RTI BAA White Paper Call 007_TOPIC GC-01_20230814.pdf

BAA: W56KGU-23-R-RTID White Paper Call 007 Topic #: GC-01 Approved for Public Release

BAA: W56KGU-23-R-RTID White Paper Call 007

Approved for Public Release

BAA W56KGU-23-R-RTID

WHITE PAPER CALL 007

5G Advanced Technology Development

Call Date 14 August 2023

This call for White Papers (WP) is under Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

W56KGU-23-R-RTID. The BAA was originally published on sam.gov on 01 November 2022 and amended on 17 May 2023. Respondents must refer to BAA number W56KGU-23-R-RTID, entitled “Research and Technology Integration (RTI) Directorate

Broad Agency Announcement”, and it must be read in conjunction with this call for WP’s. All instructions set forth in the BAA W56KGU-23-R-RTID document apply to this call.

The RTI is issuing this call for WPs in association with Topic # GC-01 entitled “5G

Advanced Technology Development.” 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.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:

Problem Statement:

Current Command and Control (C2) systems are largely tied to wired local networks due to the need for significant bandwidth. Wi-Fi and 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) solutions have proven insufficient to meet latency, throughput, and resiliency performance characteristics to meet operational standards for survivability of the distributed Command Post (CP) (i.e., mobility, dispersion, concealment).

The next generation Army Tactical Network requires a high-speed network providing near-wired performance connecting moving vehicles kilometers apart that can operate in a wide array of spectrum and electromagnetic environments with minimal user intervention. This lends itself to 5G as a solution but the current 5G infrastructure is not designed to operate On the Move (OTM) or in contested spectrum.

This project will focus on the use of 5G networks and enabling technologies to assess the military utility of commercial 5G technology for use in tactical operations.

Approved for Public Release

BAA: W56KGU-23-R-RTID White Paper Call 007

Information Sought:

The Army desires components for a prototype system which is expected to provide high bandwidth connectivity between vehicles On-the-Move (OTM) with a mobile, prime mover mounted base station. The RTI Directorate is interested in receiving white papers relating to emerging capabilities in 5G technology. Goal is that these capabilities are exportable to any system that follows 3GPP standards. Primary focus areas for technology enhancement can be found in the Control Unclassified Information (CUI) Annex of this announcement.

The prototype components will use, to the largest extent possible, an open architecture approach to facilitate the integration of disparate hardware and software components.

This includes, but is not limited to, software defined radio (SDR) based Open-Radio

Access Network (O-RAN) technology and antenna systems. Multiple system implementations will be evaluated for performance and capabilities, as well for interoperability and security.

The 5G core, gNodeB, and other components will be selected from existing prototype systems. The White Paper proposals should focus on creating improvements to existing 5G Core and gNodeB prototypes to address tactical mobility goals. These improvements are expected to advance LPI/LPD, support V2X standards (e.g., Sidelink), reduce SWaP, and further future OTM capabilities.

The final user evaluations are planned for field testing (i.e., demonstration) at a suitable location as well as lab and field-based risk reduction (LBRR, FBRR) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD and C5ISR Ground Activity Ranges, Ft Dix, NJ in late FY25.

Access to additional technical details:

This call provides general-public release requirements ONLY. Additional technical details are available in Attachment 01 to this White Paper Call, entitled Army 5G Tactical Mobility. Attachment 01 is controlled, containing Control Unclassified

Information (CUI), therefore, is not available for general release. To gain access to the controlled document, your company/entity must be certified by the Joint Certification Program (JCP). To request download of the controlled attachment, you must click on the document title to request access. Please enter the reason for requesting access and with your JCP certification number and CAGE code. Once approved, you will be granted permission to access the controlled document. You may request access to the controlled document until 11 September 2023.

AWARD INFORMATION:

1. ANTICIPATED AWARD DATE: January 8, 2024

Approved for Public Release

BAA: W56KGU-23-R-RTID White Paper Call 007

2. ANTCIPATED FUNDING: Under this call, the Government intends to award up to five contract(s) with a Period of Performance (PoP) of January 8, 2024 through January

07, 2026. The option years are not guaranteed and are based on funding availability.

The anticipated funding for this call is up to $10 million 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 $250,000 to $4,000,000. 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 the General Information of BAA W56KGU-23-R-RTID.

Respondents that submit a proposal without first submitting a WP may not be eligible for an award.

4. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: WP should not exceed 10 pages in length (single sided, single spaced, with 12-size font). The 10-page limitation does not include the Rough-Order-of-Magnitude (ROM) or the Cover Page. Refer to baseline BAA W56KGU-

23-R-RTID for all other instructions on WP preparation, submission, and evaluation.

5. QUESTIONS DUE DATE AND TIME: Technical questions are due no later than 25 August 2023, 3:00 pm EDT via email RTI Directorate BAA Mailbox listed below. Questions and answers will be posted to sam.gov.

The government will publish questions and answers received by industry to sam.gov, via a revision to this Data Call, per ADDENDUM 001, Technical Questions and Clarifications, herein.

6. WHITE PAPER DUE DATE AND TIME: WPs are due no later than 11 September

2023, 3:00 pm EDT via email to the RTI BAA Mailbox.

RTI BAA Mailbox: usarmy.apg.devcom-c5isr.mbx.rti-baa@army.mil