USSOCOM_BAAST2015_Appendix_M_FY18_Finalv1.pdf

SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES ACQUISITION, TECHNOLOGY, AND LOGISTICS

DIRECTORATE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (SOF AT&L-ST)

APPENDIX M

TO

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT

USSOCOM-BAAST-2015

1.0 Introduction: USSOCOM Science and Technology Directorate’s (SOF AT&L-ST) vision is to Discover, Enable, and Transition technologies to provide an asymmetric advantage for Special

Operations Forces (SOF). SOF AT&L-ST has identified specific technology Areas of Interest to accelerate the delivery of innovative capabilities to the SOF warfighter.

2.0 General:

2.1 Agency: United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)

2.2 Program Office: Science and Technology Directorate (SOF AT&L-ST)

2.3 BAA Number: USSOCOM-BAAST-2015

2.4 BAA Addendum Title: SOF AT&L-ST Appendix M

2.5 Points of Contact (POCs):

Contracting Officer:

Primary: Ms. Sonia Lizotte, Phone 813-826-1066

Email sonia.lizotte@socom.mil

Alternate: Ms. Sharon May, Phone 813-826-7061

Email sharon.may@socom.mil

Technical POC:

Ms. Damian Guinn, Phone 813-826-7416

Email damian.guinn@socom.mil

3.0 Closing Date: This BAA Addendum will close on June 15, 2018, at 11:59 p.m. EDT, unless superseded, amended, or cancelled. White papers may be submitted any time during this period subject to the submission process described in this addendum and the BAA.

4.0 Technology Areas of Interest:

Special Operations Forces (SOF) are designed for ambiguous environments and will be in the forefront of the United States efforts to confront an emerging reality where any opponent possesses potential for overmatching capabilities. The new “normal” for SOF will be to operate in satellite denied/disrupted environments, under threat of targeting by high-end military capabilities, including Weapons of Mass Destruction, where the cyber and Electronic Warfare domains are contested and increased scrutiny is routine.

Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Directorate of Science and Technology (S&T), is interested in receiving white papers from all responsible sources in industry, academia, Government and individuals interested in pursuing, developing and evolving capabilities that must be made available to the Operator in the field within the next 5-7 years in order to achieve mailto:sonia.lizotte@socom.mil mailto:sharon.may@socom.mil mailto:damian.guinn@socom.mil mission success in the Future Operating Environment. SOF seeks to become more LETHAL, more AVAILABLE, more INVISIBLE, more OMNISCIENT and more INVULNERABLE.

The Directorate has identified the need for a broad array of integrated, innovative and disruptive capabilities in the following challenge areas:

4.1 Next Generation Identification and Characterization:

USSOCOM must be able to identify and characterize in a near-peer, contested environment, without airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (AISR) assets. Adversary capabilities in the future operating environment will limit or completely deny the use of intrusive, large-scale AISR and other collection platforms. The prevalence of commercial technology for encryption, electromagnetic and cyber effects, communications, data mining and related tools will hinder traditional collection methodologies. Next Generation Identification and

Characterization must adopt and integrate tools such as cameras, commercial data, private access to space, the Internet of Things and the vast amounts of data being collected by individuals, governments and data-oriented corporation to evolve traditional methods. Applicable areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

4.1.1 Integrated technical surveillance, clandestine methods of entry, small/niche autonomous sensors, tactical cyber and electronic warfare.

4.1.2 Development of standoff/remote biometric sensors that identify and characterize individuals based upon physical, behavioral, physiological, and electromagnetic signatures that can be compared to a known baseline. Candidate biometrics include facial recognition, gait analysis, anatomical measures, electromagnetic signal localization, odor, gestures, and others that can be analyzed to collectively gain fidelity on identity.

4.1.3 An advanced data architecture and development of analytical tools to provide real-time information from data. Includes some Big Data aggregation and analysis tools, but is considered effective when small-scale data elements are found for identification and characterization, and includes trust authentication/protocols.

4.1.4 A compatible and networked collection of advanced sensors and autonomous sensors, including small autonomous systems and low-signature and unattended sensors, tied to data exfiltration systems of fused data.

4.1.5 Development of miniaturized intelligence sensors, tracking devices, and data delivery systems.

4.1.6 Integration of Artificial Intelligence-based tools to perform tasks such as object/action/pattern recognition and segmentation, while working towards predictive analysis of intent.

4.1.7 Decentralized data processing and processing at the ‘edge’ by way of ‘intelligent’ sensors

(i.e. device-to-device Internet of Things).

4.1.8 Ability to apply machine learning algorithms and Internet of Things technologies to the

Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum to provide a broad understanding and identification of the signals being intercepted. Needs the ability for feature learning (Characterization), attention and salience (algorithms to direct), autonomous RF-sensor configuration and automatic waveform synthesis. Ability to detect RF signals from a few Hz up to 6GHz in austere environments with limited to low signature while providing geolocation and exploitation of such signals in near real-time.

4.1.9 Advanced Analytics that reduce the time associated with transforming recovered or captured material from raw data into actionable intelligence. Efforts could include embedded and/ or networked Artificial Intelligence at the tactical edge or beyond, machine learning and task automation. A side benefit of which would be reduction in bandwidth required to transmit raw data.

4.1.10 Technologies that can be employed as a payload to disrupt, degrade or destroy ships, and that can be delivered by a swimmer, or by unmanned platforms by land, air, or sea.

4.1.11 Technologies that can deliver a non-reversible effect on a moving target vessel via an unmanned underwater vehicle without betraying hostile intent.

4.2 Strategic and Tactical Signature Management

USSOCOM must be able to reduce, obscure, modify or eliminate all observable signature to avoid compromise on deployment, infiltration, and actions on the objective. The prevalence of commercial technology for encryption, electromagnetic effects, cyber, communications, data mining, and related tools will expose USSOCOM to new threats. Non-state actors will have access to very nearly the same capabilities from the commercial marketplace, creating new vulnerabilities that put USSOCOM’s ability to maintain strategic and tactical surprise at risk.

Strategic and Tactical signature management will require the adoption and integration of new technical tools and Tactics, Techniques and Procedures to ensure USSOCOM maintains its ability to project decisive force across the globe, in any environment, against any adversary.

Applicable areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

4.2.1 New technologies to mask visual, audible, Radio Frequency and thermal signature of personnel and manned/unmanned platforms and sensors.

4.2.2 Development of a hardened Radio Frequency/electronic posture across USSOCOM to minimize cyber hacking and open source exploitation vulnerabilities.

4.2.3 Ability to identify and mitigate threats to force and alerting signatures generated by social media, Internet of Things, and personal electronic devices.

4.2.4 Incorporation of defensive Radio Frequency and cyber capabilities across the operational continuum.

4.2.5 Methods to use existing commercial communications architecture to send and receive secure communication without alerting authorities or network administrators.

4.3 Contested Environment Situational Awareness

USSOCOM must be able to leverage emerging technology to visualize, understand and surveil complex urban and subterranean environments. Future USSOCOM operations will likely be conducted within a highly technical, very large, densely populated city environment. Applicable areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

4.3.1 Development of integrated solutions capable of rapidly characterizing and mapping complex urban and subterranean environments. Man, swimmer, Unmanned Underwater

Vehicle (UUV) or aircraft portable capabilities that can see-through structures (including metal) or densely forested areas, analyze structural material composition, perform 3-D mapping of an environment, and detect and define moving and stationary objects within a room.

4.3.2 Capture and accurate rendering of functional, realistic virtual models of any environment in near-real time to assist with mission planning and execution.

4.3.3 Use of cyber and open-source media tools to enhance real-time situational awareness.

4.4 Countering Autonomous Systems

USSOCOM must be able to anticipate how adversaries will employ autonomous systems and identify technology to defeat and exploit these systems, or mitigate their tactical advantages. The threats of adversarial use of unmanned and autonomous technology, including new ways to employ that technology, is growing. Enemy personnel utilize unmanned systems to achieve early warning, initiate and adjust direct fire engagements and trigger improvised explosive devices.

USSOCOM requires the ability to fully and effectively identify and defeat unmanned and autonomous systems employed against the force. Applicable areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

4.4.1 Detection of enemy unmanned and autonomous sytems regardless of Command and

Control links.

4.4.2 Defeat or effective neutralization or capture and exploitation of all adversary autonomous systems, regardless of Command Control links or delivery (air/sea/land) at a tactically relevant range.

4.5 Tactical Communications and Navigation

USSOCOM must be able to communicate and navigate in a contested electromagnetic spectrum, without the use of United States Government (USG) satellites. The growth and proliferation of commercial and foreign space capabilities, along with the ability to deny/spoof space-based signals currently relied upon for communication and navigation, will continue to narrow the relative advantage of USSOCOM. New methods of communication and navigation are required to maintain security and enable effective operations in the future environment. Applicable areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

4.5.1 Defend the network against cyber and electronic warfare attacks in highly contested or denied electromagnetic environments, created by intentional or unintentional limitations in the areas of communications, navigation information and timing signals.

4.5.2 Develop expeditionary communication and Position, Navigation and Timing capabilities that function in remote locations, highly contested or denied environments, are device agnostic (plug and play), have Low Probability of Intercept/Detection (LPI/LPD) and do not rely on USG satellites.

4.5.3 Incorporation of encryption and validation capabilities to assure the veracity of information used for command, control and targeting.

4.6 Tactical Remote/Autonomous Systems and Human Machine Interface

USSOCOM must be able to identify tasks where unmanned system performance can exceed human capabilities and seamlessly integrate visualization and control functions to expand and enhance an individual operator’s situational awareness and lethality on the battlefield. The growing utilization and dependence of technical equipment and unmanned systems by United

States forces and the increasing capabilities offered significantly burdens USSOCOM personnel.

Currently the focus and human input required to operate remote equipment significantly detracts from focus that can be applied elsewhere. The additional cognitive load not only limits operational effectiveness but degrades the opportunity to fully leverage developing technical capabilities on the objective. Requisite training and education on current systems burdens operators and takes valuable time from other tactical training requirements. Highly desired:

4.6.1 Enhanced human-machine interface to allow the ingestion of collected information and the control of technical and unmanned systems with minimal operator focus.

4.6.2 Automation of tasks suited for technical accomplishment thereby lowering Special

Operations personnel’s cognitive load during combat operations.

4.6.3 Ability to protect eyes while displaying to an operator a range of visually consumable data and also allow normal unaided vision.

4.6.4 Organic, over-the-horizon, standoff precision engagement system, that is dismounted, mobile or platform-based to identify, target and selectively engage to guide scalable and lethal kinetic munitions to multiple targets.

4.6.5 Technologies for launch/recovery from sea, air, and/or land providing integrated

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance across sensors while operating autonomously.

4.6.6 Technologies for unmanned underwater vehicle operations that enable employment of tagging, tracking, and locating sensors. Must be able to transmit reports to either land, air, or sea based receivers.

5.0 Supplemental Submission Instructions and Information:

5.1 Submission Website: All Offeror’s submitting white papers shall complete requisite data fields for USSOCOM-BAAST-15 Appendix M at the following URL:

https://www.socom.mil/SOF-ATL/Pages/baa.aspx. If you experience problems uploading attachments, you are still required to complete requisite data fields and then email attachments to

BAAST15M@socom.mil. Subject line of email should state, “White Paper-Topic Area-

STBAA15M-Company Name.”

5.2 Technology Development Cost and Schedule: Offerors are advised to consider a limit of not more than $3 million total cost of development and not more than 36 months to complete all efforts for each submission under USSOCOM-BAAST-2015 Appendix M. Offerors may exceed this amount, but they may or may not be considered for award due to cost and schedule constraints and/or other statutory or regulatory requirements.

5.3 White Paper Review Periods: USSOCOM SOF AT&L-ST intends to conduct scientific reviews within approximately 45 days of the closure of this addendum. At the end of the review, USSOCOM will notify Offerors whether their white papers were selected for submission of a proposal. For planning purposes, a notional white paper evaluation schedule is provided. Future changes to this notional schedule may not be published and are at the sole discretion of the

Government.

5.3.1 Notional Evaluation Period – White papers submitted from May 17, 2018, to June 15, 2018, will be evaluated from June 16, 2018, to July 30, 2018, with Offerors being contacted regarding the scientific review results of their white papers in August 2018.

https://www.socom.mil/SOF-ATL/Pages/baa.aspx mailto:BAAST15M@socom.mil

6.0 White Paper Review Criteria

6.1 Review Criteria: The Government will review each white paper and select the Offerors that have the greatest potential to meet the needs of USSOCOM technology requirements.

Initially, a determination will be made if each Offeror is technically qualified and has a comprehensive understanding to undertake the development of the technology based on the information stated in the white paper. In accordance with USSOCOM-BAAST-2015, Section

4.3.1, the Government will determine the most technically competent and capable of the qualified Offerors using the following criteria:

Importance to Agency Programs: The degree to which the technical approach is relevant to the proposed area of interest.

Technical: The degree to which the technical approach is innovative, feasible, achievable, complete and supported by a technical team that has the expertise and experience to accomplish the proposed tasks. This includes an evaluation of the probability for transition of this effort into an acquisition program, a military system, or other military capability.

Schedule: The degree to which the proposed schedule is achievable; the resources, facilities, and equipment available; and the allocation of time per major task.

Funding Availability: The Government will review the proposed Rough Order of

Magnitude to determine if it is a fair estimate of the proposed scope of work and whether funds are available to support the proposed scope of work.