Coordinating Austere Nodes through Virtualization and Analysis of Streams (CANVAS)

Amendment / Modification

This document is Amendment 6, republishing the original BAA FA8750-24-S-7003 (Coordinating Austere Nodes through Virtualization and Analysis of Streams - CANVAS) to incorporate previous amendments and introduce new changes. Key updates include:

• Part I - Overview Information: Guidance on the FY26 white paper due date has been added.
• Part II - Full Text Announcement:
  • Section I, page 7 & 9: Guidance related to Figure 2 for FY26 has been updated.
  • Section I, page 11: Guidance related to FY26 has been updated.
  • Section III.2.b.2: FOCI guidance has been updated.
  • Section IV.1: Guidance on the FY26 white paper due date has been added.
  • Section IV.3: Information Protection Office email has been updated.
  • Section IV.4.b: A date has been updated.
  • Section IV.4.c: A CFR hyperlink has been updated.
  • Section IV.4.e: Language regarding Other Transactions (OTs) has been added.
  • Section V.2.b.2.e: Numbering has been corrected, and language updated.
  • Section VI.1: Proposal formatting language has been updated.
  • Section IV.7: Provisions have been updated.
  • Section VI: Paragraph 10 has been added.
  • Section VII: The OMBUDSMAN information has been updated.

Multiple sections across Part I and Part II have been modified, including Overview Information, Full Text Announcement sections I, III, IV, V, VI, and VII.

This amendment clarifies and updates various guidance points, including specific due dates for FY26 white papers and contact information. Offerors should review all updated sections carefully to ensure compliance with the latest requirements. The core technical areas (TA1 and TA2) and the focus on TA1 for FY25/FY26 remain consistent, but specific guidance and administrative details have been revised.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (No. 4) to BAA FA8750-24-S-7003 updates specific language within the solicitation:

• Section III, Paragraph 5 (S&T Protection): Updates the language related to Science and Technology (S&T) Protection.

• Section V, Paragraph 2.e (S&T Review): Updates the language concerning the S&T review process.

• Section III: S&T Protection (Paragraph 5)

• Section V: Review and Selection Process (Paragraph 2.e)

This amendment clarifies requirements for S&T Protection and S&T reviews. Bidders must now adhere to updated language regarding:

• Security Risk Review: Proposals are subject to a Security Risk Review prior to award. This review assesses potential undue foreign influence and uses information from the Research and Related Senior and Key Person Profile and Security Questionnaire, along with publicly available and internal government data. Nationality is not a determining factor.
• Required Documentation: Applicants must submit specific forms with their proposals, including:
  • Standard Form 424, “Research and Related Senior and Key Person Profile (Expanded)” (for Grant/CA proposals) OR Research and Related Senior and Key Person Profile Worksheet (for Contract/OTA proposals).
  • Security Program Questionnaire.
  • “Privacy Act Statement” consent form for each Covered Individual.
• Covered Individuals: Defined as individuals contributing substantively to the R&D project. All Senior/Key Personnel are considered covered individuals for this BAA. Disclosure of current and pending research support is mandatory for all covered individuals.
• Compliance: Applicants agree to certify that covered individuals are aware of disclosure requirements and that false representations may lead to prosecution. They must also establish internal processes for foreign talent programs, conflicts of interest, and research integrity, and exercise due diligence to identify foreign components or participation in foreign government talent programs.
• S&T Review in Proposal Evaluation: The S&T review, including the submission of the SF424, Senior and Key Person Profile Worksheet, and Security Program Questionnaire, is conducted in parallel with the technical evaluation. If a security risk exceeding the acceptable threshold is identified, the offeror will be notified, and award may be declined.

No other changes are made to the solicitation.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (Amendment 3) to BAA FA8750-24-S-7003 removes the language regarding a Questions and Answers (Q&A) document from Part I - Overview Information. The Government will no longer be amending the synopsis to add a Q&A document.

• Part I - Overview Information (regarding Q&A document)

No changes to proposal deadlines or submission requirements are indicated by this amendment, other than the removal of the Q&A document update process.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment modifies Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FA8750-24-S-7003, "Coordinating Austere Nodes through Virtualization and Analysis of Streams (CANVAS)". The primary changes are:

• White Paper Due Date Update: The due date for FY25 white papers has been extended to June 28, 2024.
• Questions and Answers (Q&A) Document: Language has been added regarding the submission of questions via email to the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC), Ryan Hilliard, by 12:00 PM EST on June 10, 2024. A Q&A document will be issued based on these questions and will not be updated thereafter. Future changes to the BAA will be made via amendment.

• Part I Overview Information and Section IV.1 (White Paper Dates)

• Part I Overview Information (Addition of Q&A process)

• The deadline for FY25 white paper submissions is now June 28, 2024.

• Offerors are encouraged to submit questions by June 10, 2024, to receive consolidated answers via a Q&A document.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FA8750-24-S-7003, titled "Coordinating Austere Nodes through Virtualization and Analysis of Streams (CANVAS)," is issued by the Department of the Air Force, AFRL/Information Directorate. It seeks innovative research to develop a capability for continuous command and control (C2) process orchestration in an Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operational environment through distributed workflow execution. The program aims to enhance flexibility and adaptability in dynamic operational settings, supporting the Air Force's strategy of distributing forces to increase survivability and maintain functionality in contested and degraded environments.

The BAA focuses on two technical areas (TA):

• TA1: Virtualization and Visualization of Distributed C2 Workflows: Developing capabilities for commanders to visualize C2 processes, simulate changes to intent and authorities, and analyze mission outcomes. Key components include Policy Generation, Tradeoff Analysis, Conditions-Based Authorities Propagation, Intent Validation, Intent-Based Orchestrator, and a Visualization Dashboard.
• TA2: Decentralized Execution of Distributed C2 Workflows: Developing components for orchestrating C2 tasking across austere nodes, managing mission thread intent, and optimizing resource allocation. Focus is on the framework, components, applications, and optimization algorithms for distributed C2 execution.

Note: For FY25, only white papers for TA1 components in WHITE will be considered. TA2 and shaded TA1 components are not eligible for FY25.

• Estimated Funding: Approximately $24.9M total.

• Anticipated Awards: Multiple awards are anticipated.

• Award Instruments: Procurement Contracts, Other Transactions (OTs), grants, or cooperative agreements.

• Potential for Follow-on: OTs for Prototype may lead to follow-on production contracts.

• Type: Two-step open BAA. White papers are the initial submission (Step 1).

• Submission Dates: Suggested dates for FY25-FY29 (e.g., FY25 by 15 Jun 2024). White papers accepted until 21 MAY 2029.

• White Paper Format: 3 pages, double-spaced, 12pt font. Sections include Title/Admin, Task Objective, and Technical Summary/Deliverables.

• Evaluation Criteria: Scientific and Technical Merit, Related Experience, Openness/Maturity/Assurance of Solution, and Reasonableness/Realism of Costs.

• Eligibility: All qualified offerors.

• Restrictions: Closed to foreign participation (ownership and nationals), with specific exceptions for fundamental research. U.S. citizenship is generally required for personnel accessing USAF bases/networks.

• Agency Contact: Technical inquiries to Ryan Hilliard (ryan.hilliard.3@us.af.mil); Contractual inquiries to Amber Buckley (Amber.Buckley@us.af.mil).

• Pre-Proposal Communication: Encouraged.

• SAM.gov Registration: Required for award.