Draft_Statement of Objectives.pdf

AUG 22

Statement of Objectives (SOO) Battle Bots Robot-Combat Event

General: This is a non-personal service(s) firm fixed price contract under which the personnel rendering the service(s) are not subject, either by the contract’s terms or by the manner of its administration, to the supervision and control usually prevailing in relationships between the Government and its employees.

Description of Services/Introduction: This is a non-personal service(s) contract for BattleBots to organize, promote, and host a live robot-combat event during South by Southwest (SXSW) 2024 Conference & Festivals for Army Futures Command (AFC). The Period of Performance for this award will be from the date of award through 30 March 2024.

The Place of Performance for this award will be an SXSW event venue in downtown Austin, TX.

Background: SXSW is an event that brings together over 300,000 attendees from across the globe. SXSW’s emphasis on emerging technology, innovation, marketing, and robotics are focus areas uniquely aligned to AFC’s mission. The BattleBots event is part of a broader scope of AFC participation in SXSW, 8-16 March 2024 in Austin, TX. The intent is to generate attention and showcase Army/Department of Defense (DoD) robotics projects with manufacturers, tech companies, startups, and entrepreneurs. Engaging with the SXSW audience reinforces the Army brand and enables relationships to be forged with an audience that traditionally may not consider partnering with the Department of Defense.

Operating since 2015, BattleBots is the world’s first and only robot-combat show. They have millions of fans across the world and coverage in over 150 countries. They host the world’s largest and only professional robot fighting league. Their fan base and participants are part of the robotics sector which AFC routinely invests in for research and development purposes.

Scope: The Contractor shall provide non-personal service(s) to plan and conduct the following objectives as part of a SXSW 2024 BattleBots robot-combat event. AFC’s lead and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for this requirement is MAJ Chris Brandt.

Objectives:

Objective 1: Coordinate, promote, setup, and tear-down of the event. BattleBots shall provide all personnel and equipment required to organize, promote, and conduct a 2 day robot-combat event, 10MAR24 – 11MAR24, during SXSW 2024.

• Schedule and details should be planned collaboratively with AFC’s COR.

• Event planning should reflect AFC as the lead sponsor for the robot-combat event.

• Promotion of the event should include but is not limited to photography and video coverage, digital media, event website announcements, and social media.

• Routine touchpoints should occur with the COR. The frequency of these planning touchpoints, ahead of SXSW, will be determined by BattleBots and the COR and will be no less than a daily touch point during SXSW.

DRAFT

• Within 15 days of completion of the SXSW robot-combat event, BattleBots will provide a written post-event report to capture what went well with the event and where efforts could be improved.

• This is a comprehensive objective that includes event planning, promotion, set-up, execution, and tear-down. AFC will provide limited support for event promotion and set-up; the COR will offer available support and help coordinate all requested support.

• Costs should include equipment rental, travel, and per-diem costs for BattleBots personnel.

Objective 2: Robot-Combat Competitions for Professional and Collegiate/High School Teams should include.

• Arenas should be setup for daily competitions ahead of the event.

• The competition should include professional and collegiate/high school teams.

• All competitions should be professionally announced.

• The competition should be setup elimination style with brackets. Winners progress to a finals and ultimately championship match. At least the top three teams are recognized in a trophy presentation.

• Arena rental and promotional costs should be included.

• Team travel, per-diem, robot operations/maintenance, winners trophies, and related costs should be included.

• The AFC COR will work with BattleBots to ensure available SXSW resources are made available to BattleBots (venue space, setup assistance, SXSW rules/requirements).

-Objective 3 : Engagement stations should be setup for audience members to visit with teams, outside of robot-combat.

• Hands-on stations should be setup for audience members to engage with professional and collegiate/high school robots/team members. When appropriate, the audience should be allowed to touch/operate robots.

• The number of engagement stations will be proposed by the vendor and approved by AFC’s COR.

• AFC’s COR will work with BattleBots on the schedule for engagement stations to be in operation.

-Objective 4: Interactive robot build/battle stations should be setup for audience members to build/battle their own robots.

• Hands-on stations should be setup for audience members to build their own robot and battle them in an arena against other audience members.

• Stations should be interactive with knowledgeable BattleBots or team members assisting audience members in building robots.

• The number of robot build/battle stations will be proposed by the vendor and approved by AFC’s COR.

• AFC’s COR will work with BattleBots on the schedule for robot build/battle stations to be in operation.

Additional General Information:

• The AFC COR will work with BattleBots to ensure available SXSW resources are made available to BattleBots.

• The AFC COR will make SXSW coordinated/reserved lodging available for use by BattleBots personnel and competing teams.

• There is no Government Furnished Property (GFP) or Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) provided under this contract.

• BattleBots will be responsible for maintaining a safe, clean, and orderly venue throughout the duration of the event.

• BattleBots should promptly notify the COR of any issues that will impact their ability to execute this SOO.

• BattleBots shall adhere to security policies and ensure all personnel with access to SXSW events and exhibits have appropriate credentials.

• BattleBots shall comply with Federal, State, and local laws.

• BattleBots shall not engage in any activities that could compromise the Army’s reputation or national security interests.

• BattleBots will be provided the AAL Operations Security Plan, and all personnel performing work on the contract shall familiarize themselves with, and abide by, the requirements therein, specifically the Critical Information List, and the Directed OPSEC Measures.