S1814___Data_Call_for_NB-SATCOM_(18SEP2018).pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) / DATA CALL

Broad Area Announcement (BAA)

Solicitation: BAA-18-R-STCD, Topic #: S1814

Narrowband SATCOM Transport Controller Research

DATA CALL 001

1.0 INTRODUCTION

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 3 July 2018. Offerors must refer to the solicitation document entitled “STCD_BAA 20180627 Final Ver1 Additional Topic,” which incorporates Amendment 1, 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 soliciting this call for WP’s, in accordance with (IAW) Topic # S1814. To be eligible for consideration and possible contract award, the technology or methodology shall be in the nature of either basic research, applied research, or advanced technology development, not for a specific system/hardware, or demonstration and validation.

1.1 DATA CALL INFORMATION

S&TCD provides Science and Technology (S&T) solutions to the Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Army Joint Programs of Record (PoR), and the Warfighter. S&TCD performs research, development, and engineering functions in all aspects of terrestrial, avionics, and space-dependent communications technology to include adaptive, reliable seamless battlefield communications with full electronic counter-countermeasures capability and cybersecurity/Information Assurance

(IA).

S&TCD is interested in developing an Open Standard Architecture (OSA) compliant Gateway Transport Management System (GTMS), for the Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Divisions networks, that is capable of leveraging machine learning technologies. S&TCD is interested in the SATCOM GTMS solutions, and commercially available technical concepts and ideas for inclusion into future system designs. The development of the GTMS will directly support the U.S.

Army’s modernization priorities for network transport performance and technology integration, as identified herein.

1.1.1 BACKGROUND

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 (FY18), the Communications Electronics Research, Development, and Engineering Command (CERDEC) initiated a multi-year formal Research and Development (R&D) program to commence in FY19. This multi-year R&D program shall provide the development of the GTMS, and Automated Network Management Systems (ANCS), to supporting future Mission Command (MC) SATCOM networks, providing real-time physical through network layer sensing capabilities, and enabling transport services orchestration.

1.1.2 KEY CAPABILITIES

The key capabilities in which an Offeror should focus for the development of a product and/or solution for BAA Topic S1814, for S&TCD, SATCOM Division include:

Monitors Global Narrowband SATCOM Transports based on OSA standards.

Provides Smart Routing Based on Transport Health and User Demands

Improves Network Connectivity with Transport Management utilizing Applied Machine

Learning

Waveforms Performance Optimization

Over The Air Waveform Provisioning and Key Management

Minimize Network Admissions and Load Balancing

Provides transport network resiliency to tactical users These capabilities where derived from the Army’s modernization priorities with focus on enhance Network, Command

Control and communication (C3I) supporting key capabilities; Long Range Precision Fires, Next Generation Combat Vehicles, Future Vertical Lift, Air and Missile Defense and

Solider Lethality.

Program is a multiyear research and development effort developing enhanced transport management systems that enables cross-hub command and control operations.

1.1.3 NARROWBAND SATCOM PROBLEM STATEMENT/OVERVIEW

The current SATCOM transport architecture consists of one controller for every transport;

however, the current capabilities do not allow for one (1) controller to manage multiple transports, and is not scalable or flexible in the event of transport link degradation, as a result of a congested or contested environment The intended objective for Narrowband SATCOM is to develop a single gateway transport controller that can interact with and has ability to manage simultaneously multiple Satellite transports.

Figure 1: Narrowband SATCOM Operation View

2.0 AWARD INFORMATION

2.1 ANTICIPATED AWARD DATE: MAY 2019 (FY19, QUARTER 3)

2.2 FUNDING

Under this call, the Government intends to award up to two (2) contracts with an approximate Period of Performance (PoP) of fifty-four (54) months. The anticipated funding for this call is approximately $13.5M per awarded contract.

NOTE: This funding profile is an estimate only, and is 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 $13.5 M to $27M; 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.

2.3 BAA TYPE

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

2.4 SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Refer to baseline BAA-18-R-STCD, Section III for instructions on WP preparation, submission, and evaluation.

2.4.1 TECHNICAL APPROACH

Interested parties are requested to respond to this call for WP’s by submitting a Technical Approach describing their technical capabilities, concepts, ideas, and, relevant experience in developing similar components.

All responses shall provide sound reasoning and a description of component level functionality to support the proposed component and/or architecture. This information will be shared with DoD personnel, and DoD SETA Contractors involved in WP evaluations and review only.

Interested parties providing proposed components or technologies shall also provide thorough technical content explaining the operation, and performance of the component or technology. This portion of the response can be marked with proprietary markings.

2.5 QUESTIONS DUE DATE AND TIME

Technical questions shall be submitted No Later Than (NLT) 3:00 PM EST, 25 SEPTEMBER 2018, 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.

The Government will publish questions and answers received by industry to FBO.

2.6 WHITE PAPER DUE DATE AND TIME

All WP’s shall be submitted NLT 3:00 PM EST, 18 OCTOBER 2018, via email to the TPOC, with a carbon copy (CC) to the KO, KS, and AMT Mailbox, as listed below.

AMT Mailbox: usarmy.apg.rdecom-cerdec.mbx.stcd-amt@mail.mil KO, Johanna T. Hersch: johanna.t.hersch.civ@mail.mil KS, Andrew Pilone: andrew.m.pilone.civ@mail.mil TPOC, Rahul Pandya: rahul.p.pandya.civ@mail.mil Alternate TPOC, Peter Bach: peter.a.bach4.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, referencing the submissions title and to whom it was submitted.

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