Aided Target Detection and Recognition Technologies for Manned and Unmanned Ground Vehicles in Complex Environments

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY - This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) nor a promise to issue an RFP in the future. Solicitations are not available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary; the United States Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the United States Government. The Government will not be liable for payment of any preparation expenses in response to this RFI and is in no way obligated by the information received. Any costs incurred by interested companies in response to this announcement will NOT be reimbursed. The information provided may be used

by the Army in developing a future acquisition strategy, Performance Work Statement, Statement of Objectives and/or Performance Based Specification(s). Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. NOTE: The use of RFI Number W909MY-18-R-C014 is for tracking purposes only. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on FedBizOpps.gov (FBO). It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor FBO for additional information pertaining to this requirement. Responses are due by 1500 EST 17 August 2018.Please submit all RFI's to Eric Miller, Contract Specialist, eric.b.miller6.civ@mail.mil and Sabin Joseph, Contracting Officer, sabin.a.joseph.civ@mail.mil.The subject line for the email submission shall read as follows:Subject: RFI: W909MY-18-R-C014 - ATR Technology - "Company Name".DescriptionThe primary objective of this RFI is to canvas a wide community of traditional and non-traditional providers of technology solutions and services to help identify current state of art in the areas of aided and automatic target detection, recognition and tracking for Electro Optical Infra-Red (EOIR) sensors. This includes, but is not limited to, machine learning and deep learning approaches for real-time exploitation and enhanced situational awareness for ground-based manned and unmanned platforms operating in complex rural and urban environments. The primary emphasis of the RFI is to identify Aided Target Detection (AiTD) and Aided Target Recognition (AiTR) algorithms, image and video processing, machine vision, and sensor exploitation technologies for manned and unmanned ground vehicles to enable increasing levels of artificial intelligence. However, new and emerging computing hardware technologies aimed at SWAP-C constrained implementation of the state of the art sensor exploitation algorithms in real-time are also of interest.Request for Information (RFI)Aided Target Detection and Recognition Technologies for Manned and Unmanned Ground Vehicles in Complex EnvironmentsRFI Objectives:o Help identify mature, reliable and robust Aided Target Detection (AiTD) and Aided Target Recognition (AiTR) algorithms, processing modules, and computing technologies that can operate in real time on EOIR sensors mounted on ground combat systems to improve situational awareness and reduce workload of the Soldier.o Help identify current state of the art for AiTD and AiTR approaches and behaviors in increasingly difficult environments to include complex urban and rural terrain.o Help identify potential capabilities for near term integration into current ground combat platforms.o Help identify candidate capabilities for maturation and possible later integration into current fleet and new development vehicles.o Help identify well qualified providers of reliable and robust capabilities, products and services in the areas of algorithm design, development, implementation and integration for manned and unmanned ground combat systems.BACKGROUND DESCRIPTION:The U.S. Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Grounds Belvoir Division, on behalf of the CERDEC Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD), is requesting information on interested and capable sources for potential award(s) of a contract or contracts related to affordable and mature processing and exploitation algorithms, artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies suitable for application in manned and unmanned ground combat systems to improve soldier capabilities and effectiveness. The desired product must be able to be fully integrated with EOIR sensors on manned and unmanned military ground vehicles (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), Bradley, Abrams, Stryker, MRAP, NGCV, etc.) while observing their specific space constraints and operational environments.Advancements in EOIR sensor technology have enabled integration of cameras with higher resolutions, improved sensitivity, and multi-spectral imaging onto ground vehicle platforms. These sensors play a critical role in movement, situational awareness and target acquisition in combat environments day and night and have become an integral part of the warfighter's capabilities. Current imaging sensors however largely rely on soldier's continued attention on the image/video display. An abundance of sensors and the complexity of tasks in complex environments has made this a daunting task for the Soldier. Recent advances in image exploitation, artificial intelligence and machine learning coupled with a surge in demand for increased autonomy of ground platforms have reinvigorated the interest in automatic target detection, recognition, identification and tracking technologies. AiTD and AiTR will be used on manned platforms to help reduce Soldier workload, improve situational awareness, and reduce response times. On unmanned ground platforms, AiTD and AiTR become a fundamental enabling technology for autonomous operation and mission execution.Traditional AiTD and AiTR algorithm development has focused on Moving Target Indication (MTI) and Static Target Indication (STI) of military targets in relatively unpopulated low clutter rural environments. While this is still an important function, in the future, manned and unmanned ground vehicle platforms will be operated in increasingly complex environments, to include high clutter rural environments such as vehicles or ATGM teams in defilade; as well as urban areas where the enemies may blend in with natural patterns of life. Future AiTD and AiTR approaches will be required to perform basic detection and recognition functionalities in this environment, but will also need to provide more advanced automated behaviors to discriminate and prioritize potential threats.Significant technological challenges exist to successfully utilizing traditional computer vision and emerging machine learning technologies in operational combat environments. Some of these challenges include robustness and reliability of algorithms, SWAP-C of computational hardware, and limited data communication and computational bandwidth. However, arguably a bigger challenge to successfully deliver of AiTR/AiTD capabilities to the warfighter has been the mismatch between the operational requirement/expectation of the soldier and the capabilities and readiness of the AiTR/AiTD technology. As such, this RFI is aimed to better understand the state of the art and identify capable technology providers in the broad area of image and video processing and exploitation in complex settings.REQUIREMENTS:AiTR/AiTD for ground vehicles is ultimately desired to work on sensors for both static and on-the-move vehicles in real-time in diverse environments. Industry may propose a currently available solution as well as a research or prototype effort. Responses are encouraged to include a discussion on the current development status and the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the algorithm, as well as any applicable test or demonstration results. Technology development roadmaps that show products at TRL 6 for incremental capability transition in FY19, FY22, and FY24 are also of interest. For the purposes of this RFI, TRL 6 AITR/D algorithms are defined to have been demonstrated on prototype sensors and platforms in real time in realistic environments and conditions.While integrated end-to-end processing and exploitation solutions are also encouraged, given the evolving nature of the requirement and technology it is expected that this RFI is going to help identify many different enablers which will be integrated through a flexible and adaptable software and computing hardware architecture to mature technology to high technology readiness level to meet specific warfighter requirements. In particular, training data requirements for new machine learning approaches will challenge typical development processes for ground-based AiTR/AiTD. Solutions that enable data collection and/or data generation for large quantities of ground-to-ground EOIR imagery as well as techniques to help with rapid groundtruthing and labeling are applicable.The following is a short list indicative of the possible capabilities that may be of interest for both narrow field of view (FOV) targeting sensors as well as wide FOV search and/or situational awareness sensors.- Automated search and detection for military targets of interest. This includes, but is not limited to, vehicles, personnel, weapons systems, and UAS that may be fully exposed or partially obscured.- Automated recognition or classification of targets to include military versus civilian vehicles, weapon/no weapon discrimination, and facial recognition.- Automated multi-target tracking.- Algorithms that provide enhanced discrimination, tracking, and other advanced capabilities in dense urban settings.- Algorithms compatible with high definition uncooled IR sensors used for 360˚ situational awareness.- Algorithms compatible with existing fielded Second Generation (2GF) FLIR sensors.- Algorithms that leverage multi-spectral sensors, such as Third Generation (3GEN) FLIR.- Collaborative AiTD/AiTR, between ground vehicle sensors or ground vehicle sensors and small UAS.- EOIR data sets including ground-to-ground militarily relevant targets, as well as solutions to collect and/or generate relevant imagery with groundtruth or labels for trainingSensor Oriented RequirementsNext generation IR cameras have large formats such as 1280 × 960, 1920 × 1200, and 2K × 2K with typical frame rates at 30 Hz to 60 Hz. EO cameras are available in even higher pixel formats and frame rates. Multi-spectral sensors such as 3GEN FLIR are also becoming available.While the objective is to ultimately develop technology that can work day/night on infrared sensors, responses that have focused on visible sensor development are acceptable to show development status. Responses that exploit multi-spectral sensors are encouraged as well. AiTR and AiTD capabilities are desired on both narrow FOV targeting sensors as well as wide FOV search and/or situational awareness sensors.The intent of this RFI is to identify an ecosystem of algorithms, exploitation capabilities, and machine vision approaches that can be leveraged (within reason) with a wide variety of sensor types including but not limited to EO and IR sensors of different spatial, temporal, spectral, and radiometric resolutions.Computing Hardware Oriented RequirementsWhile the primary emphasis of this RFI is on algorithms, software implementation and architectures to enable real-time AiTR/AiTD capabilities, it is also important to understand the ecosystem of the computing hardware on which these capabilities may be hosted. In that spirit, submission on new and evolving computing hardware architectures for efficient, low Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWAP-C) computing is encouraged. Submission on specific embedded, FPGA or ASIC implementation of well-defined visual processing and exploitation capabilities or tools that can be embedded in a larger system level solution are also encouraged. Although the primary purpose of this hardware is to execute AiTD/AiTR software, this hardware may interact with related on- and off-platform systems. As such, technologies that support low-latency distribution of real-time sensor video from high bandwidth EO/IR sensors to multiple consumers (human or machine) are of interest. Approaches that enable rapid real-time prototyping, adaptation, and implementation of algorithm approaches are also of interest.Operational and Environmental RequirementsAiTR/AiTD algorithms will be required to be effective in a broad array of environmental conditions on ground vehicle platforms of various sizes and configurations. The following list highlights some operational and environmental considerations for algorithm performance:- Broad array of rural and urban environments with varying degrees of natural and man-made clutter- Static or moving targets, partially obscured targets- Targets over a broad range of operationally relevant ranges, i.e., close to the vehicle and at significant standoff- Real-time operation with both static and on-the-move platforms-Tracking persistence for slewable sensorsRFI Submission InstructionsInterested parties who have the expertise, capabilities and technologies in the areas of interest to this RFI should provide their electronic response NLT 12 August 2018 via e-mail.Email to: eric.b.miller6.civ@mail.milCopy to: sabin.a.joseph.civ@mail.milSubject: RFI W909MY-18-R-C014 - ATR Technology - Your COMPANY NAMEAll information received in response to this RFI that is marked "Proprietary" will be handled accordingly. RFI responses will not be returned nor will receipt be confirmed.In addition to the body of the cover letter, respondents shall provide short concise answers to the following questions (not included in the 1 page limit).The Army Contracting Command on the behalf of the CERDEC Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) is seeking the following information:• Potential Respondents shall describe how they would propose to successfully perform these services, assuming that all services provided by Respondent would be accomplished in accordance with all applicable U.S. laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.• Potential Respondents shall describe how their existing technology performs the following tasks:a. Identifies specifications of capability that detects voids/tunnels at generally shallow subsurface depth via seismic, soil conductivity/resistivity and/or other technologies used by the oil and gas industry for exploration or by other industries for other purposes.b. Method of detection must be relatively discrete and not utilize explosives as a source of energy for detection.• Potential Respondents shall describe how proposed technology functions in regard to the following considerations:a. Environment: Austere day and night time operations in both normal and adverse weather conditions.b. Security: Must be able to operate within close proximity to Coalition Forces (CF) and Partner Nations (PN) without any compromise to sensitive technical information or classified data.c. Safety: All technology must be skin and eye safe where it poses a risk of direct exposure.• Potential Respondents shall describe the estimated time and manpower to set up the detectors and/or sensors, time and manpower to collect and analyze data for a given area, and the time and manpower to tear down the detectors and/or sensors.COVER LETTER:The response shall include a Cover Letter (1 page limit). The Cover Letter should briefly state the offeror's interest in ATR Technology for Ground Combat Systems and highlight technical products and capabilities in relevant areas. The cover letter shall also include the following information:Subject: RFI W909MY-18-R-C014 - ATR Technology - YOUR COMPANY NAMEo Company nameo Date of incorporationo Number of years in businesso Number of employeeso Mailing addresso Company Website addresso The singular point of contact for all information pursuant to this RFI.o Phone Numbero Email addressIn addition to the body of the cover letter, respondents shall provide short concise answers to the following questions (not included in the 1 page limit).In addition please provide the following information:1. Please provide the following Point of Contact information:Company:Address:Point of Contact:Phone Number:Fax Numbers:Email Address:2. Please identify your company's small business size standard based on the primary North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code of 333314. The Small Business Size Standard for this NAICS code is $15,000,000.00. For more information, please refer to http://www.sba.gov/content/table-small-business-size-standards.Large Business ConcernSmall Business (SB) Concern8(a)Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB)Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)3. If you identify your company as a Small Business or any of the SB subcategories as stipulated in Question # 2, then is your company interested in a prime contract for the requirement?4. Under the current SB recertification regulations, do you anticipate your company remaining a small business, under primary NAICS Code 541330 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services - Engineering services?NOTE: If you are a SB, answer questions 4A, B & C. All others skip to Question #5.A. If your company is awarded the contract, will you be able to perform at least 50% (percent) of the work?B. If you are a small business, can you go without a payment for 90 days?C. If you identify your company as a small business or any of the small business subcategories above, then is your company interested in a prime contract? If so, does your company possess the capabilities to provide the entire range of these requirements? If not, please list which requirements your company can provide.5. Does your company have experience as a prime contractor administering Multiple Award Contracts (MACs)? (maximum of 5 efforts)6. If you answered "yes" to Question # 5, please provide as much of the following information as possible;A. MAC contract number(s);B. aggregate dollar value of entire MAC contract;C. aggregate dollar value of task orders you prime on each MAC;D. number of task orders you prime on MAC;E. Is the work on each MAC similar in scope to that of this requirement?7. If your company is a large business, please explain how you will utilize small businesses in meeting these requirements. Please include a realistic goal for work as derived from this RFI and indicate whether having socio-economic subcategory goals e.g. SDB, WOSB, EDWOSB, VOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone, etc. is feasible. If so, include those goals.8. Is your company currently providing similar services (to include size and complexity) to another government agency (you may also include contract #s for government) or other non-government customer? If so, please identify the agency or non-government customer. If you are unwilling to share your customer's identity, please address whether your company offers the same or similar services commercially. Please provide Contract Number, Point of Contact (POC), email address, phone number, and a brief description of your direct support of the effort? (maximum of 5 efforts)9. What are the core competencies of your employees that would support the needs of the requirement? Also, provide the total number of individuals currently employed by your company that are capable of supporting the requirements.10. Does your firm possess an approved Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) accounting system?Technical Narrative Instructions (maximum 15 pages)The Technical Narrative shall be submitted as two files. The content of each file shall be identical. The primary submission shall be MS Word*.docx format. A copy in Adobe *.PDF is also required.Page Size: 8.5 x 11.0 inchesMargins: 1 inch all aroundFont: Arial or MS Sans SerifFont Size: 12 pointThe technical narrative should cover relevant details of AiTR/AiTD technology, algorithm, module or products and briefly describe how it may be relevant to the requirements contained in this RFI. The narrative may also broadly describe the technical expertise, product, and services that your company can provider that may be relevant to the requirements contained in this RFI. The technical narrative submitted shall NOT exceed 15 pages. Test data, drawings, model outputs, etc. can be provided as attachments and will not be counted in the 15 page limit.Questions and AnswersAll Questions shall be directed to the Contracting Office to Contract Specialist, Eric Miller, eric.b.miller6.civ@mail.mil, and Contracting Officer Sabin Joseph, sabin.a.joseph.civ@mail.milData RightsIt is desirable that data be received with unlimited rights to the Government. However, it is recognized that proprietary data may be included with the information provided. If so, it is the responsibility of the interested party submitting data to clearly mark such proprietary information and clearly separate it from the unrestricted information as an addendum. No Classified data shall be provided via email.DisclaimerAny information submitted by respondents to this sources sought synopsis is voluntary. The Army does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice or to otherwise pay for the information solicited. Respondents should not construe this synopsis as a commitment for any purpose. Respondents will not individually be notified of the results of any government assessments. The Government's evaluation of the capability statements received will factor into whether any forthcoming solicitation will be conducted as a full and open competition or as a set-aside for small businesses, or any particular small business designation (e.g. SDVOSB, HUBZone, 8(a), SDB, WOSB, VOSB, etc.).The response date for this market research is 1500 EST 17 August 2018. No calls will be accepted. All responses to this RFI shall be submitted via e-mail to Sabin Joseph, Contracting Officer, at sabin.a.joseph.civ@mail.mil and Eric Miller, Contract Specialist at eric.b.miller6.civ@mail.mil.