TROUT SOW.docx

G-6-xxxx

AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY

ROME RESEARCH SITE

ROME, NEW YORK

STATEMENT OF WORK

FOR

BLUE TACTICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR OPERATIONAL UBIQUITOUS TECHNOLOGY (TROUT)

PCSN TBD

10 JUNE 2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 OBJECTIVE.

To research, develop, enhance, maintain, upgrade and integrate technologies to develop digital signal processing capabilities that will scan through the radio frequency (RF) spectrum to detect high priority emissions, as well as research, develop, upgrade and integrate technology that will provide collection, detection, exploitation and geolocation capabilities of high-priority and emerging signals of interest (SOI) for various AF and DoD collection platforms. This effort will focus on providing real-time processing solutions and expanding the unique knowledge and experience base to automatically extract the contents of the transmissions and provide time-critical alerts and information on the signals collected. Additionally, this effort will develop prototype systems that can be rapidly fielded, upgraded and transitioned to operational warfighters to address current and emerging requirements.

The objective of the effort is to develop, enhance and upgrade capabilities for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions and Offensive Cyber Operations (OCO). The focus is distributed along two general lines of effort: ISR capabilities for “Blue” tactical and strategic forces, and capabilities for cyberspace operations. Work undertaken will intrinsically develop, improve, and/or advance capabilities for both ISR and OCO. Unique signal processing methods will be explored to expand multi-“INT” ISR capabilities and facilitate new access techniques OCO opportunities. Innovative Cyberspace applications will create capabilities for network awareness and effects while exposing new ISR opportunities. This is critical to the creation of coherent EMS/Cyberspace capabilities for warfighter success in Multi-Domain Operations.

2.0 SCOPE

2.1 The effort will research, develop, maintain and upgrade new signal processing systems and capabilities to access and exploit signals of interest. These technologies will further advance the Air Force’s body of knowledge in both the cyber and SIGINT domains through research and development of innovative concepts and advancement of state-of-the-art SIGINT related capabilities including real-time collection, geolocation and signal understanding. Technologies developed under this effort should be appropriate for near term transitions to operational warfighters. The scope includes:

2.1.1 Research and develop signal processing systems that will detect, collect, derive and geolocate current and emerging signals of interest.

2.1.2 Research and develop methods for detecting identifiable information on systems and signals of interest.

2.1.3 Improve scanning fidelity of prior system capabilities. Scan the RF for both analog and digital signals, and then analyze the contents of these signals to determine the existence of relevant content.

2.1.4 Develop hardware and software prototype capabilities at the Rome Research Site and at the Stockbridge Experimentation and Test Facility for open air calibration and testing to assess both SIGINT and cyber systems and techniques.

2.1.5 Develop new algorithm capabilities to process emerging technologies for eventual near-term transition to systems which provide data to evolving airborne, ground-based and maritime SIGINT missions.

2.1.6 Research and develop integration methods to include new open architecture technologies such as RF-Next to improve channel analysis capabilities on specific signal types.

2.1.7 Implement and integrate applicable technologies into the Open Architecture Technology Laboratory (OATL) as proof-of-concept thereby enabling the creation of open architecture SIGINT Software Defined Radio (SDR) solutions using industry standard and frameworks to facilitate the field of these solutions in a cost effective manner into the Air Force enterprise.

2.1.8 Deliver prototype software based systems that will process these detected signals and either extract identifiable information or forward for follow-on processing development.

2.1.9 Deliver prototype application systems that will identify hardware-specific systems, demodulate their emissions and determine if the data is relevant.

2.1.10 Deliver prototype systems that will scan the RF, find signals of interest, perform sub-processing routines and analyze the signal contents for the presence of identifiable information.

2.1.11 Enhance, upgrade and conduct limited sustainment and enhancement of developed software and hardware.

3.0 BACKGROUND

3.1 Emerging adversarial threats are taking advantage of a dizzying array of new technologies, simultaneously using multiple portions of the electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace. ISR is driven by Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) processes, however modern communications are diminishing current ISR effectiveness. As such, novel processing techniques are required to provide decision-makers with relevant information in near real-time. New technologies will enable edge processing against emerging communications targets. Software Defined Radio development will be heavily leveraged to promote modularity in distribution of the newly developed capabilities. New algorithms will be developed for implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) (AI/ML) methodologies to add greater autonomy to manned and unmanned sensors. SIGINT technologies process information on various communications mediums, operating in adverse and continuously changing environments. Conducting operations against uncooperative, denied targets where noise, channel conditions and obfuscation efforts frequently vary presents significant challenges. As time is critical and ISR mission analysts' workload is high, automation capabilities will be developed. Junior operators, aided by AI/ML, will have simplified processing tools for gathering intelligence. Automation in modulation identification, internal data structures and overall signal classification will stream-line exploitation as the Government pushes towards autonomous operations. SIGINT research and development for ISR will be grouped into three broad technology areas: Information Extraction, Signal Processing, and Automation Enhancements. Information Extraction mines information from broadband signals to identify and catalog Signals of Interest (SOI). Signal Processing distinguishes the signal communication layers for the information extraction capabilities. This area represents research and reverse engineering of complex radio frequency (RF) waveforms to recover channel or multiple channels data. Automation Enhancements uses AI/ML to automate the manual signal processing techniques currently in practice which are grossly insufficient against the emerging electromagnetic spectrum.

Cyberspace, like ISR, is growing continually complex. Higher network speeds and data capacities, exponential device growth and interconnected mediums make cyberspace an ever-increasingly difficult environment to conduct operations. And like ISR, the techniques by which the Government conducts operations must embrace new and innovative approaches. Greater efforts will be made to automate the processing and understanding of the Open System Interconnection (OSI) layers. New techniques for access and maneuverability will be discovered and created, giving greater situational awareness and vulnerability analysis. The OCO line of efforts, in concert with ISR approaches, will focus on: access methods; data and packet analysis; network topologies and logic structures; and user characterization. Automation of the characterization and analysis processes will be greatly aided by AI/ML.

4.0 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

4.1 The Contractor shall accomplish the following as tasked. The requirements may encompass rapid Research & Development (R&D), design, prototyping, demonstration, scenario development, experimentation and evaluation, integration, testing, technical installation, and transition. These Contractor shall address requirements relevant to ISR and/or cyber related activities. When applicable, usage of open architecture frameworks shall be used for development of software capabilities. Installation and fielding of developed technologies shall be accomplished with coordination of Government (both AFRL & Transition Partner) entities.

4.1.1 ISR Comment by EDICK, SETH R CIV USAF AFMC AFRL/RIKD: 4.1.1 - 4.1.1.7.2 are nearly identical to both SOWs

4.1.1.1 Perform in-depth analysis of network and binary data structures to formulate decoding methods to incorporate into real-time processing solutions.

4.1.1.2 Perform reverse engineering techniques on targeted technologies to devise flexible processing solutions.

4.1.1.3 Develop automated processing capabilities against complex communications transmissions to include modulation identification, internal data structure mapping and overall automated classification.

4.1.1.4 Develop signal conditioning techniques and advanced waveform modulation capabilities.

4.1.1.5 Develop software to provide RF spectrum scanning and energy detection capabilities.

4.1.1.6 Develop methods for advanced geolocation capabilities.

4.1.1.6.1 Design, develop, integrate and test techniques for advanced geolocation from multiple hardware and software platforms to geolocate signals of interest.

4.1.1.6.2 Design, develop and integrate tracking methods with new and existing geolocation algorithms to track moving signals of interest.

4.1.1.6.3 Research and design tools to enhance the geolocation mission definition to maximize geolocation performance.

4.1.1.7 Develop methods for development of both emerging signals and high-priority undeveloped legacy signals as required.

4.1.1.7.1 Perform signal research by both leveraging current techniques and investigating new and emerging signal processing techniques to detect and process these signals.

4.1.1.7.2 Research, access and collect Internet-of-Things (IOT) device communications using signals of interest.

4.1.2 OCO Comment by EDICK, SETH R CIV USAF AFMC AFRL/RIKD: Appears to be the only unique requirements between the two

4.1.2.1 Assess techniques essential for cyber operations.

4.1.2.2 Perform leading edge research, development, enhancement, and integration to demonstrate, and implement technologies and concepts which focus on mission-based cyber defense or offense.

4.1.2.3 Research, develop, enhance, and integrate cyber capabilities to affect adversary perceptions, reaction, and ability to conduct operations.

4.1.2.4 Research, develop, enhance, and integrate capabilities to facilitate freedom of operation in cyberspace while denying adversaries the same ability.

4.1.2.5 Research, develop, enhance, and integrate technologies that provide Signals Intelligence, Computer Network Intelligence, Cyber Intelligence, and other relevant intelligence to achieve information dominance through processing of data from intelligence sensors.

4.1.2.6 Reduce the workload of the ISR operator/analyst by developing automated processes to identify, extract, analyze, correlate, sort and report information for further intelligence analysis, collection mission management, and warfighter action.

4.1.3 Open Architectures – Integration and testing in representative environments

4.1.3.1 Use a common open framework architecture for SDR capability development. The architectures used could be open source examples such as RF-Next, OpenCPI or be government-provided such as Airborne Mission Systems Government Reference Architecture (AMS GRA) or Photon.

4.1.3.2 Refine existing and add new capabilities for OATL using the standard development architectures noted in paragraph 4.1.3.1 or other new architectures as appropriate.

4.1.3.3 Integrate and test new signal capabilities in a variety of open architectures to adhere to government and effectiveness standards.

4.1.3.4 Research and integrate new emerging hardware into the OATL.

4.1.3.5 Perform data collection and processing analysis, demonstrated through simulated real-world environment at the USAF Stockbridge Test Facility to enable SIGINT system testing and evaluations. Comment by EDICK, SETH R CIV USAF AFMC AFRL/RIKD: Requirements here are same as 4.1.1.8 - 4.1.5.1

4.1.3.6 Develop customized hardware and/or software designs for digital signals processing solutions using SDR platforms.

4.1.4 Operations and Maintenance - Perform installation of system components resulting from ongoing research and development in representative environments.

4.1.4.1 Develop concept of operations for implementation and integration of developed signal processing solutions.

4.1.4.2 Field test and demonstrate system updates.

4.1.4.3 Perform training and transition documentation and assistance when deploying new systems.

4.1.4.4 Perform software/hardware integration of newly developed technologies onto operational platforms.

4.1.4.5 Perform software updates to incorporate new capabilities derived from ongoing research and development.

4.1.4.6 Perform software updates to address security vulnerabilities and stability issues throughout lifecycle.

4.1.4.7 Perform analysis to determine alternative methods to meet specific mission requirements.

4.1.4.8 Perform preventive and corrective hardware maintenance on installed systems throughout the lifecycle.

4.1.4.9 Perform field testing, evaluation and system demonstrations throughout the lifecycle.

4.1.4.10 Perform trade-off studies to determine best methods to meet specific mission requirements.

4.1.5 Prototyping and platform integration design and development

4.1.5.1 Purchase and develop appropriate platforms designed to fulfill customer requirements, form factor and Size, Weight, and Power (SWAP) constraints as determined through customer interactions and operational requirements for prototypes and platforms.

1. Contract, Contract number, Name and Title of Person(s) Reporting

1. Date, Time and exact location of accident/incident

1. Brief Narrative of accident/incident (events leading to accident/incident)

1. Cause of accident/incident (if known)

1. Type of injuries resulting from the accident/incident and estimated cost of accident/incident (material and labor to replace/repair)

1. Nomenclature of equipment involved in accident/incident

1. Personnel involved in accident/incident

1. Corrective Actions (taken or proposed)

1. Other pertinent information

4.2.1 Continually determine the status of the effort and report progress toward accomplishment of contract requirements.

4.2.2 Document the details of all technical work accomplished and information gained during the reporting period to permit full understanding of technologies and procedures used in the development process. Include all system designs, operation instructions and technical specifications.

4.2.3 Continually determine the status of funding required for task performance, e.g., Cost Funds Status Report (CFSR).

4.2.4 Conduct oral presentations on technical status at such times and places designated in the task schedules.

4.2.4.1 Kick-Off presentations will be accomplished within thirty (30) days after award of each individual order.

4.2.5 Document all technical work accomplished and information gained during performance of this acquisition. Include all pertinent observations, nature of problems, positive and negative results, and design criteria established where applicable. Document procedures followed, processes developed, “Lessons Learned”, etc. Document the details of all technical work to permit full understanding of the techniques and procedures used in evolving technology or processes developed. Cross-reference separate design, engineering, or process specifications delivered to permit a full understanding of the total acquisition.

4.3 SOFTWARE/HARDWARE

4.3.1 Deliver all software/hardware developed, assembled or acquired to the Government in accordance with the task schedules and the following:

4.3.1.1 Deliver all software developed under all task efforts as source and object (executable) code. Include the commented source listings.

4.3.1.2 Document all software prototypes in the form of a User’s Manual

4.3.1.3 Develop software under all task efforts to be completely maintainable and modifiable with no reliance on any non-delivered computer programs or documentation.

4.4 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

4.4.1 Comply with all safety and health requirements necessary for the protection of personnel, facilities and equipment including, but not limited to, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, while performing this contract at AFRL RRS, Rome, NY. It is the contractor’s sole responsibility to make certain that all safety requirements are met.

accident/incident (material and labor to replace/repair)

f. Nomenclature of equipment involved in accident/incident

g. Personnel involved in accident/incident

h. Corrective Actions (taken or proposed)

i. Other pertinent information

4.4.2 AFRL RRS uses a Safety and Health Management System (SHMS) to implement and manage its safety programs. A SHMS is a systematic approach to managing safety and health activities by integrating occupational safety and health programs, policies, and objectives into organizational policies and procedures. Simply stated, a SHMS is a set of safety of health and program components that interact in an organized way. An effective SHMS consists of five critical elements that apply safety and health management practices of employers who have been successful in protecting the safety and health of their employees. All contractors are required to familiarize themselves with the requirements of a SHMS. An example of a SHMS is OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). Detailed information on VPP is available at the OSHA website at http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/index.html. On-site contractors are required to attend the Local Conditions for Newcomers (Course 2) as part of in-processing at AFRL RRS.

4.5 Security Risk Review – AFRLI 61-113

4.5.1 Contractor employees during the performance of this effort may be required to have access to Critical Technology Elements (CTE), Enabling technologies, Critical Program Information (CPI) or other potential sensitive information. Contractor employees will be required to protect this information from disclosure to unauthorized personnel and companies.

4.5.1.1 Provide a security plan to comply with the requirements of protection for this sensitive information when requested by the Government COTR/COR. (See CDRL, A00X – Security Plan)

4.5.1.2 Notify the Government immediately within 24 hrs of all security incidents involving loss, compromise, or suspected compromise of CTE/CPI IAW DoDM 5200.01-V3, Enclosure 6. CTE/CPI involved in the incident shall be specifically identified in inquiry and investigation reports.

4.5.1.3 Covered individuals shall be required to accomplish an updated, “Research and Related Senior/Key Person Profile” on an annual basis and be required to provide an updated list anytime new personnel join. In addition, whenever a new covered individual(s) is to be added or identified as performing under the funded project, a new Research and Related Senior and Key Person Profile will be required prior to continued performance. (See CDRL, A00X – R&R Profile)

4.5.1.4 If, at any time, during performance of this award, the contractor learns that its Senior/Key Research Personnel (including any sub awardee personnel who receive this designation) are or are believed to be participants in a Foreign Government Talent Program or have Foreign Components with a strategic competitor or country with a history of targeting U.S. technology for unauthorized transfer, the contractor will notify the Contracting/Agreements Officer within 5 business days of awareness.

4.5.1.5 In the event a security risk is identified, and the government has determined the security risk exceeds the acceptable threshold, the contractor will be notified and informed of the termination of award. The Government will be only required to provide a general statement of the reasoning due to government OPSEC measures.

4.5.1.6 Contractor will be required to flow down this provision to all sub awardees who have personnel designated as Senior/Key Research Personnel as a result of their involvement in the performance of the research.

4.5.2 If Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and associated Critical Information is involved in this effort, CUI shall be protected to prevent adversary collection and exploitation. Comply with DoDI 5200.48 CUI.

4.5.2.1 If requested by the Government COTR/COR, provide a security plan (or extract thereof) and any associated plans of action developed to satisfy the adequate security requirements of DFARS 252.204-7012, and in accordance with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171, “Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations” Revision 2 to describe the contractor’s unclassified Information System(s)/network(s) where Covered Defense Information (CDI) is associated with the execution and performance of this contract and is processed, is stored, or transmitted. CDRL, Security Plan, A0XX)

4.5.2.2 If applicable, ensure that all personnel involved in this effort take CUI training through MyLearning https://lms-jets.cce.af.mil/moodle/ (if they have CAC) or through CDSE at https://securityawareness.usalearning.gov/cui/index.html.

4.5.3 Operations Security (OPSEC). In accordance with AFI 10-701, implement OPSEC measures, which shall include ensuring employees receive training and follow appropriate OPSEC measures during the performance of the contract. Implement OPSEC measures and must be an integral part of the daily activities.

4.5.3.1 If requested by the Government COTR/COR, develop and implement an OPSEC Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) for review and approval by the Government (COTR and AFRL/RIOF) in accordance with the CDRL.

4.5.3.2 OPSEC Training: This program requires that contractor personnel maintain OPSEC posture through training for all contract personnel involved in this effort. Ensure that employees complete Level I OPSEC training within thirty (30) calendar days of joining the project team. Employees must also complete annual OPSEC awareness training.