Call_for_White_Paper_003_D2TBS_(15NOV18).docx

Solicitation: BAA-18-R-STCD Data Call 003 Topic #: S1802

BAA-18-R-STCD

WHITE PAPER CALL 003

Dismounted Distributed Tactical Beamforming System

Date 15 November 2018 This call for White Papers (WP) is being issued under Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) BAA-18-R-STCD, which was published on FedBizOpps.gov on 20 June 2018, and last updated on 28 September 2018. Offerors must refer to the solicitation document entitled BAA-18-R-STCD _ 20180620, BAA Final, Rev2 (27SEP18), and it must be read in conjunction with this call for WP’s. All instructions set forth in the BAA-18-R-STCD solicitation document apply to this call.

The Space and Terrestrial Communications Directorate is issuing this call for WP’s in association with Topic #S1802. 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/hardware, or demonstration and validation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Problem Statement: The Army requires the capability to conduct standard doctrinal communications at the tactical edge in a way which overcomes the limitations of voice and visual signals and currently fielded squad radios. The Warfighter must be able to communicate with detached squad members, between teams, and to a separated parent vehicle rapidly over short distances during poor visibility or in restrictive terrain in a manner which reduces vulnerability to enemy interception/detection (LPI/LPD) and which is operable in congested/contested environments.

Information Sought: The Non-Traditional Waveform’s Dismounted Distributed Tactical Beamforming System (D2TBS) team is requesting information related to distributed beamforming methods that are able to be implemented in an end-to-end system designed for dismounted soldiers where it is assumed that each soldier has a radio and omnidirectional antenna, and where each soldier acts as a node in the beamforming network. The capability must demonstrate AJ/LPI/LPD characteristics while operating in a congested/contested environment.

Additional information and requirements can be found in the Unclassified//For Official Use Only Appendix to this Call.

The D2TBS team is interested in information regarding the beamforming implementation, and specifically how LPI and LPD are improved by the beamforming methods. Furthermore, the D2TBS team is interested in the characteristics of the beamforming methods that facilitate improved resistance to intentional and non-intentional interference, both from enemy and friendly forces in congested/contested environments.

Typical concepts of operation include forward dismounted reach-back to a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle or other platform under condition of enemy electronic warfare (EW) attack, support for route clearing operations that might utilize a Counter Remote Controlled Improvised Explosive Device EW to block enemy communications, and tactical dismounted operations in dense urban terrain typical of building search and clearing which are assumed to be highly congested/contested environments.

The system is expected to be evaluated and demonstrated annually at the Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center Ground Activity in Ft. Dix, NJ. The demonstration shall include full beamforming with up to an 11-node Squad, and reduced size teams (4 nodes) simultaneously beamforming to a single base station. It is further desirable to support squad-to-squad beamforming without a dedicated base station. Line of sight is assumed.

AWARD INFORMATION:

1. ANTICIPATED AWARD DATE: 15 March 2019

2. FUNDING: Under this call, the Government intends to award multiple contracts with a period of performance of 24 months/total two (2) years. The contract(s) will be a nine (9) month base with a 15 month option. The option year is not guaranteed and based on funding availability. The anticipated funding for this call is $4.0M with $1.5M planned to fund multiple base contract activities and $2.5M planned to support one (1) (or more) option period activities.

NOTE: This funding profile is an estimate only and not a contractual obligation for funding. All funding is subject to change due to Government discretion and availability. Potential Offerors should be aware that due to unanticipated budget fluctuations funding in any or all areas may change with little or no notice. Base year awards under this call are expected to range from $500K to $1.0M; however, the Government reserves the right to award smaller or larger contracts or assistance instruments. The Government reserves the right to select all, part, or none of the WP’s received, subject to the availability of funds.

3. BAA TYPE: This is a call for WP’s only, and will be governed by the “two-step” process described in General Information of the BAA-18-R-STCD. Offerors that submit a proposal without first submitting a WP may not be eligible for award.

4. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: This Call should not exceed 10 pages in length (single sided, single spaced, with 12-size font). The 10-page limitation does not include the Rough-Order-of-Magnitude or cover page. Refer to baseline BAA-18-R-STCD Section III for instructions on WP preparation, submission, and evaluation.

5. QUESTIONS DUE DATE AND TIME: Technical questions are due no later than 03 December 2018 3:00 pm EST via email to the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) with a carbon copy to the Contracting Officer (KO), Contract Specialist (KS), and Acquisition Management Team (AMT) Mailbox, as listed below. Questions and answers will be posted to FBO.

Government will publish questions and answers received by industry to FBO, via a revision to this Data Call, per ADDENDUM 001, Technical Questions and Clarifications, herein.

6. WHITE PAPER DUE DATE AND TIME: WP’s are due no later than 31 December 2018 3:00 pm EST via email to the TPOC with a carbon copy to the KO, KS, and AMT Mailbox, as listed below.

If the submission will be classified, Offerors should contact the TPOC and KO for instruction on how to submit the WP, via appropriate methods/channels. The KO shall be informed, in writing, that a classified WP has been submitted, its title and to whom it was submitted to.

Contractual questions may be directed to the KO and/or KS at any time.