Call_for_White_papers_For_Protected_Comms_for_MUM-T_30Jan2019.pdf

Solicitation: BAA-18-R-STCD Data Call 006 Topic #S1824

Distribution A

BAA-18-R-STCD

WHITE PAPER CALL 006

Protected Communications for Manned Unmanned Teams (MUM-T) (PCM)

30 January 2019

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 27 November 2018. Offerors must refer to the solicitation document entitled BAA-18-R-STCD _ 20180620 BAA Final Rev4 (17JAN19), 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 (S&TCD) is issuing this call for

WP’s in association with Topic #S1824. 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 operational network does not currently have a communication system or system-of-systems capable of supporting PCM needs for mounted and dismounted use in open, heavily foliated and urban terrain under congested/contested environmental conditions, while also providing anti-jam (AJ) and low probability of intercept/detect (LPI/LPD) characteristics.

Information Sought: S&TCD is requesting information related to wireless communications systems for use with manned/unmanned systems capable of demonstrating communications in open, heavily foliated and urban terrain under congested/contested environmental conditions, while also providing AJ and LPI/LPD characteristics. Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering

Center (CERDEC) S&TCD is requesting white papers specific to these systems which meet specifications including but not limited to:

Ability to operate in dense urban, heavy foliage, and open terrain environments.

Form factors that support the integration on ground vehicular platforms as well as man-portable units that can be carried by soldiers.

Low end-to-end latency to support real time control of a ground vehicular platform.

Support data rates for multiple simultaneous (compressed) medium or high definition video links at operationally relevant ranges.

Communicate in the presence of radio frequency (RF) interference and provide

LPI/LPD.

Technology must not rely on existing RF infrastructure (i.e. cellular networks, Wi- Fi networks, etc.) but can leverage commercial technologies in an ad-hoc manner through modification/enhancement to render them relevant for military application.

Ability to scale and support large operations

Contested is defined as, but not limited to, adversarial and non-adversarial attempts to degrade/deny access to spectrum.

Congested is defined as, but not limited to, spectrum restrictions due to host nation, civil authority, high military demand (contiguous United States and outside contiguous Unites States) and terrain challenges (mountainous, foliated, and urban).

Typical concepts of operation include a two soldier team operating a robotic combat vehicle (RCV) over the wireless tether link while mounted inside an optionally manned fighting vehicle (OMFV). Additionally, a dismounted soldier can wirelessly operate an

OMFV using the same tether link used to operate the RCV. Wireless tether link must be secure and operate under condition of enemy electronic warfare attack, while also providing LPI/LPD characteristics.

The competing and/or selected systems are expected to be evaluated and demonstrated at the CERDEC Ground Activity in Ft. Dix, NJ and/or at Yuma Proving

Ground, AZ.

AWARD INFORMATION:

1. ANTICIPATED AWARD DATE: 15 July 2019

2. FUNDING: Under this call, the Government intends to award one (1), two (2), or three (3) contracts with a period of performance of 14 months each. The contract(s) will be an eight (8) month base with a single six (6) month option. The option year is not guaranteed and based on performance on the base contract and or funding availability. The anticipated funding this call is $3M for the base period, and $2.4M for the option period.

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. Awards under this call are expected to range from $500.00K to $3.00M; 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 08

February 2019 by 3:00 pm EST via email to the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) with a carbon copy (Cc) to the Contracting Officer (KO), Contract Specialist (KS), and Acquisition Management Team (AMT) Mailbox, as listed below. Questions and answers will be posted to the FedBizOpps.gov website.

The Government will publish questions and answers received by industry to

FedBizOpps.gov, 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 01 March 2019 by 3:00 pm EST via email to the TPOC with a Cc to the KO, KS, and AMT Mailbox, as listed below.

TPOC: Mbakhane Ndiaye (NJ), mbakhane.ndiaye.civ@mail.mil

AMT: usarmy.apg.rdecom-cerdec.mbx.stcd-amt@mail.mil

KO: Brian Holman, brian.j.holman2.civ@mail.mil

KS: Andrew Pilone, andrew.m.pilone.civ@mail.mil

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.

mailto:mbakhane.ndiaye.civ@mail.mil mailto:usarmy.apg.rdecom-cerdec.mbx.stcd-amt@mail.mil mailto:brian.j.holman2.civ@mail.mil mailto:andrew.m.pilone.civ@mail.mil