Space Environment Technologies and Science (SETS) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Call 004

What they want

• Build and advance tactical decision aids, including the Air Force Coverage Analysis (AFCAP) tool, to give real-time Over the Horizon Radar (OTHR) simulation to SSC (the Call does not spell out SSC).
• Develop and integrate ionospheric software tools (SEIM.STRES, OASIS and RIPE) into SSC enterprise solutions.
• Create models and simulations of ionospheric properties and radar propagation for indications and warnings (I&W) tools.
• Assess HF propagation using remote sensing data and support tools such as the High Frequency Propagation Observation Evaluation Toolkit (HF-POET).
• Run qualitative and quantitative verification and validation (V&V) of the models, tools and decision aids, and develop ways to simulate their failures.
• Work with partner agencies such as the Military Applications and Space Environment (MASE) program office to transition the technology, and sustain the models and prediction tools.
• Support the work with briefings, conference attendance, peer-reviewed manuscripts, lab supplies, and instrument installation and troubleshooting.
• Deliver software and documentation, presentation materials, monthly status reports, a final scientific and technical report, and monthly financial reports.

What they'll judge offers on

• Overall Scientific or Technical Merit: innovation and state-of-the-art methods, clearly defined problem statement, objectives and deliverables, and objectives anchored by theory, analysis or data
• Relevance to Mission Needs Outlined in Topic Area Description: proposed effort maps to topic area needs, benefits offset risks, and proposed cost meets mission needs
• Soundness of the Offeror?'s Technical Approach: defined, logical and feasible approach, reasonable schedule and resources, measurable and testable results, and qualified key staff

What to include when you submit

• Send a technical proposal covering a creative, technically sound approach, its relevance to the Space Warfare Directorate mission, prior work, and available equipment, data and facilities as attachments.
• Include a Statement of Work (SOW) with the technical tasks proposed; it must hold no company proprietary information.
• Split the cost/business proposal into a cost section and a business section; put resumes of participating personnel, the contract instrument type, exceptions to terms and any non-technical information in the business section.
• Give a labor-hour breakdown per task, with supporting schedules, and all direct costs plus labor and overhead rates by contractor fiscal year.
• Submit fully disclosed electronic cost spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel with working formulas and a rate table; use cost proposal Tables 1 through 4, or your own format with the same information.
• Send fully disclosed cost proposals for every subcontractor, including their Tables 1 through 4, by the response due date.
• Include a subcontracting plan if the effort is anticipated to exceed $900,000; small businesses are exempt.
• Identify any technical data to be delivered with less than unlimited rights, and complete the data assertions table (DFARS 252.227-7992).
• Send a completed Standard Form 424 (SF 424) Research and Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) for every senior or key person proposed.
• Send a completed Security Program Questionnaire; the Air Force may ask for a mitigation plan for science and technology (S&T) protection risks.
• Complete the Contractor's Verification of Proposal, naming the proposal validity date, the principal investigator, any foreign nationals or lawful permanent residents, and any Government Furnished Property.
• Complete the Proposal Adequacy Checklist (DFARS 252.215-7009), showing where each item sits in the proposal.
• If Government Furnished Property is requested, list the property, the accountable contract, the dates needed and the rent otherwise charged.
• Format: 8.5 by 11 inch paper, one-inch margins, Calibri 11 point or equivalent (no smaller than 10 point for captions and markings).

After award, you must have

• The resulting award will require a DD Form 254 (the form that sets classified-work security rules), and the contractor is expected to need access to classified information during the effort. From RFP Letter Call 004 Published _ 22Oct26.pdf: …will require a DD Form 254.
• Contractor staff who work on an Air Force installation need base identification and vehicle passes, requested by a letter on company letterhead to the Contracting Officer. From RFP Letter Call 004 Published _ 22Oct26.pdf: Base support is anticipated.

Current contractor

No incumbent is named. The Air Force anticipates awarding at minimum one contract and reserves the right to make multiple awards or none.

Not in the notice text

• Attached but not read: Atch 3 - Reps and Certs.pdf (too large). The text of Atch 8 - Standard Form 424.pdf and Atch 9 - DD 254 Draft Call 004.pdf didn't load, so check those forms on SAM.gov.
• The Call says all requirements of the baseline closed BAA FA9453-23-R-X001 apply unless this Call changes them; that full text (general proposal preparation, evaluation and award rules) is on SAM.gov and wasn't read.
• What "Closed" means for which firms may respond isn't explained in the Call letter; check the baseline BAA or ask the contracting officer.
• The Call doesn't say how to send the proposal files (email address or portal) beyond the contracting point of contact.
• No place of performance beyond Albuquerque, NM is given; on-site work at an Air Force installation is anticipated, but the installation isn't named in the Call letter.
• The CLIN breakdown named in Attachment 1's title isn't in the text read; the SOW text shows tasks and travel rules only.