time on or before 1600 EST, 15 January 2021. Before submitting classified responses to this RFI, contact the points of contact below to ensure all appropriate security procedures and policies are followed. Do not use password protection on submitted documents. For CUI/proprietary or International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) documents, submit via the DoD SAFE (Secure Access File Exchange) https://safe.apps.mil/. Instructions are on the website. Send your submittals to all POCs listed in the chart below. You will receive acknowledgement that your submittal was received. POINTS OF CONTACT (POC): For inquiries, technical or otherwise, email or contact POCs listed below. Name / Phone Unclassified Phone Unclassified Email Craig Royer daniel.royer.4.ctr@us.af.mil Chuck Gulley (937) 255-4920 charles.gulley.1.ctr@us.af.mil Kevin Skinner (937) 255-3573 kevin.skinner.2.ctr@us.af.mil INSTRUCTIONS: Submit 1 Tri-Chart and 1 White Paper (three (3) pages maximum) to: Unclassified E-mail Address: Use the email addresses in the POC Chart above. Unclassified FOUO/Proprietary: Use DoD SAFE (Secure Access File Exchange) https://safe.apps.mil/. Unclassified Mailing Address: AFLCMC/WINA, I&TS RFI, 2530 Loop Road West, Room 144, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433, ATTN: Mr. Craig Royer or Mr. Chuck Gulley or Mr. Kevin Skinner. Classified: Contact the points of contact above. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this announcement. Submitting capabilities and concepts in response to this announcement is voluntary, and participants shall not be compensated. INDUSTRY DAY: Due to COVID 19 there will not be an Industry Day as in the past.