BROAD AREA CRADA ANNOUNCEMENT (BACA) FOR COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES IN - ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING (AI/ML)

N00164-21-S-NB18 BROAD AREA CRADA ANNOUNCEMENT (BACA) FOR COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES IN - ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING (AI/ML) QUALIFICATION - PSC 5855 - NAICS 541330, 541380, 541512, ISSUE DATE 18 December 2020 - CLOSING DATE 30 JAN 2021 - TIME 2:00PM EASTERN Special Notice Synopsis: The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane), through its Spectrum Warfare Department is interested in joint research and development in the characterization of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) algorithms for multiple applications including to the ability to predict failures, determine preemptive maintenance, and reliability improvements. The Spectrum Warfare Department is the Navy's recognized expert in research and development, test and evaluation, acquisition, technology transition and life cycle support for Electronic Warfare Solutions. Additionally, the Spectrum Warfare Department collaborates with academia and industry on projects that create jointly beneficial partnerships. NSWC Crane NSWC Crane seeks Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) partners that possess the expertise and capabilities for the deployment of AI/ML algorithms on existing Department of Defense maintenance data. This synopsis serves as a sources sought for CRADA participants and seeks information from companies capable of providing expertise, capabilities, facilities and experience in any of these fields and applications with respect to a CRADA effort. Any group that believes it has the ability to perform collaboration with NSWC Crane in these areas can identify its capabilities by submitting the information to Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Chief Technology Office (Code 00T), Attn: Ms. Julie Shaff, Bldg 2036, 300 Hwy 361, Crane, IN 47522 or julie.shaff@navy.mil. Responses are requested by close of business January 30, 2021. After reviewing the responses, NSWC Crane may request a meeting or teleconference with responding parties to gain further insight into their capabilities. NSWC Crane is not obligated to hold these meetings with any or all respondents. If NSWC Crane decides to meet with a party, it will only meet with those that responded to this notice. NSWC Crane will not reimburse costs for participation in these meetings or teleconferences. NSWC Crane reserves the right to enter into CRADA agreements with no, any or all respondents based upon NSWC Crane's judgment of the potential success of collaborative efforts and resource availability. There may be a future acquisition directed to some or all of the capabilities which are the subject or focus of this research and development effort. Therefore NSWC Crane desires to avoid or mitigate unfair competitive advantages being conferred on any potential contractor or offeror as a result of CRADA efforts herein which actually or appear to compromise the integrity of the procurement process. In particular, NSWC Crane seeks to avoid or mitigate (1) ?unequal access to information on Government needs and Warfighter evaluations of proprietary systems or improved versions resulting from this CRADA effort; (2) ?impaired objectivity arising from CRADA partners collaborative efforts with Government employees or Warfighters; and (3) ?biased ground rules for a possible or potential future acquisition directed to a capability which may be a focus of this CRADA effort. This effort is expected to produce CRADA subject data deliverables which may be used to facilitate a possible follow-on acquisition using a Name Brand or Equal acquisition strategy, which is designed to ensure a fair competition while respecting the proprietary rights and previous investment of potential CRADA partners. This is not a procurement, nor a notice for such a procurement, and at this time there is no plan or funding for a follow-on procurement. The legal authority for this cooperative research effort is the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986, codified in Title 15 United States Code, Section 3710a, et seq. Under a CRADA, the partner contributes funds, equipment, or in-kind services to the joint research effort, leveraging their efforts with those of the federal agency for a mission-related objective. At Government discretion, subject data deliverables and inventions delivered under any CRADA agreement may be used in future competitive acquisitions.