Data Call 009 - Information Trust 19Nov19.docx

Solicitation: BAA-18-R-STCD Data Call 009 Topic #: S1827

BAA-18-R-STCD

WHITE PAPER CALL 009

Information Trust

18 Nov 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 10 October 2019. Respondents must refer to the solicitation document entitled BAA-18-R-STCD _ 20180620 BAA Final Rev8 (10October19), 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 #S1827. 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:

In today’s world of Information Security, Army Commanders and Staff need to be able to trust data that drives human decisions and fully/semi-automated network modifications and recommendations. Presently, Commanders and Staff make decisions with the assumption that all data is inherently trustworthy. Current industry wide cyber protection techniques do not prevent data from being compromised prior to the digital signature or encryption processes. Real-time assurance of data integrity and provenance is unavailable. Identifying what information has been maliciously modified can take months of forensic analysis, and by the time it is determined, the data has already been acted upon. A sophisticated solution is needed to ensure data created within networks, traversing the networks, and brought into a network remains trusted, and that it has not been modified through unauthorized or accidental means.

Information Sought:

S&TCD is interested in receiving WPs on the above topic from companies that have expertise developing software with a background in blockchain and machine learning / artificial intelligence implementations for the purpose of enterprise and/or tactical although the main focus is tactical and as far down into the network as feasibly possible. The WP should identify how the identified technology solution(s) will benefit one or more impacts below:

· Enable Soldiers to make critical, real-time battle decisions based on trust-validated information.

· Minimized risk that the decisions made by autonomous systems cannot be affected by sending them untrustworthy/dirty/poisoned data during the learning phase or as a model operating within a network.

· Provide Cyber Electromagnetic Activities personnel with additional information tied into their Cyber Situational Understanding common operating picture to identify cyber-attacks.

· Minimize bandwidth usage needed to accomplish these functions.

· Maximize soldiers’ access to systems without affecting how they authenticate into systems and improve our understanding of who is using the computer system, why they are using it, and identify questionable actions.

The identified technology solution(s) should be at technology readiness level (TRL) 3 or higher but not over TRL 6 to be considered. The end state of the identified solution should be a demonstration/proof of concept system at TRL 6 that can be tested and verified in U.S. Army specific tactical information technology environments and then transitioned and integrated with Army Program of Records systems and applications.

White papers can introduce the incorporation of commercial standards/technologies, however, they should demonstrate the development of novel and innovative techniques. S&TCD’s expectation is that the focus of any effort conducted under this BAA topic will be to address the core goal of developing an integrated Information Trust service for use in the tactical environment. Respondents are encouraged to submit WPs even if they will only address one (1) area in Topic # S1827 as it is not a requirement to address all areas, though it is preferred to address all areas.

It is essential that any identified solutions are based around designs that have a clear path to be matured and commercialized to meet other important system goals including, but not limited to: affordability; network scalability; network bandwidth usage; risk management framework (i.e. information assurance) authorizations; network management; cognizant of size, weight, power, and cost constraints of disconnected, intermittent, and limited (DIL) tactical Army networks; cognizant of the system processing load and impact autonomy creates; adaptability to execute upon a broad array of hardware platforms and operating systems that are not created for nor were expected to operate blockchain and machine learning software upon; ability to operate on varying amounts of data from very small messages in small amounts to very large messages in large amounts; and ability to work in a non-Internet connected environment. Existing commercial products that are unable to support the constraints of DIL tactical Army networks as is will be considered if the proposer is able to make the case that the product is at a TRL 5 or below when applied to tactical Army networks and detail how expensive the solution would be if there are licensing, product, service, or support fees.

AWARD INFORMATION:

1. ANTICIPATED AWARD DATE: June 2020

2. FUNDING: Under this call, the Government intends to award up to four (4) contract(s) with a period of performance of a 12 month base with up to four (4) 12 month options. The option years are not guaranteed and are based on funding availability. The total anticipated funding for this call is up to $9.5M as the combined costs of all of the contracts, however, the Government reserves the right to award smaller or larger contracts or assistance instruments.

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 respondents should be aware that due to unanticipated budget fluctuations funding in any or all areas may change with little or no notice. 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. Respondents that submit a proposal without first submitting a WP may not be eligible for award.

4. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: WPs 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 the cover page. Refer to baseline BAA-18-R-STCD Section III for all other instructions on WP preparation, submission, and evaluation.

5. QUESTIONS DUE DATE AND TIME: Technical questions are due no later than 03 DECEMBER 2019, 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.

Government will publish questions and answers received by industry to contract opportunities (https://beta.sam.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 19 DECEMBER 2019, 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, respondents 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.

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

NOTE: In the performance of this effort, classified information up to the level of SECRET may be necessary at the Contractor and Government facilities. Further in the contractual process, a DD254 detailing the specific security requirements will be generated and provided.