Autonomous Decisions, Algorithms, and Modeling (ADAM)

Industry Guide

This document serves as an "Industry Guide" for the Autonomous Decisions, Algorithms and Modeling (ADAM) Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA). It aims to familiarize existing and potential Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Industry Partners with the MAA acquisition approach and its specific nuances. The guide supplements information in the MAA and resulting solicitations, provides standardization for proposal preparation, and offers information on less-familiar acquisition concepts like Other Transaction Authorities.

• MAA Overview: A unique solicitation method consolidating various authorities under a single announcement, designed to support AFRL's Science and Technology (S&T) strategy for advancing research to technology maturation and transition.

• Solicitation Variations: Includes "Call for Proposal" and "Open Period" solicitations, which can be either "One-Step" (full proposal submission) or "Two-Step" (White Paper followed by proposal).

• Proposal Preparation: Details instructions for preparing White Papers and full proposals, including page limitations, formatting, and required content. It emphasizes that only Contracting/Agreements Officers can bind the Government.

• Data Rights: Outlines anticipated data rights for "Other Than Commercial" technical data and computer software, generally aiming for "Unlimited Rights" or "Government Purpose Rights."

• Other Transaction Authorities (OTs): Explains various OTs (Research, Prototype, Experimental Purposes) available under the MAA, their specific purposes, and eligibility requirements.

• Submission: Solicitations will be posted on www.sam.gov and potentially www.grants.gov. Offerors are encouraged to "follow" MAA and solicitation postings for updates.

• Order of Precedence: In case of conflicting information, the order is (1) Solicitation, (2) MAA, (3) Industry Guide.

• Cost of Preparation: Preparing white papers or proposals is not an allowable direct charge but may be an allowable indirect cost.

• No Classified Submissions: Offerors are encouraged to keep proposals unclassified.

• SAM Registration: Required for applying for grants and other funding opportunities.

• The MAA and this Industry Guide will be reviewed and updated annually.

• AFRL reserves the right to award zero, one, or more contracts, or none of the solicited effort.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Sensors Directorate, Multi-Domain Sensing Autonomy Division. The MAA aims to provide a comprehensive strategy for AFRL/RY's Science & Technology (S&T) efforts, enabling progression from basic research to technology maturation and transition. It consolidates several solicitation authorities under a single announcement, with individual solicitations to be released as needed.

The MAA outlines six Technical Areas for potential solicitations:

• Technical Area 1: Multi-Domain Sense Making: Focuses on using data and information to understand, explain, and predict the world state, translating data into usable information and knowledge. Efforts will develop and transition military-relevant AI/ML technology for battlespace decision-making.

• Technical Area 2: Sensing Autonomy: Centers on ISR asset management, exploitation, and control, supporting mission success through tailored applications of platforms, sensors, and infrastructure. This includes developing and applying sensing management principles to accommodate multi-domain information sources and enabling autonomy.

• Technical Area 3: Sensing and Effects Analysis: Aims to improve ISR products across all domains by enhancing performance understanding, mission effects analysis, and weapon assessments using AI/ML and sensor fusion.

• Technical Area 4: Multi-Sensing Knowledge: Provides techniques for timely, high-confidence behavioral and physical knowledge generation from denied and difficult targets using multiple sensors and domains.

• Technical Area 5: Sensing Management: Develops multi-domain strategies to orchestrate closed-loop sensing for environment understanding to effects across ISR, Strike, and EW/Cyber mission effects chains.

• Technical Area 6: Focuses on behavioral and physical knowledge generation from multiple sensors, domains, and sensor types, including sensor exploitation and autonomy algorithm development.

• Contract Type/Instrument: Solicitations may utilize various instruments including FAR-based contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, commercial contracts, Other Transactions for Research (OTR), Other Transaction for Prototype (OTP), or Other Transactions for Experimentation (OTE). Awards are anticipated to be cost reimbursement contracts or expenditure-based OTs.

• Estimated Program Cost: TBD per individual solicitation.

• Anticipated Number of Awards: TBD per individual solicitation.

• White Paper/Proposal Due Date: NO PROPOSALS ARE REQUESTED AT THIS TIME. Individual solicitations will specify due dates and times.

• Evaluation Criteria: Not detailed in this MAA; will be specified in individual solicitations.

• Eligible Offeror: Anticipated to be unrestricted. Small businesses are encouraged to propose.

• Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs): Guidance is provided regarding their participation, requiring specific determinations from their sponsoring agency and AFRL.

• Foreign Participation: Foreign-owned firms are asked to notify the Contracting POC; restrictions may apply.

• Attachments: ADAM MAA Industry Guide, Statement of Work (SOW) Supplemental Requirements.

• Communication: General MAA questions should be directed to AFRL.RYA.ADAMmaa@us.af.mil. Technical and contracting questions will be addressed in individual solicitations.

• Other Requirements: May include Program Security Classification, TEMPEST Requirements, OPSEC, Export Control (ITAR/EAR), and S&T Protection, to be identified in individual solicitations.