1.0 Description 1.1 The Electronics System Center Innovation/Rapid Prototyping Branch (ESC/XRTI) is seeking information from responsible sources and commercial agencies concerning on-going research and technical development efforts that are or will be available for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) used to provide Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. 1.2 This Request for Information (RFI) is for planning purposes only and shall not be considered as an invitation for bid, request for quotation, request for proposal, or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. Your response to this RFI will be treated as information only. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses to this announcement or the Government use of such information. The information provided may be used by ESC and other government agencies in developing its acquisition strategy, statement of work/statement of objectives, and performance specifications. Further, ESC/XRTI is not, at this time, seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued; however, the Government does not guarantee any action beyond this RFI. 2.0 Background 2.1 The intent of this RFI is to understand what advanced research and technical development efforts are or will be available for RPA used to provide ISR. 2.1.1 Headquarters (HQ) Air Force (AF)/A2 (Intel) is responsible for developing avenues for system prototyping, integration and simulation of ISR capabilities in direct and indirect support of Warfighter, Combatant Commander and Joint Urgent Operational Needs. Their objective is to locate potential contractors who could provide system integration and interoperability research and engineering services for ISR-focused RPA without proprietary restrictions. Their intent is to transfer advanced technologies for practical, common application across a wide range of weapons systems. 2.2 Technologies under consideration are detailed below. This list is not all-inclusive; please address related-technologies you feel may be pertinent to our request. HQ AF/A2 is looking for a responsible source to provide analysis, research, planning, designing, development, prototyping, testing, and transition of tools/automation/processing, in the following areas: 2.2.1 Enable a fully-integrated, service-based architecture for RPA operations centers and their distributed mission teams 2.2.2 Advance technology for off-board video processing and associated tools 2.2.3 Advance technology to support seamless, real-time collaboration among distributed RPA mission teams, intelligence analysts, forward-based collection managers, Joint Terminal Attack Controllers and Air Operations Centers 2.2.4 Enable "smart sensing" using multiple sensors 2.2.5 Provide innovative concepts for immersive RPA environment simulation in the ground control station, significantly enhancing aircrew situational awareness and their ability to react precisely 2.2.6 Advance technology to enable and provide multi-aircraft management and collaboration 2.2.7 Advance technology for RPA automation and autonomous operations 2.2.8 Develop geospatial intelligence data handling capabilities to more effectively access and leverage web-enabled content and capabilities 2.2.9 Demonstrate enhanced extended range antennas (including software solutions) to exponentially increase the effective range of systems sending/receiving communication of voice, data, video, imagery, and meta-data and to more effectively use higher bandwidth frequencies 2.2.10 Support multi-intelligence source processing, exploitation and dissemination of information across multiple ISR Quick Reaction Strike (QRS) platforms, improving sensor tipping & cueing and data interoperability across theater assets 2.2.11 Support technologies for theater- and tactical-level imagery systems, including low-bandwidth or coalition use, with improved user interfaces 2.2.12 Advance mobile technologies to enable tactical, ground-based access to full motion video and geospatial intelligence information 2.3 Based on the submissions, the Government may elect to conduct one-on-one discussions with Academia and Industry based on its analysis of the RFI responses, the quality of submission, and the level and scope of the information provided. This may include visits to contractor facilities to assess firsthand the validity of described capabilities. A laboratory demonstration at the contractor facility may also be requested. 3.0 Responses 3.1 White papers are the preferred submittal format for capability packages. Responses, in Adobe Acrobat format, are due no later than, 20 December 2011. They should be submitted via e-mail only to Mr. Matthew Best at
contact@example.gov with the subject "RPA ISR RFI Response'. Limit responses to no more than 10 pages. The Government is not interested in marketing responses; instead responses should be about actual or planned research and development endeavors. Please be advised that all submissions / responses become Government property and will not be returned. 3.2 Proprietary information should be kept to the minimum and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. 3.3 When submitting a response, the following must be provided on company letterhead or pricing document: Full company name: _____________________ Business address: ________________________ Business size: ___________________________ Programmatic POC: ______________________ Technical POC: _________________________ Cage Code: ____________________________ DUNS Number: _________________________ Tax ID Number: _________________________ 4.0 Questions Regarding this Announcement 4.1 Questions regarding this announcement MUST be submitted in writing by e-mail to
contact@example.gov. Please e-mail questions regarding this RFI NLT, 12 December 2011 - this will allow sufficient time to acquire and post answers. All answers to questions will be posted. No answers will be sent directly to inquirers. 5.0 Summary 5.1 THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. HQ AF/A2 and ESC/XRTI are seeking information on the current centers of advanced ISR-related RPA research. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute an RFP or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, ESC/XRTI is not, at this time, seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals.
