Data_Call_012_Computing Infrastructure Software for Survivable Command Posts_20220217.pdf

Solicitation: BAA-18-R-STCD Data Call 012 Topic #: S1830

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BAA-18-R-STCD

WHITE PAPER CALL 012

Computing Infrastructure Software for Survivable Command Posts

Date 22 FEB 2022

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 01 February 2022. Respondents must refer to the solicitation document entitled BAA-18-R-STCD _ 20180620 BAA Final Rev15 (01Feb22), 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 Research & Technology Integration Directorate (RTI) is issuing this call for WP’s in association with Topic # S1830. 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 is currently working to transition from tent-based, static, monolithic command posts (CPs) to more agile, expeditionary, and physically dispersed CPs. The computing infrastructure that supports Army CPs reflects their static and monolithic nature, and must also evolve to support this transition. C5ISR Center RTID is seeking to develop a new software-based CP computing infrastructure that is capable of supporting an agile, expeditionary, survivable CP at echelons from battalion (BN) to Corps. The desired capabilities include:

1. Robust fault tolerance, able to operate in denied/disconnected, intermittent or limited (DIL) network conditions without undue performance impact

2. Ad-hoc clustering, able to rapidly form and break clusters of shared resources in response to frequently-changing battlefield conditions

3. Support for 1-n number of nodes

4. Single Pane Management

5. Support for cloud technologies (e.g. software containers, software-defined networking)

6. Support for virtual machines

7. Support for distributed data stores/hyperconvergence and dedicated storage appliances

Topic #: S1830

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8. Hardware-agnostic, able to extract maximum performance from both resource-rich and –poor platforms

9. Support for pass-through to specialized hardware (e.g. GPUs)

10. Support for CONUS cloud providers (e.g. AWS, Azure) and able to move data and workloads bidirectionally

11. Support for automated deployment & configuration management tools (e.g. Ansible, Terraform)

12. Support for data-at-rest encryption

Information Sought:

C5ISR Center Research & Technology Integration Directorate (RTI) is interested in receiving WPs on the above topic from companies that have extensive experience in developing software for cloud computing, software-defined infrastructure, and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) applications. The identified technology solution(s) should be at technology readiness level (TRL) 4 or higher but not over TRL 6 to be considered. Novel combinations or reconfigurations of higher-TRL solutions will 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 an operationally-relevant environment, then transitioned to an Army program of record.

Possible solutions can be single-product, an integrated suite of products, or a novel combination or reconfiguration of currently-fielded Army systems. Software-only solutions as well as integrated hardware/software solutions will be considered. Companies may also include in their proposal solutions for network services (e.g. Identity & Authentication Management (IDAM), key management) that are relevant to the problem statement or are enablers for the desired capabilities identified above.

It is essential that any identified solutions have a clear path to be matured and commercialized to meet other important system goals including, but not limited to:

affordability, supportability & sustainability, trainability, cybersecurity and authorization under the DoD Risk Management Framework (RMF).

AWARD INFORMATION:

1. ANTICIPATED AWARD DATE: June 2022

2. FUNDING: Under this call, the Government intends to award one contract with a Period of Performance (PoP) of a 12 month base and one (1) 12 month option. The option years are not guaranteed and are based on funding availability. The anticipated funding for this call is up to $2,000K for the total contract ceiling, however, the Government reserves the right to award smaller or larger contracts or assistance instruments.

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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. Awards under this call are expected to range from $2,000K to $3,000K. 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: This call provides general public release requirements ONLY. Additional technical detail can be requested by contacting all POCs below, being sure to provide DUNS and/or CAGE numbers in the request.

This Call should not exceed ten (10) pages in length (single sided, single spaced, with 12-size font). The ten (10)-page limitation does not include the Rough-Order-of- Magnitude (ROM) 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 01 March 2022, 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 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 10 March 2022, 3:00 pm EST via email to the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) with a carbon copy (Cc) to the Contracting Officer, Contract Specialist, and AMT Mailbox, as listed below.

TPOC: Bradford Stevenson, bradford.j.stevenson.civ@army.mil

AMT: usarmy.apg.devcom-c5isr.mbx.rti-baa@army.mil

KO: Christopher Fisher, christopher.m.fisher24.civ@army.mil

KS (1): Christina Sanzone, christina.l.sanzone.civ@army.mil

KS (2): Matthew Strong, matthew.r.strong9.civ@army.mil

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

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Topic #: S1830

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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.