Automated Processes for Knowledge Discovery and Information Retrieval
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The Department of the Air Force, through the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at the Rome Research Site, has issued Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FA8750-24-S-7006 titled "Automated Processes for Knowledge Discovery and Information Retrieval." This open, two-step BAA welcomes white paper submissions until September 9, 2029, with suggested annual submission deadlines aligned through FY29 to synchronize with funding cycles. The solicitation targets innovative research focused on developing, demonstrating, integrating, and delivering technologies that process and exploit multi-source, multi-domain data—including classified, open source, and non-traditional sources—to enhance Battlespace Awareness, provide decision-quality information, and automate analysis and decision-making processes. The total estimated funding available under this BAA is approximately $99 million, with individual awards typically ranging from $3 million to $35 million and periods of performance generally up to 48 months. Multiple awards are expected, although the government reserves the right to withhold awards based on evaluations and funding availability. Proposals may result in a variety of contract instruments, including FAR-based procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and Other Transactions (OTs) under U.S. Code authorities 10 USC 4021, 4022, and 4023, allowing flexibility depending on the nature of the research. The BAA emphasizes compliance with federal acquisition and security regulations, including safeguarding covered defense information per DFARS clauses and restrictions on foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI). Offerors must demonstrate capability to handle classified work, with appropriate facility and personnel clearances (SECRET or TOP SECRET), and disclose any foreign national involvement unless exempt under fundamental research criteria or authorized export licenses. The evaluation criteria equally weigh scientific and technical merit, relevant experience, maturity and assurance of the solution, and cost reasonableness, factoring in technical, cost, schedule, and security risks in a best-value tradeoff approach rather than lowest-price technically acceptable. Submission requirements mandate a concise white paper no longer than five pages (excluding administrative cover information), structured into a task objective, a technical summary, and proposed deliverables aligned with AFRL mission goals. Offerors are required to provide financial resource information in accordance with DFARS 232.072-2 to demonstrate capability for performance. Communication with designated technical and contracting points of contact is encouraged prior to submission, although only contracting officers may commit the government to funding. The award process includes rigorous security and technology protection reviews to safeguard Air Force S&T interests. Amendments to the BAA have refined provisions regarding financial
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NAICS CODE: 541715
FEDERAL AGENCY NAME: Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL - Rome Research Site, AFRL/Information Directorate, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY, 13441-4514
BAA ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial announcement
BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) TITLE: AUTOMATED PROCESSES FOR KNOWLEDGE DISCOVERY AND INFORMATION RETRIEVAL
BAA NUMBER: FA8750-24-S-7006
PART I – OVERVIEW INFORMATION
This announcement is for an Open, 2 Step BAA which is open and effective until 9 Sep 2029. Only white papers will be accepted as initial submissions; formal proposals will be accepted by invitation only. While white papers will be considered if received prior to 5pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 9 Sep 2029, the following submission dates are suggested to best align with projected funding:
FY25 by 30 NOV 2024
FY26 by 30 NOV 2025
FY27 by 30 NOV 2026
FY28 by 30 NOV 2027
FY29 by 30 NOV 2028
Offerors should monitor the Contract Opportunities on the SAM website at https://SAM.gov in the event this announcement is amended.
CONCISE SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENT: Seeking innovative research to develop, demonstrate, integrate, test, evaluate, and deliver technologies that process and exploit multi-source, multi-domain classified, open source, non-traditional source data to improve Battlespace Awareness, derive decision quality information, and automate analysis/decision processes.
BAA ESTIMATED FUNDING: Total funding for this BAA is approximately $99M. Individual awards will not normally exceed 48 months with dollar amounts normally ranging from $3M to $35M. There is also the potential to make awards up to any dollar value as long as the value does not exceed the available BAA ceiling amount.
ANTICIPATED INDIVIDUAL AWARDS: Multiple Awards are anticipated. However, the Air Force reserves the right to award zero, one, or more Procurement Contracts or Other Transactions and assistance instruments, for all, some, or none of the solicited effort based on the offeror’s ability to perform desired work and funding fluctuations. There is no limit on the number of OTs that may be awarded to an individual offeror.
TYPE OF INSTRUMENTS THAT MAY BE AWARDED:
FAR based Procurement contracts, CFR based grants and cooperative agreements or other transactions (OT) under 10 USC 4021, 10 USC 4022 ( previously 10 USC 4002, 2371, 10 USC 4003, 2371b) depending upon the nature of the work proposed. 10 USC 4023 also allows for FAR based contracts, OTs for research, OTs for Prototype, and assistance instruments.
In the event that an Other Transaction for Prototype agreement is awarded as a result of this competitive BAA, and the prototype project is successfully completed, there is the potential for a prototype project to transition to award of a follow-on production contract or transaction. The Other Transaction for Prototype agreement itself will also contain a similar notice of a potential follow-on production contract or agreement.
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION: All white paper submissions and any questions of a technical nature shall be directed to the cognizant Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) as specified below (unless otherwise specified in the technical area):
BAA PROGRAM MANAGER:
Carolyn Sheaff
AFRL/RIED
525 Brooks Rd
Rome, NY 13441-4505
Email: AFRL.RIEDBAA.2024@us.af.mil
BAA DEPUTY PROGRAM MANAGER:
Peter Rocci
AFRL/RIED
525 Brooks Rd
Rome, NY 13441-4505
Email: AFRL.RIEDBAA.2024@us.af.mil
Questions of a contractual/business nature shall be directed to the cognizant contracting officer, as specified below (email requests are preferred):
Amber Buckley
Email: Amber.Buckley@us.af.mil
Emails must reference the solicitation BAA number and title of the acquisition.
Pre-Proposal Communication between Prospective Offerors and Government Representatives: Dialogue between prospective offerors and Government representatives is encouraged. Technical and contracting questions can be resolved in writing through email. Communications with any of the points of contact shall not constitute a commitment by the Government to subsequently fund or award any proposed effort. Only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government.
Offerors are cautioned that evaluation ratings may be lowered and/or proposal rejected if proposal preparation (Proposal format, content, etc.) and/or submittal instructions are not followed.
SEE ATTACHMENT FOR FULL ANNOUCEMENT DETAILS.
Amendment No. 1 to BAA FA8750-24-S-7006
The purpose of this amendment is to:
- Section III, Paragraph 5, updates S&T Protection language;
- Section V, paragraph 2.e, updates the language regarding the S&T review;
SEE ATTACHMENT FOR FULL AMENDMENT DETAILS.
Amendment No. 2 to BAA FA8750-24-S-7006
The purpose of this amendment is to:
- Part II, FULL TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT, adds language regarding Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Act (FASCSA) Orders;
- Section VI, paragraph 11, updates FINANCIAL RESOURCES requirements language;
- FULL TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT:
Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Act (FASCSA) Orders: As of the date of this solicitation amendment, there are no applicable FASCSA orders. This requirement only applies to FAR based awards.
- SECTION VI:
11. FINANCIAL RESOURCES: Proposals shall include information to determine adequate financial resources to perform the effort, taking into consideration all existing commercial and governmental business commitments. See DFARS 232.072-2(b) for a list of the types of information used to support financial responsibility. Examples include financial statements (e.g. Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement, Compensation); disclosures of previous insolvency; business case/cash flow forecasts; financing arrangements; and/or letters of good standing from accredited financial institutions. Proposals shall also include all significant ratios as outlined in DFARS 232.072-2(b)(10)(i)-(vi). This requirement only applies to FAR based awards.
No other changes are made.
Amendment No. 3 to BAA FA8750-24-S-7006
The purpose of this amendment is to:
- Part II, Section VI, adds paragraph 12 as follows;
12. 15% INDIRECT COST CAP ON ASSISTANCE AWARDS TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION: The policies of the OUSD(R&E) memo, “Implementation of a 15% Indirect Cost Cap on Assistance Awards to Institutions of Higher Education” dated 12 June 2025, will be applicable for the entirety of the award if there is a court decision permitting application of the policies.
No other changes are made.
AMENDMENT 4 TO BAA FA8750-24-S-7006
The purpose of this modification is to republish the original announcement, incorporating any previous amendments, pursuant to FAR 35.016(c).
This republishing also includes the following changes:
- Part II, Full Text Announcement:
- Section III.2.b.2, updates the FOCI guidance;
- Section IV.4.b, updates the provision date;
- Section IV.4.e, adds language regarding OTs;
- Section V.2.b.2.e; corrects numbering, and updates language;
- Section V.4; updates the thresholds;
- Section VI.1, updates proposal formatting language;
- Section VI.7, updates the provisions;
- Section VI; adds paragraph 10
- Section VI, deletes paragraph 12 “15% Indirect Cost Cap on Assistance Awards to Institutions of Higher Eduation”
- Section VII: updates the OMBUDSMAN.
No other changes are made.
SEE ATTACHMENT FOR FULL AMENDMENT DETAILS.
Amendment No. 5 to BAA FA8750-24-S-7006
The purpose of this amendment is to:
- Part II, FULL TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT, updates the language regarding Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act (FASCSA) Orders;
FULL TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT:
Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act (FASCSA) Orders: Depending on the date of issuance of this solicitation, FASCSA order(s) may be applicable. Therefore, the Offeror shall search for the phrase “FASCSA order” in the System for Award Management (SAM) (https://www.sam.gov) for any covered article, or any products or services produced or provided by a source, if there is an applicable Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act Orders prohibition. This requirement only applies to FAR based awards.
No other changes are made.
Amendment No. 6 to BAA FA8750-24-S-7006
The purpose of this amendment is to:
- PART I-OVERVIEW INFORMATION, adds new language regarding assistance instruments regarding Gold Standard Science in accordance with Executive Order 14303;
- PART II, Section V, paragraph 1, adds new language regarding evaluation criteria for assistance instruments.
See attachment for full amendment details.