Signals Intelligence Focused Technologies for Exploitation and Reporting (SIFTER)

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: Signals Intelligence Focused Technologies for Exploitation and Reporting (SIFTER) ARA NUMBER: FA8750-24-S-7007 PART I OVERVIEW INFORMATION This announcement is for an Open, 2 Step ARA which is open and effective until 28 September 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 3pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 28 September 2029, the following submission dates are suggested to best align with projected funding: FY25 by 21 OCT 2024 FY26 by 25 SEP 2025 FY27 by 25 SEP 2026 FY28 by 25 SEP 2027 FY29 by 25 SEP 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 innovative research to investigate algorithms, methodologies, and techniques for the demonstration and evaluation of enhanced signal information exploitation, dissemination, and analytics of existing and emerging adversarial systems. Areas of emphasis include

1. onboard processing enhancements of manned and unmanned Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms;
2. high speed signal detection and prosecution technology demonstration,
3. cross domain multi-sensor/multi-platform data analytics, and
4. Open System Architecture (OSA) compliance for demonstration in operationally relevant environments.

This ARA is a follow-on to ARA FA8750-22-S-7002 entitled Signals Information Exploitation Technology Enhancements (SIETE).

ARA ESTIMATED FUNDING: Total funding for this ARA is approximately $99.9M. Individual awards will not normally exceed 60 months with dollar amounts normally ranging from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000. 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: David Rose, Program Manager AFRL/RIGC 525 Brooks Rd Rome, NY 13441-4505 Telephone: (315)330-2960 Email: [email on the source notice] Questions of a contractual/business nature shall be directed to the cognizant contracting officer, as specified below (email requests are preferred): Amber Buckley Email: [email on the source notice] 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 or through open discussions.

Discussions 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.

SEE ATTACHMENT FOR FULL ANNOUNCEMENT DETAILS.