Kerbal_RFI_UNCLASS (11-30-21).pdf

Kerbal Request for Information (RFI)

Introduction and Background

The Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD) Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) is requesting information on current capabilities to enable a Department of Defense (DoD) owned and managed Proliferated-Low Earth Orbit (P-LEO) communications architecture.

This RFI will be used to inform the government whether or not to proceed with a Request for Proposals (RFP), or other announcement, for the first phase of what is anticipated will be a multi-phase prototype project. A determination has not been made on the acquisition method.

See Attachment 1 (Kerbal RFI Classified Addendum) for additional details. To receive Attachment 1, please send an email to Kerbal_Responses@sco.smil.mil on SIPR with the subject line "Kerbal RFI Attachment Request." Please include your organization's CAGE code and location in your request.

Requests received from organizations that do not possess a facility clearance of at least Secret will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. SCO will endeavor to respond to all requests in the order that they are received and within one business day of receipt.

Objectives

Interested parties are encouraged to respond with solutions to meet all or a portion of the requirements contained in the classified addendum. Teaming and/or subcontracting among multiple vendors is encouraged where advantageous to optimize technical performance, reduce costs, and/or shorten timelines. Where applicable, re-use of existing technologies, software, and hardware to reduce cost and accelerate delivery is highly desirable.

See Attachment 1 (Kerbal RFI Classified Addendum) for additional information.

Anticipated Program Outline

The overall effort is anticipated to span multiple fiscal years, concluding in FY26-FY27, and may be characterized by three phases. However, SCO is also interested in responses to support accelerated timelines if possible. Progression from each phase is anticipated through contract options. Multiple performers may be selected under a possible Program Phase I. The Phase 1 effort will be a full-scope payload, aperture, and algorithm prototype design study, complete with a programmatic plan to address risk, cost, and schedule, along with program complexities and risks to articulate a high-confidence execution path from design, production, and integration to operations. Performers will be expected to work with Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC) and University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) partners. Also, the United States Government (USG) may facilitate technology transfers of completed analysis from UARC and FFRDC partners to industry partners during Phase I. This phase is anticipated to not exceed 6 months, with a defined schedule and specific milestones to be identified in a follow-on announcement once the acquisition method is determined.

Phase II will initiate with a down selection of one or more of the Phase I performers. Phase II may proceed with material purchases, execution of an approved program plan, and building on the existing prototyping design work produced under Phase I. Phase II may include Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and may conclude with a Critical Design Review (CDR). Phase II may include a complete build and testing of a system engineering design unit (EDU), a plan for payload production, as well as delivery of a Technical Data Package (TDP) at CDR. Phase II is anticipated to not exceed 24 months.

During Phase III performer(s) may proceed to build, test, and final verification and validation testing (VV&T) of flight-qualified payloads. Phase III may also be largely characterized as demonstration payload production and integration into a hosted bus. The bus provider may be directed by the USG, however the USG is open to considering alternative recommendations from performers. Close coordination will be required to account for Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) constraints and development of an Interface Control Document (ICD). Analysis should accompany this demonstration detailing how the communications system can be scaled up to a full operational capability (cost, schedule, technical estimates). Phase III is expected to conclude with a series of on-orbit demonstrations. Phase III is anticipated to not exceed 12 months.

A Request for Proposals (RFP) announcement following determination of acquisition method is anticipated for release in Spring 2022. It will include specific technical requirements, which will be informed in part by the information solicited in this RFI.

The OSD/SCO effort requires all personnel working on the project (Industry, UARC, FFRDC, government, etc.) to be United State citizens. Foreign nationals are ineligible to perform work on this effort and are not permitted access to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Awardees will be required to demonstrate proof of U.S. citizenship for all partner personnel.

Lastly, all industry personnel supporting this activity shall be covered under a DD254 and must have the ability to complete work at the Secret Collateral level (personnel, design facilities, IT, communications equipment, test facilities) with additional requirements for select personnel to maintain active Top Secret / Special Compartmentalized Information (TS/SCI) clearances.

Submission Instructions

To respond to this RFI, interested parties should submit a capability statement of no more than five (5) pages, including cover letter and any attachments, describing their concept design and programmatic approach for the three-phased effort. The capability statement must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. (Eastern) on Wednesday, January 19 2021. The capability statement shall include a cover sheet and must be submitted by email to Kerbal_Responses@sco.smil.mil on SIPR. The cover letter (page 1 of your submission) should identify the interested party and relevant partners and should provide points of contact from the interested party. The capability statement should also briefly summarize (in no more than four (4) pages total) the technical concept, the approach proposed to meet the listed design objectives, associated technical challenges and approaches to address the enumerated technical challenges. This capability statement should also include a basic summary of the design concept and level of work/risk reduction accomplished to date. Additionally, the capability statement should identify rough order of magnitude cost and schedule associated with each phase for the program. Respondents are encouraged to be as succinct as possible while providing sufficient detail to adequately convey the technical concepts, challenges, and approaches. If partners are envisioned to be included in your program plan (e.g. universities, UARCs, FFRDCs, additional private or public companies, and Government research laboratories), please include that in the capabilities statement. Any proprietary information should be clearly marked as such. Format specifications include 12 point font, single-spaced, single-sided, 8.5 by 11 inches paper, with 1-inch margins in either Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.

In addition, interested parties may submit questions regarding the proposed work (not counted in the capabilities statement limit). Answers to those questions will be posted as an amendment to this RFI after the RFI response deadline. Questions should be submitted to Kerbal_Responses@sco.smil.mil on

SIPR.

Eligibility

OSD/SCO invites participation from all those engaged in related research activities and appreciates responses from all capable and qualified sources including, but not limited to, universities, university-affiliated research centers, federally-funded research centers, private or public companies and Government research laboratories.

Disclaimers and Important Notes

OSD/SCO representatives may or may not choose to meet with potential offerors. Such discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability to meet the requirements, especially any development and certification risks.

This is an RFI issued solely for information and new program planning purposes. The RFI does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Submission of a capabilities statement is voluntary and is not required to propose to subsequent Broad Agency Announcements (if any) or research solicitations (if any) on this topic. SCO will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred in responding to this RFI. Any proprietary information should be clearly marked as such. Respondents are advised that SCO is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this RFI. Response to the RFI is strictly voluntary. This RFI does not commit SCO to be responsible for any cost associated in the generation of the responses. RFI submissions may be reviewed by Government personnel; Federally Funded R&D Centers; and support contractors to the Government.