Data_Call_013_Wireless Mesh Networks for Survivable Command Posts_20220302.pdf

Solicitation: BAA-18-R-STCD Data Call 013 Topic #: S1830

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

BAA-18-R-STCD

WHITE PAPER CALL 013

Wireless Mesh Networks for Survivable Command Posts

Date 02 MAR 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 intra-CP networks that support Army CPs reflect their static and monolithic nature, and must also evolve to support this transition. C5ISR Center RTI Directorate is seeking to develop a new secure mesh wireless capability, or add a mesh capability to existing Army wireless systems, that will support an agile, expeditionary, survivable CP at echelons from brigade (BDE) to Corps. The desired capabilities include:

1. Able to operate under denied/disrupted, intermittent or limited (DDIL) conditions without undue network performance impact.

2. Encryption sufficient to protect network traffic at multiple classification levels.

3. Capable of supporting multiple network enclaves at different classification levels with a single wireless transceiver.

4. Ability to form mesh networks with few or no “hubs” or other single points of failure.

5. Support high network throughput.

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 secure wireless network capabilities. The identified technology solution(s) should be at technology readiness level (TRL) 4 or higher to be considered. Novel combinations or reconfigurations of high-TRL solutions will be considered. The end state of the identified solution should be a demonstration/proof of concept system at TRL 6 or higher 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. Solutions should either include wireless transport or be transport-agnostic.

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.

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 09

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 17 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): Eric Leach, eric.a.leach.civ@army.mil

KS (2): Shawn Sipes, shawn.m.sipes.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 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.