Notice of Interest

Solicitation Number: TBD Title: Notice of Interest Proposal Disallowed Reason: This Notice of Interest concerning the release of a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to solicit research and development (R&D) is issued in accordance with 10 CFR 600 and 48 CFR Part 35.016. Proposers should not submit a proposal in response to this Notice of Interest, but may submit a proposal after release of a solicitation at a later date. Description: The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) will be jointly soliciting proposals for R&D to improve national capabilities to detect, locate, and identify nuclear explosions. It is anticipated that this solicitation will be released on or about November 03, 2003 seeking proposals with a period of performance of 1-3 years. The objective of the solicitation will be to advance the state-of-the-art in seismic, hydroacoustic and infrasound methods of nuclear explosion monitoring. This will be achieved through basic and applied research that enhances understanding of the underlying phenomena, proposes new methods of tackling monitoring problems, or develops new data of use in nuclear explosion monitoring. Where appropriate, priority will be given to studies of propagation conditions in Eurasia. Research products developed under this solicitation shall support Air Force requirements for improving the nation?s capabilities to monitor nuclear explosions. Information about the NNSA Nuclear Explosion Monitoring Research & Engineering (NEM R&E) program integration of research products into operational form for the Air Force can be found online at https://www.nemre.nnsa.doe.gov/nemre/KnowledgeBase. Research is being sought in five topic areas: TOPIC 1: Energy partition and propagation for local and regional seismic phases including effects on magnitudes and effects of source physics; TOPIC 2: Calibration and Ground Truth Collection; TOPIC 3: Seismic Detection, Location and Discrimination; TOPIC 4: Infrasound; and TOPIC 5: Hydroacoustic studies. Topic 1 (Energy partition and propagation for local and regional seismic phases including effects on magnitudes and effects of source physics) Proposals are sought complementing existing efforts to answer the question of how seismic energy is generated from underground phenomena (including distributed and single point explosions, double-couple earthquakes and other modes of rock failure), how this energy is partitioned between P and S waves, and how it propagates to regional distances (less than 2,000 km). Generation of S waves from explosions is of particular interest, as are models of the source, both theoretical and empirical. Theoretical and empirical models should address the generation and partitioning of the seismic energy and the effect of properties such as 1) source region medium and overburden, 2) the local structure, and 3) the surrounding tectonic province is also of interest. Also of interest are the possible effects of frozen hard rock on explosive coupling. In propagation, the influence of 3D laterally varying structure, including laterally varying vertical velocity gradients, and 3D scattering on the stability of propagation of Pn, Pg, Sn, Lg is of interest. Another question is: what is the physical basis for a measurable property, such as magnitude that can be directly related to the yield of a fully coupled explosion, and how do emplacement conditions affect the observation? Proposals for field experiments, theoretical investigations, and observational investigations including empirical source models and mine investigations will be accepted under this topic. In addition, proposals for improved modeling of waveforms at local, regional, and near-teleseismic distances will be considered. Topic 2 (Seismic Calibration and Ground Truth Collection) Proposals for dedicated GT0 calibration explosions are of high interest, especially reciprocal calibration shots. Collection of ground truth at a GT5 level or better is sought for events of magnitude 2.5 and larger. Such high-quality ground truth events (with absolute location and depth errors less than 5 kilometers) might be obtained from: a) dense local networks, b) instrumented mines, c) remote sensing, d) other techniques. Special consideration will be given to remote sensing techniques for ground truth collection applicable to regions that are difficult or impossible to access. Proposals that specifically address uncertainties in the acquired ground truth information are desirable. Geophysical studies that generate new ground-truth events with source geometry information are sought, such as mining explosions or mining-related collapse studies. Proposals are sought to develop models that calibrate earth velocity and attenuation structure, especially in aseismic regions. Priority will be given to studies of propagation conditions in Eurasia. Improved Q models with emphasis on regional phases Pn, Pg, Sn, Lg and surface waves are desirable. Particular emphasis will be placed on procedures that develop models by fitting multiple datasets (e.g. body and surface wave tomography, receiver functions, refraction data, gravity, etc.), and procedures that estimate the uncertainty of geophysical models. Proposals are also sought that characterize transition zone propagation, i.e. mapping and calibrating travel time and amplitude behavior of P and S waves traveling through the transition zone (ray bottoming depths from the Moho to 660 km, and distance ranges from 13 to 30 degrees). Topic 3 (Seismic Detection, Location, and Discrimination) Seismic signal processing methods are sought with potential to significantly lower the thresholds at which detection, location and identification functions can be performed at acceptable false alarm rates. In particular, new methods of array signal processing are solicited that employ calibration or other techniques to enhance signal detection and parameter estimation (e.g. azimuth, phase velocity) in strongly heterogeneous media. Full waveform synthetic seismogram matching to data for seismic event detection, location, and discrimination are also of interest. Estimating improvements in detection, including testing of detection processes using superposition of actual signals in increasing noise, is of interest. Improved methods of arrival-time picking and phase identification, especially for local (0-300 km) and far-regional (1500 km and greater) phases are desired. Improved location techniques are sought, especially development of mathematical and geophysical techniques for determining new ground-truth events and earth structure. An example could be combining relative event locations with limited ground-truth constraints (such as fault planes). Proposals for advanced discrimination methods that make significant improvement over current techniques would be of interest, as are new techniques of detecting and validating depth phases for crustal events observed locally, regionally and teleseismically. Proposals to extend existing techniques of discrimination such as Ms:mb to lower level regional signals are of particular interest. Topic 4 (Infrasound) In determining seismic ground truth, proposals are sought for an improved understanding of the fundamental physics of local and regional propagation of infrasound signals from underground contained and near-surface explosions, characterizing the variety of infrasonic noise environments, and improving the understanding of atmosphere dynamics affecting propagation of infrasound acoustic waves. Proposals are also sought that advance understanding of the fundamental physics of the propagation of long-range infrasound signals. A better understanding of sources, noise and the temporal atmospheric conditions that affect propagation of infrasound acoustic waves is needed. Improved ground-truth infrasound databases to better understand infrasound observations are also needed. Focused investigations and/or field experiments using man-made sources and natural phenomenon will be considered. Topic 5 (Hydroacoustic for discrimination of underwater seismic events) Proposals are sought that investigate the physics of long-range hydroacoustic propagation of high-frequency (>30 Hz) energy through the convergence zone and through hydroacoustic coastline reflection. Observational, experimental, and theoretical studies are of interest; studies that combine data with theory are of particular interest for potential discrimination of underwater seismic events. After the solicitation is released, proposals must be submitted for either a contract or a financial assistance award. However, AFRL and NNSA will reserve the right to determine which procurement instrument shall be used. The instrument shall be appropriate to the scope of work and performing organization. NNSA may issue contracts or financial assistance awards, or both. The Air Force will issue contracts only. If a contract is issued, acquisition regulations apply per 48 CFR, and a cost reimbursement contract is anticipated. If a financial assistance award is used, 10 CFR 600 applies, and a cooperative agreement is anticipated. The use of Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC?s) as team members must be consistent with the FFRDC?s authority under its award. Links to websites that contain the full text of these regulations are provided in this Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) Information announcement. The BAA will solicit proposals from all responsible organizations (foreign and domestic) including industry, academic institutions, research institutions, and non-profit organizations. Federal agencies may submit proposals as prime/lead contractors subject to appropriations language but may not partner with Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC). FFRDC?s, including NNSA national laboratories, cannot directly respond to this solicitation as prime/lead participants. FFRDC?s, including NNSA national laboratories, may participate in this solicitation as team members, however, such participation must be consistent with the FFRDC's sponsoring agreement. The FFRDC effort for any proposal, in aggregate, shall not exceed 50% of the total effort of the project. Information will be provided in the solicitation on how to include FFRDC?s such as NNSA national laboratories in this solicitation as team members. Both NNSA and AFRL each reserve the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all or none of the proposals and to award without discussions. All awards will have an NNSA Product Integrator (subject matter expert) assigned at the time of award to help ensure maximum value to the US Government of research products successfully transitioning to operations as appropriate. If teaming arrangements are proposed, technical approach, deliverables and costs must be clearly separable for individual team members as the Government reserves the right to award to the team or to individual team members. This Notice of Interest is being issued in advance of passage of fiscal year 2004 appropriations to provide more time for potential proposers to prepare. The topics in this Notice of Interest represent the maximum set of topics that may appear in the solicitation. The final number of topics and awards, however, are subject to the availability of funds. Requiring Activity: The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Classification Code: A NAICS Code: 541710 Robert D. Lowther Contract Specialist +1 (555) 000-0000 phone +1 (555) 000-0000 fax contact@example.gov email