MASE Project SEEM Program Call 008

REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:

1. BACKGROUND: The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate (RV) Geospace Technologies Division (RVB) Geospace Environment Impacts and Applications Branch’s
(RVBX) Space Environment Exploitation and Mitigation (SEEM) program is interested in applied research and development and advanced technology to help mitigate space environmental impacts on Department of Defense (DoD) operational systems. The SEEM Program full text FA9453-19-S-0001 outlines the general objectives of the Technical Topic Area A: Solar, Solar Wind, and Ionospheric Effects of this Call.

2. DESCRIPTION: As part of the SEEM Program research mission requirements, there is a demand to implement land scatter models into simulated HF Skywave propagation. Such models help inform our overall picture of the space environment and ultimately specify impacts to DoD systems. Current operational land scatter models only use a global empirical value for backscatter, which can be inaccurate depending on the location and the environment around it. We are seeking a better fundamental understanding of HF clutter generated from land scatter and how it varies from location to location. By utilizing regional or global models of vegetation and soil characteristic such as salinity, moisture and impedance AFRL believes that better representations of the space environment can be constructed to provide more accurate information and better meet the needs of the DoD.

3. OBJECTIVE: See attached Statement of Objectives entitled, “Topic: Land Scatter Model of Ionospheric Effects,” dated 1 May 2023, for specifics to this Call. The Statement of Objectives (SOO), included as Attachment 1, provides the Government’s overall objectives for this solicitation. Offerors shall use the SOO, together with other applicable portions of this Call, as the basis for preparing their proposal, including the Contractor Statement of Work (CSOW) and milestones. The offerors shall ensure all aspects of the SOO are addressed. The CSOW should specify in clear, understandable terms the work to be done in meeting the SOO. Preparation of an effective CSOW requires an understanding of the technical aspects that are needed to satisfy a particular objective and an ability to define what is required in specific, performance based, quantitative terms. The offerors understanding of both required technical skills, and work effort required should be fully demonstrated in the offeror's proposed CSOW. The offeror shall use its proposed CSOW to prepare data requirements and milestones. All data requirements shall be traceable to specific tasks defined in the CSOW.

Please see Call 008 Announcement Final Attachment for additional details.