BAA-18-R-STCD_Rev8_11Oct19.pdf

United States (U.S.) Army, Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC), Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center

(C5ISR) Center

SPACE and TERRESTRIAL

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE (S&TCD)

Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), MD

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) 2018

Solicitation Number: BAA-18-R-STCD

Solicitation issued by: U.S. Army Contracting Command

(ACC) – APG

Original Posting Date: 20 Jun 2018

Rev8, 11 October 2019

Short Title: BAA S&TCD 2018

Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTION

A. General Information

1. Basic Research

2. Applied Research

B. BAA Elements and Overview

C. Points of Contact (POC)

II. SCOPE AND RESEARCH INTEREST INTRODUCTION FOR TOPICS

Topic Number: S1801

Topic Number: S1802

Topic Number: S1803

Topic Number: S1804

Topic Number: S1805

Topic Number: S1806

Topic Number: S1807

Topic Number: S1808

Topic Number: S1809

Topic Number: S1810

Topic Number: S1811

Topic Number: S1812

Topic Number: S1813

Topic Number: S1814

Topic Number: S1815

Topic Number: S1816

Topic Number: S1817

Topic Number: S1818

Topic Number: S1819

Topic Number: S1820

Topic Number: S1821

Topic Number: S1822

Topic Number: S1823

Topic Number: S1824

Topic Number: S1825

Topic Number: S1826

Topic Number: S1827

III. WP AND PROPOSAL INFORMATION

A. General WP and Proposal Information

B. WP Preparation, Submission, and Evaluation

1. Preparation

2. Submission

3. Evaluation

C. Proposal Preparation, Submission, and Evaluation

1. Preparation

2. Submission

3. Evaluation

IV. OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

Certificate of Current Cost and Pricing Data

Type of Contract

Cost-Sharing

Awards

Restrictive Marking on Proposals

Representations and Certifications

I. INTRODUCTION

The BAA, solicitation number BAA-18-R-STCD, is sponsored by the U.S. Army CCDC, C5ISR Center, S&TCD and will be open for five (5) years from the date of original issue.

This BAA will be valid through 19 June 2023, unless terminated sooner. This BAA includes research interests from the S&TCD, which is located at APG, Maryland.

The CCDC, C5ISR Center develops and integrates Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) technologies that enable information dominance and decisive lethality for the networked Warfighters. The CCDC, C5ISR Center, S&TCD provides the U.S. Army with secure communications/networking technologies through research and development (R&D) innovations.

S&TCD has six (6) Program Divisions: Cyber Security and Information Assurance (CSIA);

Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Systems; Systems Engineering, Architecture, Modeling and Simulation (SEAMS); Radio Frequency Communications (RFC); Tactical Communications Division (TCD); and, Operations (OPS). Each division has a specific mission area of responsibility in support of the U.S. Army’s need for the most modern strategic and tactical communication technologies.

A. GENERAL INFORMATION

This BAA is issued under the provisions of Parts 35.016 and 6.102(d)(2)(i) of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which provides for the competitive selection of R&D proposals submitted in response to this announcement. FAR 35.016 provides for the issuance of a BAA as a means of soliciting proposals for basic and applied research and that part of development not related to the development of a specific system or Hardware (HW) procurement. To be eligible for consideration and possible contract award, the technology or methodology shall be either basic research, applied research, advanced technology development not for a specific system/HW, or demonstration and validation. This BAA may be used by agencies to fulfill their requirements for scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge or understanding rather than focusing on a specific system or HW solution; however, this BAA shall only be used when meaningful proposals with varying technical/scientific approaches can be reasonably anticipated.

1. Basic Research

Defined as research directed toward increasing knowledge in science with the primary aim being a fuller knowledge or understanding of the subject under study, rather than any practical application of that knowledge.

2. Applied Research

Is an effort that normally follows basic research, but may not be severable from the related basic research; attempts to determine and exploit the potential of scientific discoveries or improvements in technology, materials, processes, methods, devices, or techniques; and attempts to advance the state-of-the-art.

B. BAA ELEMENTS AND OVERVIEW

1. This BAA is a hybrid combining elements of an open, two-step, and with calls

BAA offering maximum flexibility to the organization and opportunities for respondents.

An open BAA allows for White Paper (WP) submittals at any time until the expiration of this BAA. WP’s and proposals will be evaluated according to the instruction described herein.

A two-step BAA will invite potential Offerors to submit brief descriptive WP’s in lieu of full proposals. Full proposals are then requested from those potential Offerors selected in the WP evaluation process. When proposals are received, they are evaluated and selected according the procedures described herein. Not all requested proposals will result in a contract award.

While this BAA will remain open, allowing WP submission at any time, the U.S.

Government (USG) might also issue requests transmitted via “calls,” using the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO), via https://www.fbo.gov/, bringing attention to one or more areas of interest requesting potential Offerors to submit a WP. The “calls” might further define the technology/USG needs etc., or will simply request a WP for a specific topic.

2. WP’s may be submitted at any time during the life of this BAA, as well as in direct response to a call. The USG may award a contract at any time during the life of this BAA. An award may also be made after the BAA expiration date if the WP is received before the expiration date occurs. This award may occur no later than six (6) months after the BAA expiration date. Offerors that submit a proposal without first submitting a WP may not be eligible for award.

3. This announcement must be general in nature, identify the areas of research interest, include criteria for submitting and evaluating WP’s, and solicit the participation of all Offerors capable of satisfying the needs of the USG.

Proposals that are selected for award are considered to be the result of full and open competition and in full compliance with the provisions of PL 98-369, the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984. Resulting agreements may be in the form of purchase orders, contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements depending upon the specifics of the effort, such as extent of the USG involvement, actual scope of work, and cost.

4. The CCDC, C5ISR Center encourages industry interested in conducting scientific research, educational institutions, small businesses, and small disadvantaged business concerns, historically black colleges, university and minority business enterprises and institutions to submit WP’s. Eligible prospective Offerors also include Canadian firms participating in the Defense Development Sharing Program.

5. The USG will consider Contractor Teaming Arrangements, as set forth in FAR

Subpart 9.6, or Defense R&D Pools as set forth in FAR Subpart 9.7.

6. The Offeror, by submission of an offer or execution of a contract in response to this solicitation, certifies that the Offeror is not debarred, suspended, declared ineligible for award of public contracts, or proposed for debarment pursuant to FAR 9.406-2. If the Offeror cannot certify, or if the status of the Offeror changes prior to award, the Offeror must provide detailed information as to its current status.

7. This BAA is an expression of interest only and does not commit the USG to make an award or pay WP or proposal preparation costs generated in response to this announcement. The cost of WP and proposal preparation for response to a BAA is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resultant contract or any other contract. Any award will be made subject to availability of appropriated funds. The prospective Offeror is reminded that only a duly warranted Contracting Officer (KO), from the U.S. ACC, may obligate the USG to an agreement involving expenditure of USG funds. The USG reserves the right to fund all, some, one, or none of the WP’s or proposals received under this BAA.

The USG anticipates making multiple awards subject to availability of funds.

8. This BAA may be amended to add new topics. Interested parties should be alert for any BAA amendments that may be published on the FBO site, via https://www.fbo.gov.

C. POINTS OF CONTACT (POC)

1. All submissions, technical questions, or clarifications shall be submitted via email to the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) associated with the respective Research Topic, with the KO, Contract Specialist (KS), and Acquisition Management Team (AMT) Mailbox (see below) included on the Carbon Copy (CC) line. No discussions by the technical staff are to be held with Offeror after proposal submission without PRIOR authorization from the KO.

2. Contractual questions shall be directed to the KO, Brian Holman, brian.j.holman2.civ@mail.mil, and the KS, Andrew Pilone, andrew.m.pilone.civ@mail.mil, with a CC to the AMT Mailbox, usarmy.apg.ccdc-c5isr.mbx.stcd-amt@mail.mil.

II. SCOPE AND RESEARCH INTEREST INTRODUCTION FOR

TOPICS

This section of the BAA contains statements of the research interests required by the CCDC, C5ISR Center, S&TCD. Each statement identifies TPOC representation for the respective topics. Prior to WP submission, questions on technical matters and availability of project funding relating to a particular research interest should be directed to the TPOC identified for that research interest.

If development in certain topic areas requires the interaction of several investigators from interdisciplinary areas, WP’s and proposals for comprehensive research programs will be considered. Only a limited number of such large programs can be initiated under this BAA.

Inquiries related to comprehensive and interdisciplinary programs within the mission area of this directorate should be addressed to the TPOC.

If development in certain topic areas requires the demonstration of technology, WP’s and proposals for comprehensive research programs shall include the delivery of the applicable prototype to the USG. Proposals may range from theoretical studies to proof-of-concept, to include fabrication and delivery of a prototype.

NOTE: When responding/inquiring on a specific area of research, refer to the Topic Number listed on the following appropriate pages.

TOPIC NUMBER: S1801

Tactical Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO)

Division: CSIA Technical POC: Mr. Steve Lucas, stephen.w.lucas.civ@mail.mil Secondary POCs: Mr. Jonathan Santos, jonathan.m.santos.civ@mail.mil;

Mr. Brian Dempsey, brian.m.dempsey.civ@mail.mil

The S&TCD CSIA Division is interested in the means of ensuring soldier security, survivability, and continued operation of tactical and strategic information systems at all classification levels in the face of cyber-attack.

The following is a list of areas of research that the S&TCD CSIA division is interested in, and would like further information on novel approaches to addressing these research areas, especially focused on tactical networks:

Technologies for Cyber Electro-Magnetic Activities (CEMA) and DCO Situational

Awareness (SA) and Situational Understanding (SU), and common operating picture of host-based protections, information, and vulnerabilities.

Technologies to create improved cyber data analytics and correlation capabilities.

High fidelity decoy and deterrence capabilities for resource constrained environments.

Tracking data provenance in disconnected environments.

Technologies that apply big data analysis to cyber events to assess attacks and risks.

Technologies to map cyber events against mission plans and assess mission impacts.

Technologies for coordination between defensive cyber, offensive cyber, Network

Operations (NetOPs), and spectrum capabilities.

Technologies to assess cyber component performance to help shape metrics and quantitative analysis of tools to enable evaluation of S&T investments prior to deployment; technology assessments that correspond to real world conditions.

Technologies in Software (SW) assurance to address common weaknesses and enumerations in SW development.

Technologies to develop assurance models for domain specific SW development languages.

Technologies to develop a root of trust, including but not limited to, trust negotiation tools based on data trust models.

Trust determination scoring mechanisms for decision support.

Architectures that maintain trust models when developed from un-trusted components.

Policy driven Technologies for identity/authentication and access control.

Mobile device security Technologies.

Technologies for attack prediction and adversarial reasoning.

Technologies for dynamically modifying applications in order to randomly change the available attack surface of a program.

Defensive cyber maneuver capabilities for applications, systems, and networks to create a moving target that will cause the cost, time, and/or skill level of the attacker to be so high it’s not economically viable.

Security enhancements for SW defined networking for de-centralized architectures.

Technologies for security in the cloud environment for both strategic and tactical environments.

HW mechanisms Technologies for secure boot load and continuous monitoring of critical SW.

Anomaly intrusion sensor training capabilities to reduce the amount of time required to define typical system behavior.

Operating system kernel agnostic Technologies that provide kernel level protection from rootkit malware. Of interest are Technologies for dynamic memory allocation protection capabilities.

Technologies using Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) for cyber security data processing including GPUs as an attack vector.

Technologies for the Modeling and Simulation (M&S) of cyber security events with a defense-in-depth approach in place.

Technologies or approaches to Exta-Scale core systems and their application to cybersecurity including advanced persistent threat detection through big data fusion.

Technologies to address cyber security in the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) environment and/or weapon platforms.

Technologies to ensure the security of data processed and routed through tactical networks or on a system to include understanding an assessing the security based upon data provenance and assessing differences between malicious and benign data modifications.

Technologies to securely modify data and destroy or detect embedded malware or steganographic information.

Technologies to disguise valid systems and information flows amongst fake systems and information flows.

Technologies to secure Containers, Virtual Machines, Hypervisors, Microservices, and Service Oriented Architectures.

Technologies to securely migrate technologies on networks between hosts.

Metrics and measures to assess efficacy and efficiency of SW assurance tools and techniques and dynamically tailor developer interactions based on trends and analysis.

Technologies to circumvent passive attackers from gaining information about networks.

Technologies that leverage SW Defined Network (SDN) to create new defensive cyber capabilities.

New security-oriented routing protocols and self- healing network protocols.

Technologies that leverage machine learning in order to make cyber determinations.

Technologies that leverage quantum computing or quantum encryption to protect data flows and networks.

Technologies that are inherently secured against being broken by a quantum system.

Techniques for processing information while performing minimal decryption.

Biometrics.

Wearable technologies for Identity and Access Management.

Continuous authentication techniques for de-centralized and disconnected environments.

Technologies to ease and expedite cyber forensics.

Technologies for digital assistants to support the cyber decision making process of users.

Technologies for adding security features directly into radio waveforms.

Technologies for assessing specialized crypto embedment into multiple types of devices.

Technologies that assess how well existing or new Transmission Security (TRANSEC) and Communications Security (COMSEC) algorithms and techniques protect networks, systems, and data.

Technologies in the area of Cross Domain Solutions (CDS) that allow for automated analysis and transfer of information flows especially for non-fixed formatted message types.

Technologies for multi-level security.

Technologies to secure Cyber Physical Systems & Internet of Things (IoT).

Techniques supporting Monitoring & assessments of Cyber engagement states, impacts, and outcomes.

Techniques for Cyber Obfuscation, Deception, and Diversion.

Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques that support self-healing SW code.

Techniques for automated SW coding decision aids to minimize coding induced vulnerabilities.

Proposed efforts should include a demonstration/prototype delivery of the proposed technology.

TOPIC NUMBER: S1802

Cooperative Beamforming

Division: RFC Technical POC: Mr. Jeremy Scott, jeremy.d.scott36.civ@mail.mil Secondary POC: Mr. Jeremy Scott, Jeremy.d.scott36.civ@mail.mil

S&TCD is interested in the development of cooperative beamforming radio systems with robust Anti-Jam/Anti-Jamming (AJ), and Low Probability of Intercept/Low Probability of Detection (LPI/LPD) capabilities suitable for dismounted use. The proposed R&D should address AJ and LPI/LPD in both link directions (transmit and receive) as well as any necessary coordinating communications between nodes. Proposed R&D solutions should, at a minimum, support communications between a dismounted squad of soldiers and a distant vehicle (100 meters up to several kilometers away from the squad). Desired R&D topics will address the technology necessary to implement this capability in a manner that can support a scalable network with a low Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) suitable for dismount use. Proposed development solutions should utilize a secure HW/SW architecture and Information Assurance (IA) approach, or, at a minimum, responses must explain a clear and low-risk path that shows how the design can support incorporation of IA measures at later stages of development.

The maturity of the proposed technology should be at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or higher, although TRL 3 technology that can rapidly reach TRL 4 will be considered. The end state of the effort should be a set of demonstration/prototype delivery/proof of concept systems at TRL 5 or 6 that can be tested in an outdoor field environment.

TOPIC NUMBER: S1803

Low Probability of Intercept/Low Probability of Detection (LPI/LPD) Squad Area Networks (SQAN)

Division: RFC Technical POC: Mr. Patrick Charles, patrick.n.charles.civ@mail.mil Secondary POC: Mr. Jeremy Scott, jeremy.d.scott36.civ@mail.mil

S&TCD is interested in the development of novel LPI/LPD and AJ capabilities for wireless SQAN to support communications for dismounted soldiers. Communications range can/should be traded off to achieve better AJ and LPI/LPD performance and extended battery life. The minimum throughput should support voice communications and the transfer of still-frame images; however, higher throughput is desirable and would be expected in benign operating conditions. The waveform should have mobile ad-hoc networking capability (e.g., no fixed infrastructure required, self-forming, self-healing) and support a scalable network. Furthermore, the desired solution should be implementable on low SWaP-C HW suitable for dismount use. The proposed effort can incorporate commercial standards/technologies; however, they should demonstrate innovate and novel development techniques. Proposed development solutions/prototype delivery should utilize a secure HW/SW architecture IA approach, or, at a minimum, must explain a clear and low-risk path that shows how the design can support incorporation of IA measures in later stages of development.

The maturity of the proposed technology should be at a TRL 4 or higher, although TRL 3 technology that can rapidly reach TRL 4 will be considered. The end state of the proposed effort should be a set of demonstration/proof of concept systems at TRL 5 or 6 that can be tested in an outdoor field environment.

TOPIC NUMBER: S1804

Millimeter Wave (mmW) Communications

Division: RFC Technical POC: Mr. Emanuel Merulla, emanuel.j.merulla.civ@mail.mil Secondary POC: Mr. Jeremy Scott, jeremy.d.scott36.civ@mail.mil

S&TCD is interested in the development of novel capabilities for mmW communications for application to the tactical battlespace, which provide for high throughput, while maintaining AJ, and LPI/LPD characteristics. Necessary communications ranges vary by application but should be practical for tactical scenarios. S&TCD is willing to trade-off some throughput for additional range and better multi-path performance. S&TCD is particularly interested in the R&D of technologies that will support the use of mmW for On-The-Move (OTM) applications on ground vehicles and other mobile platforms. This may include but is not limited to: high update-rate beamforming/beam-steering antennas, multi-path resilient waveforms, and mobile ad-hoc networking protocols that support mmW waveforms. Proposed effort can incorporate commercial standards/technologies, however should demonstrate the development of novel, and innovate techniques. Proposed development solutions/prototype delivery should utilize a secure HW/SW architecture and IA approach, or, at a minimum, must explain a clear and low-risk path that shows how the design can support incorporation of IA measures in later stages of development.

The maturity of the proposed technology should be at a TRL 4 or higher, although TRL 3 technology that can rapidly reach TRL 4 will be considered. The end state of the effort should be a set of demonstration/proof of concept systems at TRL 5 or 6 that can be

TOPIC NUMBER: S1805

High Frequency (HF) Communications

Division: RFC Technical POC: Mr. Mahmoud Khalil, Mahmoud.m.khalil.civ@mail.mil

Secondary POC: Mr. Daniel Duvak, daniel.v.duvak.civ@mail.mil

S&TCD is interested in the development of an HF communications system with AJ and LPI/LPD capabilities. The proposed system should also be backward compatible with legacy HF systems and provide improvements where applicable and feasible. Desired R&D topics will address the technology necessary to implement this capability in a manner that can support a scalable network and have the means to interface with existing Army networks (e.g., Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T)). Innovative technologies/prototype delivery are being sought to maximize HF throughput while minimizing Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) and providing LPI/LPD and AJ characteristics.

S&TCD is interested in analysis of HF radio and waveform characteristics that implement LPI/LPD and AJ features useful to the U.S. Army. There is also interest in architecture and integration analysis including interfaces and standards that facilitate HF insertion into Army tactical and soldier platforms.

The maturity of the proposed technology should be at a TRL 4 or higher, although TRL 3 technology that can rapidly reach TRL 4 will be considered. The end state of the effort

TOPIC NUMBER: S1806

Spectrum Obfuscation

Division: RFC Technical POC: Michael Mcgrath, michael.a.mcgrath28.civ@mail.mil Secondary POC: Nabil Hossain, nabil.a.hossain.civ@mail.mil

S&TCD is interested in the development of innovative ideas, approaches, or techniques that decoy, redirect or obfuscate the Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum in order to confuse or degrade the effectiveness of enemy Electronic Warfare (EW) capability. The research approaches should target obscuration across the electro-magnetic spectrum at the command post level to mitigate enemy Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) capabilities and reduce the ability to identify battlefield signatures and risk of detection of personnel and command posts. S&TCD is also interested in research that enables new and novel schemes of maneuver in the electro-magnetic spectrum.

Near peer adversaries can significantly degrade the U.S. Army’s network in a hostile electro-magnetic environment. While the addition of AJ, and diversity increases a level of network resiliency, the U.S. Army also desires to have decoy or obfuscation capabilities for the RF domain. Submissions may include proof-of-concept systems/prototype delivery with multichannel capability to represent Battalion and Brigade-level command post electro-magnetic signatures that increase communications resiliency by adding the ability to decoy and conceal primary assets. Submissions must provide the metrics and techniques used to evaluate and demonstrate the effectiveness of the concealment techniques.

The following research focus areas, without prioritization, are of interest:

Techniques and technologies to present false signatures, thus creating false alarms for enemy direction finding and geolocation;

Use of obfuscation devices to cloud the RF spectrum and overwhelm reactive jammers;

prevention of self-interference through planning & management of electro-magnetic order of battle and/or automated real-time processes;

Recommended use cases and further development of electronic schemes of maneuver to support electronic obfuscation;

Obfuscation metrics.

The maturity of the proposed technology should be at a TRL 4 or higher, although TRL 3 technology that can rapidly reach TRL 4 will be considered. The end state of the effort

TOPIC NUMBER: S1807

Every Receiver a Sensor (ERAS)

Division: RFC Technical POC: Mr. Jonathan Lee, jonathan.j.lee34.civ@mail.mil Secondary POC: Mr. George Palafox, george.palafox.civ@mail.mil

S&TCD is interested in broadening and deepening the U.S. Army’s ability to sense the Cyber Electro-Magnetic Operational Environment (EMOE) in a congested and contested operating environment for the purpose of augmenting the Commander’s SU. The ERAS program aims at developing technology that leverages available idle RF receiver systems to become part of a task-able distributed network of sensors providing near-real time sensed spectrum data.

One of these receiver types will be RF tactical communications radio systems. During radio idle times, the radio system will act as a sensor and will be tasked to perform sensing operations remotely and/or via integrated Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) policies that incorporate AI techniques for radio nodes in Distributed Intermittent Limited (DIL) environments.

S&TCD is interested in the development of DSA algorithms that incorporate AI techniques for ingesting sensed spectrum at the tactical edge and performing real-time analytics to determine necessary alterations to accepted radio parameters: frequency (shifting, hopping, diversity, etc.), space, time, polarization, modulation, power adaptation, and other new previously unexplored parameters in support of potential mission changes.

These algorithms should consider the processing power of the host radio node as well as power efficiency usage for minimal power cost (e.g., utilization of efficient low-power chip technology, etc.) to the host radio node while incorporating methods/techniques for efficient real-time dissemination across tactical Army communication network of sensed electro-magnetic spectrum information. The algorithms should enable radio nodes to communicate with other network radio nodes for efficient distribution of spectrum sensing tasks. The algorithms should promote increased spectrum efficiency and mitigate adverse effects of congested and contested RF environments. The algorithms should incorporate big data analytic techniques to aid in advising radio nodes of potential radio parameter changes to support the mission.

The maturity of the proposed technology should be at a TRL 4 or higher, although TRL 3 technology that can rapidly reach TRL 4 will be considered. The end state of the effort should be a set of demonstration/prototype delivery/proof of concept systems at TRL 5 or 6 that can be tested in an outdoor field environment.

TOPIC NUMBER: S1808

Antennas and Antenna Technologies for Tactical Communications

Division: RFC Technical POC: Mr. Mitchell Mayer, mitchell.s.mayer.civ@mail.mil Secondary POC: Dr. Shuguang Chen, shuguang.chen.civ@mail.mil

S&TCD is interested in the development of antennas encompassing a wide diversity of technologies and capabilities to support communications for air, ground, or dismounted platforms. The proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable both evolutionary and revolutionary advances in science, devices, or systems to improve antenna performance.

The research approaches must provide the bandwidths, gains, and SWaP reductions to enable wide deployment and link closures between the functional elements of networked nodes consisting of dismounted soldiers, unattended sensors, remote communications relays, highly mobile command and control elements, air tiers, and direct and indirect fire weapons.

The following research focus areas, without prioritization, are of interest:

Amplification circuits that transform antenna designs through order of magnitude improvements in signal-to-noise performance and power efficiency.

Approaches that have potential to reduce SWaP associated with signal distribution and coupling.

Designs that provide useful bandwidth over an octave or more for air, ground, or dismounted applications.

Innovative integration methods to mount distributed antenna systems onto tactical platforms without drilling new holes or using existing bolts that may not optimize placement locations.

Multifunction capabilities for platforms in multi-mission environments with reduced visual signatures.

Body worn / weapon mounted antennas to support the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), and terrestrial communication applications.

Conformance to non-tactical platforms for covert operations.

Applications to Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technologies.

Wideband (WB) spectrum monitoring.

RF performance of ballistic radomes and reducing radome costs.

Cosite interference mitigation solutions.

Autonomous systems / sub terrain communications.

All antenna designs/technologies/prototype delivery that meet any of the above focus areas are of interest under this BAA topic. The maturity of the proposed technology should be at a TRL 4 or higher, although TRL 3 technology that can rapidly reach TRL 4 will be considered. The end state of the effort should be a set of demonstration/proof of concept systems at TRL 5 or 6 that can be tested in an outdoor field environment.

TOPIC NUMBER: S1809

Airborne Line of Sight (LOS) and Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) Range Extension and Reach-back Communications On-the-Halt (OTH) and On-the-Move (OTM)

Division: SATCOM Technical POC: Rahul Pandya, rahul.pandya@us.army.mil Secondary POC: Helen Muzzelo, helen.w.muzzelo.civ@mail.mil

The S&TCD is interested in addressing innovative, practical, and cost effective technology solutions to the technical barriers associated with range extension and airborne communications. This includes ground-air-ground and SATCOM used to extend current/emerging tactical networks and provide reach back. Efforts can include range extension for terrestrial radios, surrogate satellites (e.g., Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Aerostat payloads) to augment/supplement space-based SATCOM, or new/unique services that could be provided by airborne payloads.

The joint force requires an aerial layer transport capability to provide a high capacity, persistent end-to-end connectivity that is responsive to all users over extended distances, in complex, urban terrain, and while on the move. This capability satisfies requirements gaps in command and control, battle space awareness, and net-centric environment as identified by U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).

Proposed efforts should include a comprehensive analysis of the current state-of-the-art systems and technologies, in the appropriate technology areas, for an airborne communications relay payload. Proposed efforts should include a demonstration/prototype delivery of the proposed payload utilizing existing or newly developed ground terminals.

Another objective of this effort is to develop OTM airborne communications that could interface with WB commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites, military Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite, and Protected Extremely High Frequency (EHF) Narrowband (NB) SATCOM.

Key technology challenges include but are not limited to:

Interoperability with legacy waveforms (i.e., Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio

System (SINCGARS), Enhanced Position Location and Reporting System (EPLRS), etc.), for LOS; Interoperability with Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) requirements for BLOS.

Enhances communications range extension, transition and relay capabilities of the Aerial platform.

Ability to support next generation Military and Commercial waveforms.

Ability to minimize SWaP-C.

Ability to provide coverage over tactical LOS distances or BLOS transmission capability

(e.g., SATCOM).

Mountable on various airborne vehicles, including manned and unmanned Aircraft and

Aerostats.

Ruggedized (e.g., able to withstand moderate impacts, harsh environmental conditions;

and, does not increase platform vulnerability).

TOPIC NUMBER: S1810

Tactical Satellite Communications On-The-Move (SOTM) Research

Division: SATCOM Technical POC: James Gallagher, james.j.gallagher56.civ@mail.mil Secondary POC: Page Pully, william.p.pully.civ@mail.mil

The S&TCD SATCOM Division is interested in new technologies that enhance Tactical SOTM and At-The-Halt (ATH) performance, and/or reduce SWaP and recurring cost.

Tactical SATCOM systems must also evolve with new and fluid operational concepts.

Specific goals of development include: adaptable and autonomous control and improved network security.

Tactical SATCOM systems are integrated on crowded tactical vehicles, including vehicles with turrets. There is interest in low profile antenna systems (e.g., six (6) to twelve (12) inches or less in height) that maintain performance at low look angles (e.g., ten (10) to twenty (20) degrees), and distributed antenna technologies to ease integration. There is interest in both military (X, Ka, and Q) and commercial (L, X, Ku, and Ka) frequency bands for these antenna subsystems.

Tactical SATCOM systems will be used to operate, manage, and engage autonomous vehicular platforms. SATCOM control systems which will allow the USG to fully manage autonomous SATCOM terminals is of interest.

As Tactical SATCOM systems are targets of EW, the U.S. Army is interest in counter-EW technologies and solutions, including, but not limited to, (1) autonomous control systems to allow the network to adapt to fluid operational mission needs, (2) spread spectrum systems for jamming resistance, and, (3) systems with enhanced security requirements to protect the tactical network(s).

The cost of Tactical SATCOM systems, continues to challenge the U.S Army’s ability to field large quantities of these systems; therefore, technologies that significantly reduce costs to the USG are of interest.

There is also interest in all subsystems of the SOTM terminal, including the OTM tracking systems (electronic and mechanical), amplifier systems, converter systems, receiver systems, aperture (antenna) systems, modem systems, baseband systems, and control systems.

TOPIC NUMBER: S1811

Advanced Satellite System Control Capabilities

Division: SATCOM Technical POC: Rich Hoffmann, paul.r.hoffmann4.civ@mail.mil Secondary POC: TBD

The S&TCD is interested in innovative, practical, and cost-effective technology solutions to the technical barriers associated with optimizing satellite network control. Technology solutions in the areas of optimized architectures, virtualized environments, efficient and timely centralized database for streamlined management, efficient systems of systems technologies, real-time optimization (e.g., power control) planning, monitoring, and positive control are needed in order to utilize satellites most efficiently and support the maximum number of users. Key technical challenges include efficient and robust data transfer between user terminals and control system terminals, implementation of an efficient architecture to support data storage and translation between multiple individual functions, the utilization of automation where appropriate to reduce control operator workload, and advanced algorithms to support real time optimization, trending analysis and troubleshooting.

Efficient and effective SATCOM is an important requirement for current Army forces.

Diverse terminal and user requirements, advanced satellite features, and multiple operational environments makes satellite system control challenging. The contested environment is particularly challenging, requiring support for robust and resilient communications as well as advanced interference location techniques.

The objective of this effort is to develop control systems that support maximum satellite efficiency while reducing operator burden in all operational environments.

Key technology challenges include, but are not limited to:

Efficient use and management of satellite resources Reduced SATCOM control center operator burden - Centralize account and password management, single-sign on, automate internal/external system interactions.

Speed and automation for detection of anomalies (equipment failure, interference, or configuration) for global real time SA.

Speed and automation for link planning and support for automated service request process.

Monitoring and control of satellite resources Interference detection, characterization and Geolocation Contingency planning and network restoration Network data trend analysis and visualization Efficient addition of new payloads, terminals, modems, and waveforms.

Integration with legacy operations system components IA controls to include Defense In Depth, Out of Band Management.

Efficient and robust database management to include virtualized infrastructure, intelligent learning for trending and data analysis, continuous monitoring and network management standards.

TOPIC NUMBER: S1812

SATCOM Resiliency Technologies

Division: SATCOM Technical POC: Rich Hoffmann, paul.r.hoffmann4.civ@mail.mil Secondary POC: TBD

The S&TCD is interested in innovative, practical, and cost-effective technology solutions to the technical barriers associated with improving the protection and resiliency of SATCOM.

Improving system availability in congested and contested environments. Current and emerging contested environments up to and including peer threats should be considered.

This applies to all types of commercial and MILSATCOM, including NB, WB, and Protected SATCOM, as well as, all segments including the terrestrial terminal segment, the satellite payload and bus segment, and the control segment.

The U.S. Army currently leverages multiple commercial and MILSATCOM across the enterprise and all tactical echelons. The S&TCD is seeking technologies that add system resiliency to currently fielded systems through SW and/or HW modifications or additions, as well as adding resiliency to the SATCOM network through the use of emerging systems. Technologies are sought that are complementary with current and future Army

SATCOM waveforms (e.g., Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Multiple Frequency-Time Division Multiple Access (MF-TDMA)).

Providing Protected, or AJ, Anti-Scintillation (AS), LPI/LPD capabilities, and waveforms for both communications and satellite network management.

AJ waveforms that can co-exist with user communications in the same bandwidth segments Small form factor, low cost AJ waveform implementations that can support very low throughputs (e.g., two (2) kilobits per second (kbps)) to provide significant AJ protection in low bandwidth environments.

Development of advanced SA, control concepts, algorithms, and implementations for SATCOM systems.

Innovative solutions to reducing interference through advanced digital processing techniques supporting as many types of interference as possible, including wide bandwidth and dynamic interference.

Integrated AJ systems leveraging multiple mitigations, including automated, intelligent, and learning systems that can support optimum response to interference based on available mitigations.

Efficient and flexible approach to adding resiliency to SATCOM, including effective network interfaces to optimize traffic flow.

Cost effective, scalable RF and antenna technologies supporting flexible connectivity to simultaneous satellites or frequency band changes without manual reconfiguration (e.g., X, Ku, commercial and military Ka).

Low SWaP-C), satellite ground terminal integration solutions supporting ease of operation for the Soldier.

Beam forming solutions supporting interference nulling, leveraging current MILSATCOM satellite payloads (e.g., WB Global SATCOM) and future commercial and MILSATCOM payloads.

Novel geo-location solutions, leveraging current MILSATCOM payloads (e.g., WB Global SATCOM).

New satellite system approaches to support resilient and high throughput connectivity for enterprise and tactical use (e.g., emerging commercial Ka, LEO/MEO mega-constellations, and or Nano/Small Satellites).

Efficient, virtualized, and scalable architecture solutions supporting Army mission thread and Multi-Domain Battle (MDB) end to end connectivity.

TOPIC NUMBER: S1813

Advanced Technologies for Fixed and Transportable Satellite Earth Terminals

Division: SATCOM

Technical POC: Steve Lescrinier, stephen.p.lescrinier.civ@mail.mil Secondary POC: Koh, James, james.koh.civ@mail.mil

The S&TCD is interested in innovative, practical, and cost-effective technology solutions to the technical barriers associated with improving the capacity and performance of fixed and transportable SATCOM earth terminals, as well as reducing the physical space and support requirements for terminals and associated equipment.

The U.S. Army fields and operates fixed and transportable satellite terminals in a variety of military (Super High Frequency (SHF) and EHF) and commercial (L, C, X, Ku, Ka, Q, W, V) frequency bands for tactical and strategic communications. Specific bands of current interest include Global Broadcast Satellites (GBS) (twenty (20) Gigahertz (GHz)), WB Global SATCOM (7/8 GHz and 20/30 GHz) and Military Strategic, Tactical and Relay (MILSTAR)/Advanced EHF (20/44 GHZ). There is interest in support for high capacity communications among terminals as well as support for small aperture communications OTM terminals.

The U.S. Army is actively pursuing the application of a standards-based digital architecture terminal, which converts analog RF subsystems to all digital signal processing functions.

These functions include modem, multiplexing, switching, routing, patching, and link adaptation functions. The digital interfaces for these functions are based on the technical interface standard for Digital Intermediate Frequency (IF) published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the Open Standard Digital IF Interface (OSDI) for SATCOM Systems (ANSI/TIA 5041).

The objective of this effort is to develop cost effective technology solutions to enable increased equipment utilization and bandwidth efficiency for fixed and transportable SATCOM ground terminals.

Development of advanced processing, waveforms, coding, and other techniques to enable more efficient channel and bandwidth utilization while maintaining signal quality in the presence of random errors during transmission.

Development of advanced modem architectures and technologies that enable the digital processing of SATCOM signals as close to the antenna as possible.

Development of processing techniques to leverage diversity to support robust, resilient, and efficient communications over multiple satellite links.

Antennas that can simultaneously communicate with multiple satellites, bands, and polarizations.

Antennas that can track MEO and LEO satellites in addition to GEO satellites and also support make before break, or soft handoff between satellites.

More efficient power amplifiers and low noise amplifiers and block converters with improved Mean-Time-Between-Failure (MTBF).

Technologies that support and build upon ANSI/TIA 5041 for digitizing terminal subsystems.

Development of SW defined digital modems that implement FDMA, Spread Spectrum Multiple Access (SSMA), MF-TDMA, and other commonly used SATCOM waveforms.

Innovative solutions to improve strategic and tactical Department of Defense (DoD) SATCOM architectures, to include ground terminals, satellite payloads, and control systems.

TOPIC NUMBER: S1814

Narrowband (NB) SATCOM Transport Controller Research (TCR)

Division: SATCOM Technical POC: Gilbert S. Green, gilbert.s.green2.civ@mail.mil Secondary POC: Helen Muzzelo, helen.w.muzzelo.civ@mail.mil

S&TCD is interested in innovative, modular, and cost-effective SATCOM transport controller technologies that enable cross-hub command and control operations of NB tactical networks. S&TCD is interested in modular machine learning capabilities that interface with third party transport controllers to that enables rapid real-time Course of Actions (COA) solutions to maintain or improve transport and network performance availability and reliability. Transport Controllers and Machine Learning modules should support common programmable interfaces to enable integrating with multi-vendor hub modems to provide a common user interface.

Efficient and effective SATCOM is an important requirement for joint forces that support global operations where one transport solution or multiple disparate transports limited the ability to provide adequate real-time corrective measures to disadvantage users. This requires a Transport Controller that’s capable to manage, monitor, and modify multi-vendor transport solutions from remote locations in a single interface. Integrated transport controllers enable opportunities for higher mission data availability and reliability when operating in non-traditional environments. Non-traditional environments include contested, congested, increase dependencies on cloud services or increase in network users.

Technologies to monitor and configure dependent third-party hub modem(s) and user transceiver(s) for NB SATCOM operations Enabling third party technologies insertion for enhanced capabilities against evolving threats Ability to manage and provision multi-vendor waveforms across transport elements Leveraging Smart Routing (SR) technologies for IP and non-IP data that leverages and integrates with Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) Network Appliances.

Ability to orchestrate Transport services to distant users for streaming and transferring data from user defined service gateways

Ability to manage modular network transport element(s) Network and transport monitoring with modular machine learning technologies to provide COA’s for mitigation of transport reliability Ability to provide network discovery and manage transport/ network diversity paths to each available transceiver Ability to use technologies to alert users of transport/ network concerns and service quality conditions Ability to use technologies that enable secure data Containers, Virtual Machines, Hypervisors, Micro services, and Service Oriented Architectures to enable and manage over the air updates

Ability to failover to third party transport controller solutions Technologies to provide identifiable network element (s) transport health indicators Technologies that enable cross-hub multi-vendor transport spectrum interference monitoring and reporting Ability to manage link budgets for multiple space payload technologies and provide network alerts on user defined mission parameters.

Technologies that provide real-time statistical models, classifications, metrics and historical of transport interferences with corrective actions resolutions.

TOPIC NUMBER: S1815

Multiband Platform SATCOM Software (SW) Defined Radio (SDR) Research

Division: SATCOM Technical POC: Peter A. Bach, peter.a.bach4.civ@mail.mil Secondary POC: Helen Muzzelo, helen.w.muzzelo.civ@mail.mil

S&TCD is interested in innovative, modular, and cost effective Tactical Platform SATCOM SW Defined Radio (SDR) technologies solutions that support large scale deployments over SATCOM, Cellular, and LOS links. S&TCD is also interested in backwards compatibility to current the Joint Battle Command-Platform (JBC-P) SATCOM waveforms and TRANSEC with a modular design to adapt new waveforms as needed to operate in various RF environments. The multiband platform SATCOM SDR should provide common programmable interfaces to interface with various transport controllers and end user transceivers, which enables rapid real-time COA’s solutions to maintain or improve transport and network performance availability and reliability.

Efficient and effective modular (UHF, L, S, V, C, X, Ku and/or Ka band transceivers) SATCOM communications is an important requirement for joint forces that support global operations where one transport solution or multiple disparate transports limit the ability to provide adequate real-time corrective measures to disadvantage users. This requires a

SDR that is capable of support existing and new waveforms while monitoring and modifying transports for optimizations. SDR should be interoperable with and managed by a third-party SATCOM SW Defined Hub (SDH) modems. Integrated with Cellular and LOS radios for path diversity and relay capabilities when operating in non-traditional environments.