ARMY APPLICATIONS LABORATORY BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

Synopsis: The Army Applications Laboratory (AAL) and the Fires CDID are seeking technologies related to low latency, and bandwidth efficient data transport as a Special Topic under the AAL Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) W911NF-24-S-0008 for Disruptive Applications and related research as described below. Upon receipt, the Government will evaluate submissions through the process established in the AAL BAA, except as modified herein. The Government reserves the right to cancel this special notice without award for any reason. Issuance of this notice does not commit the Government to pay for any preparation costs incurred in compiling a response.

As a general matter, all requirements referenced in BAA W911NF-24-S-0008 apply to this effort. The Government anticipates awarding one or more procurement contract under this Special Topic, but will consider other potential award types listed in the AAL BAA, to include procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and Other Transaction Agreement, and Technology Investment Agreements. A follow-on production contract or transaction may be awarded to participants awarded an OTA and that successfully complete a prototype project under this Special Topic.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION – Background

Accelerated and Automated Visual Verification (A2V2) will provide critical visual information from the edge to decision makers during the targeting process. AAL is seeking a real-time solution that can extract the most critical information from video feeds and transmit the compressed imagery, along with relevant targeting information, to command centers. The solution should improve bandwidth usage and reduce the size of transmitted data.

Currently, real-time video of potential targets is primarily captured by Uncrewed Air and Ground systems and resides locally at their respective ground control station. Transmission of real-time video data from one or several platforms to a command and control platform requires a significant amount of bandwidth that is not available in a complex, contested environment. As a result, response time of targeting missions is delayed due to a lack of real-time, prioritized data.

Real-time data in contested environments greatly benefits the operator by ensuring timely and accurate situational awareness, reducing decision-making delays, and mitigating the risks of target misidentification and fratricide. Leveraging AI-driven target recognition and adaptive data prioritization enables visual intelligence to be transmitted efficiently. As a result, operators can rapidly assess threats, coordinate precision strikes, and maintain operational effectiveness, ensuring mission success and force survivability in highly contested environments.

Performance Objectives for Accelerated and Automated Video Verification:

1. Video Input and Processing
   1. Accept real-time video from standard military sources (e.g., HDMI, SDI)
   2. Encode and process video in real-time using onboard GPU or embedded computer
   3. Support both visible and infrared video streams
2. Object Detection and Classification
   1. Accurately detect and classify ground targets in an operational environment
   2. Allow manual input for end user(s) to classify objects
3. Target Prioritization
   1. Allow operators to specify a target prioritization list
   2. Prioritize targets based on the target prioritization list
   3. Transmit targets by priority
   4. Visually differentiate between different priority targets
4. Video Verification
   1. Transmit images and/or video of target for visual verification
   2. Transmit only necessary imagery for visual verification to limit bandwidth usage
5. Network and Communications
   1. Support Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) Interface
   2. Support for tactical radio or LTE/5G backhaul with minimal bandwidth consumption
   3. Ability to push data over variable quality links using efficient data formats
6. Form Factor and Deployment
   1. Portable, ruggedized hardware suitable for austere environments
   2. Power via battery or standard tactical vehicle power systems
   3. Role-based encryption or data access control
   4. Simultaneous video streaming and object detection
7. Optional Capabilities
   1. Mountable to drones, tripods, vehicles, or fixed surveillance positions
   2. Output position location information (PLI) using TAK Cursor on Target (CoT) format

1. Scope of the Call

This special notice invites white papers on the topic of “Accelerated and Automated Visual Verification”, as part of the Army Applications Laboratory BAA for Disruptive Applications.  

A limited number of entities that submit white papers may be selected to submit a full proposal after undergoing a white paper review by Army officials.

The solution may be applicable to various military applications, and it is not known at this time what the quantities or dollar values will be, or which exact program office or agency may produce any follow-on product.

White papers should be for cutting-edge innovations that could produce discoveries with the potential for significant impacts to enable new and improved Army capabilities regarding the transport of high bandwidth data.

1. Research Themes

Proposals should relate to one or more of the following themes:

• Full Motion Video
• Aided Target Recognition
• Data Prioritization
• Data Size Reduction
• Low-Bandwidth Data Dissemination
• Data Analytics at the Near-Edge

1. Application Process

Eligibility: Applications for this call will follow the eligibility requirements of the Army Applications Laboratory BAA. Should you require clarity regarding the eligibility of a particular institute, please send a request to one of the contacts detailed in Section 8.

Number of Awards: The Government anticipates awarding one or more award vehicles as described above.

Duration of Award: The Government anticipates a 6 to 18-month period of performance.

Funding: Funding will be commensurate with the agreed upon scope of work for this effort. The Government anticipates making award(s) with an estimated total of $1,500,000.00 across all awards combined. The Government reserves the right to make more or less than the anticipated awards depending on evaluation results. The Government also reserves the right to exceed the $1,500,000.00 topic total and/or provide supplemental funding during award if it is in the Government’s best interest.

Evaluators: Government employees that are subject matter experts in the topic area.

Closing Date: See Announcement Details

How to Apply: White papers must be submitted by the announdement deadline, via email to: a2v2@aal.mil.  Please send with the subject line: “A2V2 Special Notice”

Queries relating to the technical, management, contractual, and submission aspects of the call should be addressed to those individuals identified in section 8 and submitted no later than 13 May 2025. Following evaluation, a select number of companies will be invited to submit a full proposal.

Security: Classified information may not be submitted through the normal submission process identified above. Any classified information must be coordinated with POCs listed below.

1. Evaluation Criteria

Whitepapers will be evaluated for the concept's scientific merit and potential contributions of the effort to the Army mission. Applicants whose whitepapers are most highly evaluated based on this criteria may be invited to submit a proposal. The Government may provide white paper feedback to those entities invited to submit a full proposal but is not required to do so. If feedback is provided, it will be provided to each entity invited to submit a full proposal.

Proposals will be evaluated under the evaluation criteria of the AAL BAA. Required documentation is outlined in the BAA document. The following areas will be used during evaluation:

• The overall scientific and/or technical merits of the proposal and an assessment of risk versus potential impact of the technology.
• The potential contributions of the effort to the Army mission.
• Cost realism and reasonableness.
• Teaming arrangements and methodologies for creating and modifying teaming arrangements with other organizations.
• Availability of government funds to complete vendors’ proposed R&D activities and the likelihood of government funding being available for future procurement and fielding.
• The applicant's capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques, or unique combinations of these, which are integral factors for achieving the proposed objectives.
• The qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the proposed principal investigator, team leader, or other key personnel who are critical to achievement of the proposed objectives.
• The applicant's record of past performance.

Review

White papers will be reviewed by the Government evaluators. Companies whose white papers receive the best evaluations will be invited to submit a full proposal.

1. Key Dates

Activity Date

Technical Questions Due Date

13 May 2025

Anticipated notification of selection to submit a proposal

5 June 2025

Anticipated contract(s) start date

TBD September 2025

1. References

• TAK Integration, https://tak.gov/
• https://aal.army/assets/files/pdf/baa-published-announcement.pdf

1. Contacts

Below is a list of contact information for additional information related to the call for proposals.

Submission Questions:

• • MAJ Rickey Royal, Army Applications Laboratory (rickey.b.royal.mil@army.mil)

Technical Questions:

• • Molly Thomson, Army Applications Laboratory (molly.r.thomson.civ@army.mil)

Contracting Questions:

• • Rodolfo Estrada, Research Triangle Park (rodolfo.estrada6.civ@army.mil)