A. INTRODUCTION: Tactical Network Testbed (TNT) Collaboration This Request for Information (RFI) is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this RFI is to solicit technology experimentation candidates from Research and Development (R&D) organizations, private industry, and academia for inclusion in future experimentation events coordinated by the U. S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). USSOCOM invites industry, academia, individuals and Government labs to submit technology experimentation papers addressing innovative technologies leading to possible Government/Industry collaboration for development of USSOCOM technology capabilities. The intent is to accelerate the delivery of innovative capabilities to the Special Operations Forces (SOF) warfighter. SOF experimentation focus areas for FY12 will explore emerging technologies, technical applications, and their potential to provide solutions with an understanding in concepts, operations and future SOF capabilities. SOF experimentation focus areas have been assigned for each of the four quarterly TNT events scheduled in FY12 as follows: - November 2011: Small Team Force Protection; Communications; Power and Water Generation. - February 2012: Mission Planning, Modeling, Simulation, and Training; Combat Weather; Military Information Support Operation (MISO) and Civil Affairs (CA) - May 2012: Warrior Systems; Small Team Weapons - August 2012: Mobility and Vehicle Protection Additional RFIs will be released to FedBizOpps approximately 60 days prior to each scheduled TNT event to provide additional details. After review of the technology experimentation paper submissions, the Government may invite select candidates to experiment their technologies at the USSOCOM & NPS sponsored TNT experimentation event. The TNT venue will provide an opportunity for the submitter to interact with USSOCOM personnel for the purpose of USSOCOM assessing potential impact of emerging technology solutions on USSOCOM missions and capabilities. The intent is to accelerate the delivery of innovative capabilities to the Special Operations Forces (SOF) warfighter. Industry participation in experimentation activities does not suggest or imply that USSOCOM or NPS will procure or purchase equipment. B. OBJECTIVE: 1. Background: USSOCOM conducts quarterly TNT experimentation events in cooperation with NPS at Camp Roberts, CA (three per year) and at Avon Park, FL (one per year). These cooperative TNT experiments are conducted with representatives from Government R&D organizations, academia, and private industry. TNT experimentation events provide an opportunity for technology developers to interact with operational personnel to determine how their technology development efforts and ideas may support or enhance SOF capability needs. The environment facilitates a collaborative working relationship between Government, academia, and industry to promote the identification and assessment of emerging and mature technologies for the primary goal of accelerating the delivery of technology discoveries to the SOF warfighter. Mission-Based Experimentation (MBE) provides remedied solutions to identified high priority, high value SOF mission deficiencies allowing evolution and adaptation in the field to quickly help identify solutions designed to mission objectives. The Government's intent is to take selected respondent technology into unimproved expeditionary-like conditions for up to three (3) days and return the submitted technology to respondent upon completion of exercise. All respondents will be required to complete a vendor loan agreement (see attachment) to participate in the MBE. Materiel solutions should be at a Technical Readiness Level (TRL) of 6 or greater for the purpose of MBE. Capability-Based Experimentation (CBE) provides an opportunity for technology developers to interact with operational personnel and determine how their efforts might support special operations capabilities in a discovery learning environment. A discovery learning environment includes interaction and collaboration between industry, government labs, academia and other government interests. CBE identifies potential technology solutions, impacts, limitations, and utility to meet SOF technical objectives and thrust areas. Materiel solutions should be at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 3 or greater for the purpose of CBE. CBE experiments will be between a half day and five days in duration and be conducted in unimproved expeditionary-like conditions. 2. Experimentation Focus: Experiments will be conducted from 7-17 February 2012, at Avon Park, FL. The venue will explore emerging technology solutions for: Mission Planning, Modeling, Simulation, and Training; Combat Weather; Military Information Support Operation (MISO) and Civil Affairs (CA). Technology will need to be capable of supporting a SOF team up to 18 members to provide an increased security, enhanced situational awareness, and increased mission effectiveness. (a) MBE 12-2: 07-11 February 2012 at Avon Park, FL. Focus: MBE 12-2 will focus on Mission Planning, Training, Military Information Support Operation (MISO) and Civil Affairs (CA). Technology should be at Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL-6) or greater for the purpose of MBE. Any and all solutions must provide all necessary software and hardware to accomplish the mission. A SOF three to six member team will be at an unimproved remote village site and must be able to operate independent of other sustainment bases and facilities. Mission planning may include simulation, virtual interview training, modeling, and virtual sand table mission rehearsals. MISO and CA capabilities may include: Human terrain mapping, civil and social terrain mapping, information, production and dissemination technologies. Systems with attributes resulting in simplifications to existing tasks, procedures, and/or equipment operation and improvement in training, emplacement, and/or operation are desired. Additional MISO and CA measures considered would be systems that interpret MISO and CA situations along with analytical software for predictive analysis of possible SOF solutions to MISO and CA situations. (b) CBE 12-2 12-17 February 2012 at Avon Park, FL. Focus: CBE 12-2 will focus on Mission Planning, Modeling, Simulation, and Weather on Target. Experiments will be conducted to explore the application of emerging technology solutions for Mission Planning, Modeling, Simulation, and Weather on Target, both current and forecast. Technology should be at Technology Readiness Level 3 (TRL-3) or greater for the purpose of CBE. 3. Security Requirements: Vendors should not submit classified information in the technology experimentation papers. 4. Other Special Requirements: DO NOT SUBMIT PROPOSALS. SUBMIT TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENTATION PAPERS ONLY. EXPERIMENTATION PAPER SUBMITTALS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED WITHIN A 30 DAY SUBMISSION PERIOD DEFINED AS 60-30 DAYS PRIOR TO EACH SPECIFIED TNT EVENT. For the February TNT at Avon Park, FL., all submissions must be received no later than 23 December 2011. No contracts will be awarded based solely on this announcement or any subsequent supplemental RFI announcements planned for the June and August 2012 TNT events. C. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Technology Experimentation papers shall be submitted electronically via USSOCOM webpage: http://www.socom.mil/_layouts/FormServer.aspx?XsnLocation=/FormServerTemplates/whitepapersubmission.xsn&OpenIn=Browser. Multiple concept papers addressing different technology experiments may be submitted by each respondent. Submissions will be reviewed by USSOCOM personnel, support contractors, or NPS Faculty, Staff, or students. Each technology experiment paper must address only one experiment. Select respondents will be invited to participate in USSOCOM experiments. USSOCOM shall provide venues, supporting infrastructure, and assessment (operational and technical) personnel at no cost to invited respondent(s). Respondent's travel costs and technology experiments will be at the respondent's expense. The TNT venue will only supply basic venue infrastructure including frequency allocation and portable power. Invited respondents should prepare to be self-efficient during experimentation and not dependent on venue resources for success. D. BASIS FOR SELECTION TO PARTICIPATE: Selection of respondents to participate will be based on the extent to which the technology represents a particular class or level of capability that can be provided to Special Operations Forces. Other considerations include: - Technical maturity - Relevance of or adaptability to military operations/missions - Relevance to current operational needs - Relevant to Event Focus Area E. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: All efforts shall be made to protect proprietary information that is clearly marked in writing. Lessons learned by USSOCOM from these experiments may be broadly disseminated but only within the Government. If selected for participation in TNT experimentation, vendors may be requested to provide additional information that will be used in preparation for the experiments. F. USE OF INFORMATION: The purpose of this notice is to gain information leading to Government/Industry collaboration for development of USSOCOM technology capabilities and to assist in accelerating the delivery of these capabilities to the warfighter. All proprietary information contained in the response shall be separately marked. Any proprietary information contained in response to this request will be properly protected from any unauthorized disclosure. The Government will not use proprietary information submitted from any one firm to establish future capability and requirements. G. SPECIAL NOTICE: Respondent's attention is directed to the fact that Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) or contractor consultant/advisors to the Government will review and provide support during evaluation of submittals. When appropriate, non-Government advisors may be used to objectively review a particular functional area and provide comments and recommendations to the Government. All advisors shall comply with procurement Integrity Laws and shall sign non-disclosure and rules of conduct/conflict of interest statements. The Government shall take into consideration requirements for avoiding conflicts of interest and ensure advisors comply with safeguarding proprietary data. Submission in response to this RFI constitutes approval to release the submittal to Government support contractors. H. Per Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.215-3 Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997): 1. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI notice or to otherwise pay for the information. 2. Although "proposal" and "respondent" are used in this RFI, your responses will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. 3. In accordance with FAR Clause 52.209(c), the purpose of this RFI is to solicit technology experimentation candidates from R&D organizations, private industry, and academia for inclusion in future experimentation events coordinated by USSOCOM and NPS. Contracting Office Address: 7701 Tampa Point Blvd MacDill AFB, Florida 33621-5323 Primary Point of Contact:
[email protected]