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Data Collection using Radar on a Chip to Classify Environmental Phenomena from Robotic Systems


Mississippi, United States
Government : Military
RFP
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-Performance Work Statement-

Data Collection using Radar on a Chip to Classify Environmental Phenomena from Robotic Systems


1. General.
The US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Environmental Laboratory (EL) is conducting research to demonstrate the use of radio waves operated over the spectrum between 100MHz and 5GHz to classify environmental phenomena from Unmanned Systems. Equipment fielded should be conformable to size, weight, and power limitations presented by small Unmanned Aerial Systems and Unmanned Ground Systems. Empirical investigations will be conducted to evaluate the system's ability to operate in flat, sloping, underground, indoor, and vertical terrain. The use of Unmanned Systems as a platform not only makes radar technologies (e.g. Ground Penetrating Radar) more deployable over more acreage, it also enables it to be used in inaccessible locations and heights.


In recent years, since at least 2011, this technology has been used to survey pavement and civil infrastructure for cracks and corrosion. Therefore the technology as fielded is ready for demonstration of its suitability for the characterization of environmental phenomena. The effort outlined below is principally focused on demonstrating the efficacy of this technology and providing a concept of operations for detecting a set of environmental phenomena using radar on Unmanned Systems. Each tasks represents a separate case study to interrogate specific environmental phenomena using radar technology affixed to Unmanned Systems.


The currently selected test area is at ERDC, Vicksburg, MS. The contractor shall perform the data collection using radar-on-chip technology, operating between 100MHz and 5GHz, affixed to an Unmanned System. The ERDC, at its discretion, may provide an Unmanned System for the contractor's equipment and work with the contractor to perform a data collection with the contractor's equipment affixed to an ERDC Unmanned System. The contractor shall return to the government reasonable spatial visualizations (i.e. an electronic map) necessary to identify the shapes, sizes, and features of interest of each Task. If the technology is deficient in its ability to detect certain features of interest, the contractor shall substantively demonstrate that the deficiency is the result of limitations in sensor physics. If ERDC becomes unavailable for use, an alternative site will be established for use by the contractor to survey.


2. Task Descriptions. The contractor will provide the specified labor, equipment, and expertise necessary for the data collection effort. The following are the specific tasks associated with this contract. The contractor must have a detector and expertise to collect data at the survey site.


The contractor and all associated subcontractors' employees shall comply with applicable installation, access and local security policies and procedures related to Unmanned Systems.
If using an Unmanned Aerial System operated on Army lands, the contractor will operate in accordance with applicable Army regulations including, but not limited to, EC-1110-1-016 (Acquisition and Operation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Technology, June 2016), Policy Memorandum 15-002 ("Guidance for the Domestic Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems", 17 Feb 2015), AR 70-62 (Airworthiness Qualifications of Aircraft Systems, May 2007), AR 95-23 (Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Regulations, July 2010), AD 2012-02 (Supplemental Policy for Operations of Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the National Airspace System, Jan 2012), and the Joint Unmanned Aircraft Systems Minimum Training Standards (JUMTS) (4 Sept 2012).


The contractor shall be responsible for special permissions and certifications for specific frequency ranges in and around military bases.


 


TASK 1. Data Collection of UXO.


1. Scope: This main task is to collect radar data between 100MHz and 5GHz using small form-factor radar-on-chip device from an Unmanned System during the collection period. The ERDC personnel will provide the geographic location of the survey area containing features of interest to the contractor. The contractor shall be responsible for operation of the radar device as well as instrument mobilization and demobilization. The ERDC will provide the contractor a "training" site for instrument calibration. A small subset of the survey area or near-by area may be used by the contractor, in consultation with ERDC personnel, to serve as a calibration and training area. The contractor will consult with ERDC personnel to determine appropriate tolerances and calibrations given the known limitations of the contractor's equipment. It is ultimately the contractor's responsibility to operate and perform the data collection using optimal tolerances and parameters for the features of interest. Limited adjustments to the contractor's data processing workflow may be requested to improve the performance of the radar system.


The survey area will be composed of 20 square meters or less of flat, sloping, underground, indoor, and/or vertical terrain. The survey area will contain inert Un-Exploded Ordinance test targets as features of interest. The targets may be unburied, partially buried, or buried at various depths as determined by ERDC. This effort investigates how UXO can be characterized using small form-factor radar, relieving a major limitation of Ground Penetrating Radar technology for UXO detection.


The contractor should expect the effort to range between 7 to 10 days, including travel, calibration, and data collection. Report writing is not included in this 7 to 10 day range.


2. Deliverable: a) The first deliverable comprises the package of raw radar data files, processed data files of a spatial representation of the radar data, any associated metadata and flight logs, and the contractor's field notes. This deliverable will be transferred at the end of the collection period to ERDC. These data must be confirmed readable by software possessed by ERDC. b) The second deliverable will be a project report outlining the work, results, and findings of the contractor to be delivered no later than the conclusion of the performance period.


TASK 2. Data Collection of Environmental Tracer.
1. Scope: This main task is to collect radar data between 100MHz and 5GHz using small form-factor radar-on-chip device from an Unmanned System during the collection period, with ERDC personnel providing to the contractor the geographic location of the survey area containing features of interest. The contractor shall be responsible for operation of the radar device as well as instrument mobilization and demobilization. The ERDC will provide the contractor a "training" site for instrument calibration. A small subset of the survey area or near-by area may be used by the contractor, in consultation with ERDC personnel, to serve as a calibration and training area. The contractor will consult with ERDC personnel to determine appropriate tolerances and calibrations given the known limitations of the contractor's equipment. It is ultimately the contractor's responsibility to operate and perform the data collection using optimal tolerances and parameters for the features of interest. Limited adjustments to the contractor's data processing workflow may be requested to improve the performance of the radar system.


The survey area will be composed of 20 square meters or less of flat, sloping, underground, indoor, and/or vertical terrain. The survey area will contain a set of environmental metallic tracers as features of interest. The targets may be unburied, partially buried, or buried at various depths as determined by ERDC. This effort investigates how synthetic tracer material can be characterized and mapped using radar technology.


The contractor should expect the effort to range between 7 to 10 days, including travel, calibration, and data collection. Report writing is not included in this 7 to 10 day range.


2. Deliverable: a) The first deliverable comprises the package of raw radar data files, processed data files of a spatial representation of the radar data, any associated metadata and flight logs, and the contractor's field notes. This deliverable will be transferred at the end of the collection period to ERDC. This data must be confirmed readable by software possessed by ERDC. b) The second deliverable will be a project report outlining the work, results, and findings of the contractor to be delivered no later than the conclusion of the performance period.


TASK 3. Data Collection of Environmental Flora and Fauna.
1. Scope: This main task is to collect radar data between 100MHz and 5GHz using small form-factor radar-on-chip device from an Unmanned System during the collection period, with ERDC personnel providing to the contractor the geographic location of the survey area containing features of interest. The contractor shall be responsible for operation of the radar device as well as instrument mobilization and demobilization. The ERDC will provide the contractor a "training" site for instrument calibration. A small subset of the survey area or near-by area may be used by the contractor, in consultation with ERDC personnel, to serve as a calibration and training area. The contractor will consult with ERDC personnel to determine appropriate tolerances and calibrations given the known limitations of the contractor's equipment. It is ultimately the contractor's responsibility to operate and perform the data collection using optimal tolerances and parameters for the features of interest. Limited adjustments to the contractor's data processing workflow may be requested to improve the performance of the radar system.


The survey area will be composed of 20 square meters or less of flat, sloping, underground, indoor, and/or vertical terrain. The survey area will contain a set of environmental flora and fauna as features of interest. The targets may be unburied, partially buried, or buried at various depths as determined by ERDC. Additionally, the targets may be overlapping. This effort investigates how flora and fauna can be characterized, and their substrate mapped, using radar technology.


The contractor should expect the effort to range between 7 to 10 days, including travel, calibration, and data collection. Report writing is not included in this 7 to 10 day range.


2. Deliverable: a) The first deliverable comprises the package of raw radar data files, processed data files of a spatial representation of the radar data, any associated metadata and flight logs, and the contractor's field notes. This deliverable will be transferred at the end of the collection period to ERDC. This data must be confirmed readable by software possessed by ERDC. b) The second deliverable will be a project report outlining the work, results, and findings of the contractor to be delivered no later than the conclusion of the performance period.



3. Technology Transfer. The data resulting from the collection effort will be analyzed by ERDC and may be disseminated to other federal entities.


4. Performance Period. 1 June 2019 through 31 December 2020.


5. Security Requirements.
The contractor and all associated subcontractors' employees shall comply with applicable installation, access and local security policies and procedures. Policies and procedures will be provided by the local Security Office. The contractor workforce must comply with all personal identity verification requirements as directed by DoD, HQDA, and local policies. In addition to the changes otherwise authorized by the changes clause of this contract, should the Force Protection Condition (FPCON) at any individual facility or installation change, the Government may require changes in contractor security matters or processes.
Security Requirements
Access and General Protection/Security Policy and Procedures:
All contractor and all associated sub-contractors employees shall comply with applicable installation, facility and area commander installation/facility access and local security policies and procedures (provided by government representative). The contractor shall also provide all information required for background checks to meet installation/facility access requirements to be accomplished by installation Provost Marshal Office, Director of Emergency Services or Security Office. Contractor workforce must comply with all personal identity verification requirements (FAR clause 52.204-9, Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel) as directed by DOD, HQDA and/or local policy. In addition to the changes otherwise authorized by the changes clause of this contract, should the Force Protection Condition (FPCON) at any installation or facility change, the Government may require changes in contractor security matters or processes.


For contractors who do not require CAC, but require access to a DoD facility or installation:
Contractor and all associated sub-contractors employees shall comply with adjudication standards and procedures using the National Crime Information Center Interstate Identification Index (NCIC-III) and Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) (Army Directive 2014-05 / AR 190-13), applicable installation, facility and area commander installation/facility access and local security policies and procedures (provided by government representative, as NCIC and TSDB are available), or, at OCONUS locations, in accordance with status of forces agreements and other theater regulations.


Contractor Company to obtain a Facility Clearance and individual clearances at the appropriate level:
The Contractor must pre-screen Candidates using the E-verify Program (http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify) website to meet the established employment eligibility requirements. The Vendor must ensure that the Candidate has two valid forms of Government issued identification prior to enrollment to ensure the correct information is entered into the E-verify system. An initial list of verified/eligible Candidates must be provided to the COR no later than 3 business days after the initial contract award." *When contracts are with individuals, the individuals will be required to complete a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, with the designated Government representative. This Form will be provided to the Contracting Officer and shall become part of the official contract file.



6. Performance Work Summary.


Task Statement Standards/AQLs


1. Data Collection of UXO
1) 10 days or less of data collection prior to the end of the performance period.
2) Hard drive with ERDC readable data files and project report delivered on a hard drive on or before the end of the performance period.
3) Customer satisfaction 90% of the time
2. Data Collection of Environmental Tracer
1) 10 days or less of data collection prior to the end of the performance period.
2) Hard drive with ERDC readable data files and project report delivered on a hard drive on or before the end of the performance period.
3) Customer satisfaction 90% of the time
3. Data Collection of Environmental Flora and Fauna 1) 10 days or less of data collection prior to the end of the performance period.
2) Hard drive with ERDC readable data files and project report delivered on a hard drive on or before the end of the performance period.
3) Customer satisfaction 90% of the time.


 


Derek A. Howard, Contract Specialist, Phone 6016343310, Email derek.a.howard@usace.army.mil

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