United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC) continues its TIE program. Since the program's inception in 2004, ARCIC has conducted over 100 TIE sessions. The TIE program brings industry/corporate/company representatives together with the TRADOC, ARCIC, Research, Development and Engineering Command, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, other Army S&T Organizations, and TRADOC Centers of Excellence (CoE) for a dialogue on emerging technologies that could support Army Warfighting Challenges (AWFCs) http://www.arcic.army.mil/Initiatives/army-warfighting-challenges.aspx. Organizations that participate in TIEs do not receive any financial reimbursement for this participation from the U.S. Army. The TIE program is voluntary and is intended to foster the free flow of information related to the Research and Development (R&D) efforts of private industry, to the benefit of the U.S. Army. Participation in the TIE program is open to all interested members of industry, but due to time and resource constraints, requests to participate are evaluated based on the projects/programs ability to address the needs of the Warfighter. Each TIE session provides a forum allowing an individual member of industry to share proprietary information on its long-range Research and Development efforts (outside the presence of competing industry members) with U.S. Army officials knowledgeable on the general subject matter of AWFCs best aligned with the private R&D effort. The sessions are executive level meetings chaired by an Army Flag Officer or equivalent. The intent is to provide feedback to help industry focus their R&D programs (without any financial reimbursement) toward existing and future Army capabilities, which will benefit both industry and the U.S. Army. This is a Request for Information in accordance with FAR 15.201(b). THIS I NOT A SOLICITATION. RFIs are used to gather information from industry without any promise of a current or future contract or requirement. The ARCIC will use the responses to this RFI to determine what emerging technologies may be available in the market place. This is not a solicitation for bids or offers. Information provided cannot be used to create a binding contract. Respondents to this RFI will not be reimbursed for the information they provide to the ARCIC. This is a RFI from companies already conducting independent research and development in relevant areas, not a request for companies that may be able to conduct research. Only those companies with demonstrated success at addressing Department of Defense warfighting capabilities in their independent R&D programs are requested to respond. The Army will emphasize long range planning to define future decision point that consider equipment age, degradation of overmatch abilities, industrial base viability and closure of capability gaps in the near term (FYs 16 -20), mid-term (FYs 21-30) and long term (FYs 30-50) time frames, while allowing for cost-informed decisions that balance force generation needs for Force 2025 and Beyond. The AWFCs should be used when responding to this RFI to help focus TIE discussion topics. When responding, please provide the following: a brief description and depth of the company independent R&D program; a one-page summary of past R&D success satisfying DOD capability needs; a one-to-two page description of each of the R&D programs/projects that apply directly to AWFCs and, points of contact for further coordination if necessary. Contact the TIE Coordinator listed below, who will provide format for topic submission. Based on the information provided, your company may be selected to participate in an ARCIC-hosted TIE sessions to provide capabilities briefings, highlighting developed or emerging technology. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Forward responses to: Mr.Grant, TIE Coordinator. Address: TRADOC ARCIC Science, Technology, Research & Accelerated Capabilities Division (ATFC-ET) Concept Development and Learning Directorate, 950 Jefferson Ave, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA 23604-5763, Telephone: (757 501-5529) Email:
[email protected]. For calendar year FY16, Interested companies are requested to notify the TIE Coordinator of their participation intent by 31 January 2016. COMPANIES SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER PLACING INFORMATION ABOUT INDEPENDENT RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (IR&D) PROJECTS FOR ARCIC AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES to review and consider at http://www.defenseinnovationmarketplace.mil/. This site has the potential to reach numerous Government agencies with the ability to protect proprietary information. Contracting Office Address: MICC Center - Fort Eustis (Joint Base Langley-Eustis), Building 705, Fort Eustis, VA 23604-5538 Point of Contact(s): Linda Moore, 757-501-8125