B -- ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Headquarters Directorate of Technology has a requirement for a standing committee of prominent scientists, engineers and government officials to provide investigative and advisory services on a wide range of cutting edge science and technologies with the potential to enhance the ability of the command?s operations. The intended source is the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), a private, non-profit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology. Under the authority of its charter granted by Congress in 1863 and Executive Order 12832 (January 19, 1993), the Academy mandate is to advise federal government on scientific and technical matters. This requirement establishes an advisory committee to support USSOCOM technology development similar to those already established for the Departments of the Air Force, Army and Navy. The standing committee shall investigate but not be limited to such activities as determining the technical merit of current USSOCOM efforts relative to state-of-the-art technologies; evaluating efficiency and effectiveness in which current efforts are carried out and their impact on the mission; judging relevancy of current technologies to the USSOCOM mission; and analyzing the effective and efficient application of command resources to meet mission needs. In accordance with FAR 6.302-1, Citation 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), the Academy is the only source that can satisfy the agency needs. USSOCOM will rely on the experience and the unique attributes of the National Academy of Sciences to bring together state of the art technical expertise in advanced scientific, engineering and technical disciplines with application to special operation forces. The standing committee will meet approximately four times annually to identify potential avenues for research and development, product demonstration and practical operational implementation of advanced science and technology. Committee discussions may form the basis for development and coordination of additional National Research Council (NRC) activities, such as ad hoc studies, workshops or other activities responsive to the USSOCOM mission that draw on the expertise of all applicable units of the National Academies. The Air Force Studies Board, the Naval Studies Board, and the Board on Army Science and Technology (BAST), established by the NRC, have been providing this exact capability for the Military Departments with great success for over two decades. This experience and expertise with DOD agencies uniquely qualifies the NRC to provide this service for USSOCOM. The period of performance will be one year, with options for two additional years. NAICS code 541990. See Note 22.