ADVANCED RESEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT (ARA) TITLE: ADVANCED TRACKING ARCHITECTURE USING AI (ATA-AI)
Funding supports research and prototype development of AI/ML-enabled next-generation target tracking architectures for the Air Force, with white papers first and invitations for full proposals only.
⚑ Open, two-step ARA: white paper required first; full proposal by invitation only. · Federal procurement contracts or Other Transactions may be awarded; prototype OT may transition to follow-on production. · Awards typically $1M-$10M, up to 48 months; total ARA ceiling about $99M. · No deadline for the ARA, but suggested FY-specific white paper dates are provided; late submissions may miss projected funding windows.
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 90 strong | technical depth: central; funds applied research |
| IPPRA | 45 partial | portfolio topic: national_security_defense (primary); social/behavioral work is none; funds applied research; capped at 45 (limited social-science role) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 45 partial | funds applied research; prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
Description
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 ARA ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial Announcement ADVANCED RESEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT (ARA) TITLE: ADVANCED TRACKING ARCHITECTURE USING AI (ATA-AI) BAA or ARA NUMBER: FA8750-24-S-7004 PART I – OVERVIEW INFORMATION This announcement is for an Open, 2 Step ARA which is open and effective until 12 July 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 12 July 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 research to design, develop, test, evaluate, and deliver innovative technologies and techniques for Next Generation Target Tracking architectures, which exploit a wide array of data sources and leverage the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Machine Inferencing (MI) algorithms in a High Performance Computing (HPC) enabled framework. ARA ESTIMATED FUNDING: Total funding for this ARA is approximately $99M. Individual awards will not normally exceed 48 months with dollar amounts normally ranging from $1M to $10M. There is also the potential to make awards up to any dollar value as long as the value does not exceed the available ARA 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, 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 or other transactions (OT) under 10 USC 4021, 10 USC 4022 and 10 USC 4023 (previously 10 USC 4002, 2371, 10 USC 4003, 2371b and 4004, 2373) In the event that an Other Transaction for Prototype agreement is awarded as a result of this competitive ARA, 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): ARA PROGRAM MANAGER: Carolyn Sheaff AFRL/RIED 525 Brooks Rd Rome, NY 13441-4505 Email: AFRL.RIEDBAA.2024@us.af.mil ARA 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 ARA 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. PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHMENT FOR FULL ANNOUNCEMENT DETAILS. Amendment No. 1 to ARA FA8750-24-S-7004 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
Eligibility
Applicant restrictions (federal contract). Set-aside: . Notice type: Presolicitation. Organization: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE / FA8750 AFRL RIK.
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