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BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) - FA9451-19-S-0007 AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY/ DIRECTED ENERGY DIRECTORATE PROPOSAL SOLICITATION (CALL 0002) NAICS CODE: 541715 FEDERAL AGENCY NAME: Air Force Resear... BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) - FA9451-19-S-0007 AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY/ DIRECTED ENERGY DIRECTORATE PROPOSAL SOLICITATION (CALL 0002) NAICS CODE: 541715 FEDERAL AGENCY NAME: Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate – Electro- Optics Division (AFRL/RDS) BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: FA9451-19-S-0007 BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT TITLE: Technical Applications for Optical Space Situational Awareness (TAOS). CALL ANNOUNCEMENT (CALL) NUMBER: 0002 CALL TITLE: Breakthrough Optical Beam Control Advanced Technologies (BOBCAT) CALL TYPE: One-Step TECHNICAL AREA: Technical Area 1: Beam Control Engineering and Analysis DUE DATE AND TIME: 1700 PM MST on 30 July 2021 APPLICABILITY OF OVERRACHING BAA: All requirements of FA9451-19-S-0007 apply unless specifically amended and addressed in this Call. The overarching BAA contains information applicable to all Calls and provides information on the overall program, proposal/white paper preparation and submission requirements, proposal review and evaluation criteria, award administration, agency contacts, etc. For any discrepancies please contact the contracting officer's attention immediately. For complete information, refer to the overarching BAA announcement at https://beta.sam.gov/opp/3be74b0d3e45d1d34221eeb97eb57d0f/view?keywords=FA9451-19-S- 0007&sort=-relevance&index=&is_active=true&page=1 REQUIREMENT INFORMATION: BACKGROUND: The Air Force is soliciting proposals for research under Broad Agency Announcement, FA9451-19-S-0007 TAOS (Technical Areas 1: Beam Control and Analysis), specifically for Call 0002, Breakthrough Optical Beam Control Advanced Technologies (BOBCAT). This Call is specifically requesting potential Offeror(s) provide proposals as described below. DESCRIPTION: The Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate – Electro- Optics Division (AFRL/RDS) is seeking non-proprietary unclassified research proposals. It is the offeror’s responsibility to mark the relevant portions of their paper appropriately if they elect to submit propriety information. The goal of this effort is to advance technology exploration, development and research into optical beam control in the presence of atmospheric turbulence. The effort will require close collaboration with the Space Electro-Optical Division of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate to develop, simulate, analyze and characterize beam control systems for optical beam control applications including laser propagation, laser communication, quantum networking, optical imaging, and target acquisition, pointing, and tracking applications. The scope of this effort includes electro-optical (EO) characterization, optical beam control theory and concept development, modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A) of beam control systems, experiments, and data, and planning, design, and operation of laboratory and field experiments in adaptive optics and other beam control technologies in accordance with AFRL/RDS projects. Hardware and software, including processing, analysis, modeling, and simulation tools and algorithms should be modified or designed and integrated as necessary. All efforts will include system engineering, coordinated project planning, reporting, and coordination with AFRL and other agencies as directed by the Program Manager. OBJECTIVE(S): AFRL/RDS seeks the following R&D related to beam control engineering and analysis Requirements (Primarily On-site Work at AFRL/RD/RDS – SOR) Beam Control Technology Experiments Experiment Design and Operations: Develop innovative concepts to advance the performance of adaptive optics, tracking, and other optical beam control capabilities for target detection, tracking, imaging, laser beam projection, optical communication, and quantum networking applications. Plan, design, integrate, conduct and support, laboratory and field experiments to investigate and demonstrate beam control methods, systems, and system components, and measure performance in accordance with designated AFRL/RDS projects. Develop and improve system performance metrics, including the overall Strehl ratio and the technical performance measures required by individual AFRL programs, and to investigate, measure and mitigate any factors that reduce the performance metrics of identified laboratory systems and projects. Experiment designs should make maximum use of AFRL facilities and existing hardware and software. Experiment planning and design tasks should include system engineering and technical, schedule, and resource planning, as well as tracking and reporting. Special attention should be given to assessing and demonstrating realistic technology applications and capabilities of interest to AFRL and to accurate evaluation and reporting of planning and performance metrics. Experiment Software and Hardware: Conduct software and hardware engineering tasks to perform AFRL/RDS experiments and collect relevant data for assessment of system and subsystem performance. Work should include development, implementation, and maintenance of methods and software for efficient automated processing, databasing, storage, data search, retrieval, and distribution of relevant experiment data. New designs or modifications to existing systems may be required as appropriate. Designs should use commercially available components whenever feasible and will develop and implement specialized technologies when necessary. Modeling, Simulation and Analysis Modeling and Simulation: Conduct computerized modeling and simulation of proposed and existing beam control systems and optical propagation and tracking effects to develop AFRL/RDS concepts and technologies and to support studies and technology experiments relevant to AFRL/RDS projects. Emphasis should be placed on detailed, numerical and analytical simulations, including wave-optical simulations of the propagation of light through turbulence and interaction with electro optical, adaptive optical, and other experimental systems. Simulations should be anchored to experimental results and modified as required to obtain consistent comparisons with the experiment. Modifications will be made only with a physical understanding of the reasons for the changes and with government concurrence. Data Processing and Analysis: Perform processing and analyses of experiment data to assess system and component performance, characterize the effects of experimental methods and components, and validate models, simulations, and theory. Reasons for discrepancies and variations from expected results will be determined. Analyses should include assessments of relevance of the experiment to applications of AFRL interest. Development of Analytical Tools: Develop and implement innovative approaches to modeling, simulation, and data processing, analysis, and visualization requirements using new algorithms and processes written in common computer languages and data visualization scripting languages. To the extent feasible, codes will be adaptable for a broad range of analytical applications and include user-friendly interfaces. New tools will be submitted for approval before incorporation in any AFRL data systems or network. AWARD INFORMATION: ANTICIPATED FUNDING: This funding profile is only an estimate and is not a contractual obligation for funding. All funding is subject to change at the Government’s discretion and/or by the availability of funds. The estimated funding for this requirement is identified in the chart below: Estimated Call 0002 Cost: Anticipated funding for the program (not per contract or award): Fiscal Year (FY) - Total Estimated Funding FY22 - $4M FY23 - $5M FY24 - $5M FY25 - $5M FY26 - $5M FY27 - $1M FUNDING RESTRICTIONS: The cost of preparing proposals in response to this Call is not considered an allowable direct charge to a resulting or other contract. ANTICIPATED NUMBER OF AWARDS: The Air Force anticipates awarding one or more contracts. However, the Air Force reserves the right to make multiple awards or no awards pursuant to this Call. ANTICIPATED AWARD DATE: Expected award date is April 2022. ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE (POP): The anticipated contract period of performance is 63 months with 60 months for technical performance and 3 months for a final reporting. ANTICIPATED CONTRACT TYPE: The Air Force anticipates awarding a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee- Completion contract as a result of this Call, but also reserves the right to award the instrument best suited to the nature of research proposed. DELIVERABLE ITEMS: The anticipated deliverable items are subject to negotiation. Final Scientific and Technical Report Status Report Performance and Cost Report Data deliverables are subject to negotiations. The following Contract Data Requirements List (CDRLs) is representative of data requirements that may be required. A001: Final Scientific and Technical Report A002: Status Report A003: Performance and Cost Report ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST (OCI): No potential OCI issues have been identified prior to release the Call. All OCI issues and the need for applicable clauses will be resolved prior to award. SECURITY REQUIREMENT: The anticipated security classification for this effort is up to Top Secret (both facility and safeguarding) with access to Sensitive Compartment Information (SCI). Offerors response may include technical efforts that are unclassified or up to Top Secret. Please review the draft DD Form 254 for more information. If applicable, a final DD 254 and related FAR clause will be incorporated into any applicable contract awards resulting from this Call. Offerors must have the appropriate clearance(s) at the time of proposal submission and must be maintained through the entire contract period of performance. Offerors must verify their Cognizant Security Office information is current with Defense Security Service (DSS) at www.dss.mil. All classified material will be handled in accordance with E.O. 13526, National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY (GFP) AVAILABILITY: GFP is not anticipated. Any requests for GFP items required to perform the proposed effort must be separately identified in the Offerors response. If GFP is requested in the white paper and/or proposal, the following clause(s)/provision(s) apply: FAR 52.245-1 Government Property (APR 2012) or FAR 52.245-1, Alt II (JAN 2017) FAR 52.245-9 Use and Charges (APR 2012), DFARS 252.211.7007 Reporting of Government-Furnished Property (AUG 2012), DFARS 252.245-7001 Tagging, Labeling, and Marking of Government-Furnished Property (APR 2012), DFARS 252.245-7002 Reporting Loss of Government Property (APR 2012) DFARS 252.245-7003 Contractor Property Management System Administration (APR 2012) DFARS252.245-7004 Reporting, Reutilization, and Disposal (SEP 2016) GOVERNMENT FURNISHED INFORMATION (GFI) AVAILABILITY: GFI is not anticipated. If GFI is requested in the white paper and/or proposal, the following clause(s)/provision(s) apply: DFARS 252.227-7025 Limitations on the Use or Disclosure of Government-Furnished Information Marked with Restrictive Legends applies. ITEM IDENTIFICATION AND VALUATION: Any contract award resulting from this announcement may contain the clause at DFARS 252.211-7003, Item Identification and Valuation, which requires unique item identification and valuation of any deliverable item for which the government’s unit acquisition cost is $5,000 or more; subassemblies, components, and parts embedded within an item valued at $5,000 or more; or items for which the government’s unit acquisition cost is less than $5,000 when determined necessary by the requiring activity for serially managed, mission essential, or controlled inventory. Also included are any DoD serially managed subassembly, component, or part embedded within a delivered item and the parent item that contains the embedded subassembly, component, or part. Per DFARS 211.274-3 policy for valuation, it is DoD policy that contractors shall be required to identify the government’s unit acquisition cost for all items delivered, even if none of the criteria for placing a unique item identification mark applies. Therefore, your proposal must clearly break out the unit acquisition cost for any deliverable items. Per DFARS 211.274-3 policy for valuation, “the government’s unit acquisition cost is the contractor’s estimated fully burdened unit cost at time of delivery to the government for cost type or undefinitized line, subline, or exhibit line items” (per DoD, “fully burdened unit costs” to the government would include all direct, indirect, G&A costs, and an appropriate portion of fee.). If you have questions regarding the unique item identification requirements, please contact the contracting point of contact listed above. The contract will also include DFARS 252.211-7007, Reporting of Government-Furnished Equipment in the DoD Item Unique Identification (IUID) Registry IAW the clause. BASE SUPPORT/NETWORK ACCESS: Base support/network access is not anticipated. DATA RIGHTS: Unlimited Rights are desired, but no less than Government Purpose Rights will be accepted. DEFERRED ORDERING CLAUSE: Any contract award resulting from this announcement shall contain DFAR’s clause 252.227-7027, Deferred Ordering of Technical Data or Computer Software (APR 1988). PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING FOR CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS CLAUSE: Any contract award resulting from this announcement shall contain FAR clause 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (AUG 2020). APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION: DUE DATE AND TIME: Proposals must be submitted in response to this Call no later than 1700 PM MST on 30 July 2021. Proposals for any other technical area identified in the overall Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) will not be accepted in response to this Call solicitation. Proposals received after the due date and time shall be governed by the provisions of FAR 52.215-1(c)(3). NOTE: Offerors may be ineligible for award if all requirements of this announcement are not met by the due date and time. INTENT TO RESPOND: Potential Offerors are requested to advise the contracting point of contact if they intend to submit a proposal in response to this Call. Such notification is merely a courtesy and is not a commitment by the Offeror to submit a proposal. CALL AMENDMENTS: Offerors should monitor beta.SAM.gov (http://www.beta.SAM.gov) for any additional notices and/or amendments to this Call that may permit extensions to the proposal submission date or otherwise modify this announcement. FULL PROPOSAL PROCESS: Below are specifics regarding proposal format and content. Additional information will be provided in the RFP. Proposal submissions must follow all format and content criteria provided in both the overarching BAA and the solicitation. GENERAL PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS: Proposals that include data restricted from public disclosure or used by the Government for any purpose should be marked with the proper disclosure and use of data restrictions. Technical and cost/business volumes should be submitted in separate volumes, and must be valid for a minimum of 180 days. Proposal submissions must reference the BAA number FA9451-19-S-0007 as well as the Call or Open Period Notification number i.e. “Call 0002,” and title. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Proposals must be submitted electronically via DoD SAFE (Secure Access File Exchange) website, https://safe.apps.mil/. DoD SAFE is a service to exchange large unclassified files. In order to create a drop-off (upload files), Offerors must contact the contracting office no later than three (3) days prior to deadline to receive a drop-off request or request code from an authenticated user (Government POC). Once the authenticated user generates a drop-off request, the Offeror will receive an email with a link to submit the drop-off. Optionally, the authenticated user (recipient) may provide a request code. In that case, click the Drop-off button on the SAFE home page and enter the Request code. A drop-off request is valid for 14 days. Frequently asked questions about DoD Safe can be accessed at: https://safe.apps.mil/about.php PROPOSAL FORMAT: Paper Size: 8 ½ inches x 11 inches Margins: 1 inch on each side Font: Arial 11+ point font on all text except as provided below in viii. This includes text in tables, diagrams, and charts. Spacing: Single spaced Page Printing: single-sided Any other information (e.g. captions, restrictive markings) shall not be smaller than Arial 10 point font or equivalent. The technical proposal shall be limited to 20 pages and shall be prepared and submitted in Microsoft Word format. The technical proposal page limit does not include the offeror’s proposed Statement of Work (SOW); however, the same formatting rules apply to the SOW, which is limited to ten (10) pages. Cost/Business proposals have no page limitations; however, Offerors are requested to keep cost proposals under 100 pages (Cost break-outs should be submitted in Microsoft Excel with the formulas included, all other information should be provided in Microsoft Word). PROPOSAL CONTENT: Technical Volume: The technical proposal content shall include a discussion of the innovative and technically sound approach to accomplish the solicited technical objective(s) and/or advances in knowledge, understanding, technology, and state-of-the-art along with importance to agency programs. The proposal must include any information on prior work in the technical areas, descriptions of available equipment, data and facilities as attachments to the technical proposal. This information will be used in the proposal evaluation to help determine the soundness of the technical approach. This volume shall include a SOW detailing the technical tasks proposed to be accomplished under the proposed effort. The SOW must be suitable for contract incorporation into a resulting contract, if any, and thus shall not have any company proprietary information contained within the document. If Government Furnished Property is requested, Offerors are required to submit the following information with their offer: A list or description of all Government property the Offeror or its Subcontractors propose to use. The list shall identify the accountable contract under which the property is held and the authorization for its use (from the Contracting Officer having cognizance of the property). The dates during which the property will be required for use (including the first, last, and all intervening months), and for any property that will be used concurrently in performing two or more contracts, the values of the respective uses in sufficient detail to support prorating the rent. The amount of rent that would otherwise be charged in accordance with FAR 52.245- 9, Use and Charges, and be used in the management of Government property, or existing property management plans, methods, practices, or procedures for accounting for property. The voluntary consensus standard or industry leading practices and standards to be used in the management of Government property or existing property management plans, methods, practices, or procedures for accounting for property. Any questions concerning the technical volume or SOW preparation shall be referred to the Technical POC cited in the Call. PROPOSAL CONTENT: Cost/Business Volume: Separate the volume into a cost section and business section. The business section should contain all business aspects of the proposed contract such as: resumes of personnel who will be participating in this effort; contractual instrument type; any exceptions to terms and conditions of the solicitation along with the rationale; technical data that will be delivered with less than unlimited rights; and any information not technically related. Cost proposals have no page limitations; however, as a goal, Offerors are requested to keep cost proposals under 100 pages. The proposal shall be furnished with supporting schedules and shall contain a labor hour breakdown per task. Subcontracting plans for efforts anticipated to exceed $2 million shall be submitted along with the technical and cost proposals. Reference FAR 19.704, DFARS 219.704, and AFFARS 5319.704(a)(1) for subcontracting plan requirements. Small businesses are exempt from this requirement. All direct costs (labor, material, travel, computer, etc.) as well as labor and overhead rates should be provided by Contractor Fiscal Year (CFY). A separate breakout by Government Fiscal Year (GFY) is not required. Submit fully-disclosed electronic cost spreadsheets with formulas. Include rate table for all direct and indirect rates that feed into the cost element summaries. EVALUATION CRITERIA: PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA: The following evaluation criteria will be used to determine whether one or more sources should be recommended for award. The Government reserves the right to select all, part, or none of the proposals received in response to this solicitation for award subject to the availability of funds. The evaluation criteria listed below is in descending order of importance: A. TECHNICAL MERIT: Technical Merit is first in order of priority and shall be evaluated based on the following criteria, which are of equal importance: i. Creative or innovation approach proposed to accomplish the technical objectives and/or advances in knowledge, understanding, technology, and state-of-the-art. ii. Soundness of the Offeror’s technical approach. B. IMPORTANCE TO AGENCY PROGRAMS C. FUNDS AVAILABILITY: The cost/price is reasonable and realistic. Prior to award of a potential successful offer, the Contracting Officer will make a determination regarding cost/price reasonableness. PROPOSAL REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS: The technical and cost/business proposals will be categorized as follows: HIGHLY RECOMMEND: Well-conceived scientifically and technically sound proposal pertinent to accomplish goals and objectives. Is important to agency programs. Proposal is recommended for acceptance (subject to availability of funds) and normally displaced only by other Highly Recommended proposals. SELECTABLE: Scientifically or technically sound proposals that may require additional development. Is important to agency programs. Proposal is recommended for acceptance if sufficient funding is available, but at a lower priority than Highly Recommended proposals. To ensure a diversity of approaches, a Selectable proposal may be prioritized over a Highly Recommended proposal if the Selectable proposal presents a unique approach unlike any of the Highly Recommended proposals. NOT SELECTABLE: Proposal is not scientifically or technically sound or does not meet agency needs. Even if sufficient funding exists, the proposal will not be funded. Note: When the Government elects to award only part of a proposal, the selected part may be categorized as Highly Recommended or Selectable although the proposal as a whole may not merit such a categorization. AWARD NOTICES: Offerors will be notified whether their proposal is recommended for award in writing. The notification of recommendation for award is not to be construed to mean the award of a contract is assured as availability of funds and successful negotiations are prerequisites to any award. CALL SOLICITATION ATTACHMENTS: DD Form 1423-1, Contract Data Requirements List (CDRLs) Draft DD Form 254, DoD Contract Security Classification Specifications Statement of Objectives (SOO), Breakthrough Optical Beam Control Advanced Technologies GOVERNMENT POINTS OF CONTACT: TECHNICAL: Dr. Lee Kann, AFRL/RDSSE Phone: (505) 846-9695 Email: lee.kann@us.af.mil Ms. Alexandria Garza, AFRL/RDSP Phone: (505) 846-7277 Email: alexandria.garza.3@spaceforce.mil CONTRACTING: Contracting Officer: Ms. Kimerie S. Smith, AFRL/RDKB Phone: (505) 853-7466 Email: kimerie.smith@us.af.mil Contracting Officer: Mr. Phillip A. Scott, AFRL/RDKB Phone: (505) 846-6644 Email: phillip.scott.10@us.af.mil Contract Specialist: Mr. Brandon Irving, AFRL/RDKB Phone: (505) 846-7220 Email: brandon.irving@us.af.mil