DARPA-SN-22-48_ANCILLARY_Proposers_Day_20220823.pdf

Special Notice (SN) DARPA-SN-22-48: ANCILLARY Proposers Day DATE: Tuesday, September 20, 2022 Registration Website:

https://creative.gryphontechnologies.com/darpa/tto/ancillary/pd/ Program Manager: Steve Komadina, DARPA/TTO Proposers Day E-mail: DARPA-SN-22-48@darpa.mil

1.0 PROPOSERS DAY OVERVIEW

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Tactical Technology Office (TTO) is sponsoring a Proposers Day to provide information to potential proposers on the objectives of the AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) program in advance of a planned Program Solicitation. The Proposers Day will be held on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at Strategic Analysis, Inc. Executive Conference Center (ECC), 4075 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA from 9a.m. to 12p.m. EDT.

Check‐in begins at 8:30 a.m. The event will be webcast via MS Teams for Government for those who would like to participate remotely. Advance registration is required both for attending the Proposers Day in person and for viewing the webcast.

The Government will then host an ANCILLARY Expo on the same day Tuesday, September 20th, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT at the Strategic Analysis, Inc.

ECC, 4075 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA. All Proposers Day participants are invited to attend the in-person-only expo-style event.

Cell phones are allowed (silenced) inside the ECC. No photography or recording will be allowed at any time inside the ECC.

2.0 PROGRAM TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES

The ANCILLARY program is seeking to develop and flight demonstrate an X-plane with the critical technologies required for a leap-ahead in long endurance, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned air system (UAS) performance. The UAS should be able to launch and recover from small ship flight decks and austere land locations in adverse weather without additional infrastructure equipment, thus enabling expeditionary deployments. The ANCILLARY vehicle should be in the 250-330 lb. weight class, enabling many aircraft to be stored and operated from one ship, creating a tactical beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) multi-intelligence sensor network capability. The envisioned vehicle will have the following characteristics as primary design objectives:

▪ Launch and Recovery without Infrastructure

▪ Extended Endurance and Range

▪ High Payload to Weight Ratio at Tactical Scale

▪ Robust Flight Controls and Relative Navigation https://creative.gryphontechnologies.com/darpa/tto/ancillary/pd/ mailto:DARPA-SN-22-48@darpa.mil

3.0 WHO SHOULD ATTEND PROPOSERS DAY?

The Government is aware of the recent technology surge in this market space leading to innovative vehicle configurations by both traditional and non-traditional defense contractors. Advancements in small propulsion systems, high-capacity low-weight batteries, materials, electronics, structural design/fabrication methods, and low-cost additive manufacturing enable new lightweight VTOL configurations.

DARPA is hosting the Proposers Day and Expo to promote teaming arrangements between companies; provide potential performers with information on whether and how they might respond to this upcoming DARPA research and development program solicitation; and to increase efficiency in proposal preparation and evaluation. This DARPA program solicitation will result in awards using Other Transaction for Prototype authority.

To maximize the pool of innovative proposal concepts, DARPA strongly encourages participation in this event and subsequent solicitation, either as a prime proposer or teammate, by non-traditional performers, including small businesses, academic and research institutions, and first-time Government contractors. Such participation may help satisfy the requirements for awards under 10 U.S.C. § 4022 for Other Transactions for Prototypes.

We hope this event format will lead to quality interactions among integrators, small businesses, research & technology companies/institutions, and manufacturing companies; thus, enabling event attendees the opportunity to showcase capabilities and build strong teams to meet the challenging objectives of the ANCILLARY program.

4.0 PROGRAM ACQUISITION STRATEGY

The ANCILLARY program is structured to encourage participation by both small and large performers to design, build and fly a next generation, infrastructure-less UAS. In order to minimize the administrative burden to entry, reduce overall program risk, foster competition, and have performing teams begin work faster, the Government will use the following acquisition process:

1. Abstracts: Performers will submit Abstracts (10-page limit) outlining their technologies and approach to meeting the program objectives. The Government will review all submitted Abstracts for Overall Scientific and Technical Merit, Realism of Proposed Schedule, and Proposer’s Capabilities and/or Related Experience. Selected performers will be invited to provide an Oral Presentation to the Government. Those not selected, will not proceed to Oral Presentation.

2. Oral Presentations: Upon the Government’s request, proposers will have the opportunity to present their proposal to the DARPA program team. The Government will review all Oral Presentations and anticipate that the selected performers will be given a Phase Ia award of a fixed value with a 6-month period of performance to mature their designs. DARPA anticipates multiple Phase Ia awards (approximately 8).

3. Phase Ia (6 months): Performers will complete trade studies and apply multi-disciplinary analysis and optimization (MDAO) techniques to mature their UAS.

Phase Ia culminates with a Conceptual Design Review (CoDR) that includes an Oral Proposal and submission of a written cost volume for Phase Ib.

4. Phase Ib (6 months): Selected performers will have a 6-month period of performance to continue design maturation during Phase Ib leading up to a Preliminary Design Review (PDR). The Phase Ib PDR will include an Oral Proposal and submission of a written cost volume for Phase IIa.

5. Phase IIa: Selected performers will continue design maturation and subsystem testing during Phase IIa leading up to a Critical Design Review (CDR). The Phase IIa CDR will include an Oral Proposal and submission of a written cost volume for Phase IIb.

6. Phase IIb: Selected performers will fabricate, ground test, and flight test their X-plane. Flight test demonstrations will occur during two test events. The first test event will demonstrate infrastructure-less VTOL launch and recovery in wind, automated recovery on a simulated deck in motion, and system reliability. The second test event will demonstrate transition from hover to cruise; cruise and loiter efficiencies throughout the flight envelope; and transition from cruise to hover. Phase IIb may include an Oral Proposal and written cost volume for an Optional Phase III.

7. Optional Phase III: A Phase III focused on flight testing of the X-plane in a maritime environment is planned. A flight test event will validate the system, including mission payload, in an operational demonstration. A decision for Phase III execution will be made during Phase IIb, and will depend upon available government funding and successful flight demonstrations in Phase IIb.

Additional program and proposal details will be provided during the Proposers Day briefing and included in the Program Solicitation Release.

5.0 REGISTRATION INFORMATION (DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 9, 2022)

Participants must register for the Proposers Day through the registration website:

Advance registration via the above website is required for attending the event in person and for receiving access to the webcast. The advance registration requirement applies to every individual intending to view the webcast either alone or as part of a group.

The Proposers Day and ANCILLARY Expo will be conducted at the Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) level and are open only to U.S. persons. All attendees accessing CUI agree to protect CUI in accordance with DoD Instruction 5200.48 CONTROLLED

UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION and NIST Special Publication 800-171 Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations. Upon entry to the event, all attendees will be required to present Government-issued photo identification.

All attendees are required to submit one of the below approved formats for proof of U.S. Personhood. The proof of U.S. Personhood must be emailed to DARPA-SN-22- 48@darpa.mil prior to the registration deadline.

The following documents are considered valid proof of U.S. personhood:

1. U.S. Passport / Passport Card

2. U.S. Birth Certificate

3. U.S. Naturalization Papers

4. U.S. Permanent Resident Card

5. U.S. Security Clearance: provide SSN for security clearance lookup.

6. Key Management Personnel (i.e., FSO/CEO) signed letter on company letterhead certifying employee is a U.S. person.

All U.S. Permanent Resident(s) are required to submit a DARPA eForm60. Please find the link at: https://dtsn.darpa.mil/eform60/. The completed DARPA eForm60 must be submitted prior to the close of registration.

NOTE: Before individuals transmit Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or other sensitive data to DARPA, it is recommended that they apply appropriate physical, administrative, and technical protocols to safeguard their privacy. DARPA will secure all received PII and sensitive personal data in a controlled environment and protect it from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.

Please remember any Personally Identifiable Information (PII) provided to DARPA will only be used for the purposes of this solicitation. DARPA will not create profiles from individual information and will not provide such information to any entity for commercial purposes. Registrants will have an option to share their name and contact information with other ANCILLARY Proposer’s Day participants during event registration.

Providing PII is voluntary. However, failure to do so will prevent access to the ANCILLARY Proposers Day and Expo. The electronic transmission of PII requires sender prudence and the responsibility to safeguard PII remains with the party transmitting it.

Approved registrants will be sent the Proposers Day agenda and provided with a link and instructions to join the MS Teams for Government meeting.

PLEASE NOTE: REGISTRATION CLOSES ON September 9th, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

DARPA eForm60 or proof of U.S. Personhood should be submitted to DARPA by this deadline.

https://dtsn.darpa.mil/eform60/

The registration website will be updated with administrative and logistics information as the event approaches; participants are encouraged to check the website periodically for the latest event information.

6.0 ANCILLARY EXPO

Proposers Day participants are encouraged to attend the in-person ANCILLARY Expo from 1-4 p.m. EDT, following the morning event. If you wish to be an exhibitor, you can register for the Expo through the same website. Choosing to be an exhibitor will benefit those looking for teammates. DARPA will have a table with representatives to answer questions (e.g., Program, Contracts, Service Liaisons, etc.).

Each exhibitor will be provided an easel for a poster (max. 36”x 48”), a table/chair, and power for a laptop. Exhibitors are required to bring their own poster and presentation materials (once approved by DARPA) and their own laptop (if desired). No additional unapproved presentation material or electronic devices will be allowed. No other equipment will be provided by DARPA or the event coordinators.

All ANCILLARY Expo presentation materials must be approved in advance by the organization that funded the work. Once this approval is obtained, send the presentation material to DARPA using the event email address: DARPA-SN-22- 48@darpa.mil. DARPA will screen the proposed presentation material and approve in advance of the event. Any presentation material not submitted by the registration deadline will not be allowed and there will be no exceptions to this requirement.

DARPA will not sponsor any attendee information presented at Proposers Day on the Agency website.

7.0 IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE LIMITATIONS

Due to space limitations of the facility and COVID-19 restrictions, in-person attendance will be limited. Depending on the number of registrations, DARPA reserves the option to ask some individuals to attend virtually. However, it is likely that each organization will be allowed at least 2 people for in person attendance, see registration site for waitlist option as well for additional personnel. All individuals must register separately, even if from the same organization. Depending on the number of registrations and the COVID-19 restrictions in force at the time, a final list of registered attendees will be notified by September 13, 2022 of acceptance to attend in person. Do not attend in person unless you are notified that you are cleared to attend. If you are cleared to attend and become unable to attend in person, please inform DARPA as soon as possible so that another may be allowed to take your slot.

8.0 COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS

Visitors to the ECC must adhere to the ECC Visitor COVID‐19 Policy. This policy is subject to change, and should therefore be monitored for updates. The latest version is published at: https://events.sa-meetings.com/SAECCCovid19Policy

In-person attendance is based on the expected DoD or local COVID-19 protocols in place at the time of the Proposers Day. Participants should check the registration website for the latest in-person attendance guidance.

9.0 PROGRAM PROCESS AFTER PROPOSERS DAY

A list of registrant contact information (name, email) will be made available to attendees following the Proposers Day to facilitate interchange among interested proposers. If you would NOT like to be included on this list, please choose the decline option when registering.

Important Dates:

▪ 09/09/2022 Registration deadline

▪ 09/09/2022 DARPA eForm60 or proof of U.S. Personhood deadline

▪ 09/09/2022 ECC vaccination Form 3175 deadline

▪ 09/09/2022 Expo presentation materials deadline

▪ 09/20/2022 ANCILLARY Proposers Day and Expo

The following dates are approximate:

▪ 10/01/2022 Solicitation posted on sam.gov

▪ 10/11/2022 1-on-1 Q&A

▪ 10/31/2022 Abstracts due

▪ 11/18/2022 Notification of Selection for Oral Proposal

▪ 12/12/2022 Oral Proposal at DARPA

▪ 01/13/2023 Notification of Intent to Award

▪ 03/15/2023 Other Transaction agreement(s) Awarded

10.0 SPECIAL NOTE

Attendance at the ANCILLARY Proposers Day is voluntary and is not required in order to propose to the initial Program Solicitation Notice on this topic. The Proposers Day does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or abstracts. This Special Notice (DARPA-SN-22-48) is issued solely for information and program planning purposes and is not a Request for Information (RFI). Since this is not an RFI, no submissions against this notice will be accepted by the Government. DARPA will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred to participate in this Proposers Day.

https://events.sa-meetings.com/SAECCCovid19Policy