Request For Information (RFI) Joint C-sUAS Office (JCO) FY25 Demonstration 6

Request for Information

Joint C-sUAS Office (JCO) FY25 Demonstration 6 RFI to Industry

INTRODUCTION

The Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) Office (JCO) is seeking information from industry to inform our next demonstration, in or around March 2025. Industry’s responses to this RFI will enable the JCO to refine the requirements of the demonstration and better understand availability of technology to target proper dates to execute the demonstration.

The JCO is interested to understand industry’s C-sUAS capabilities that can operate in a contested electromagnetic environment. The JCO intends to focus the FY25 Demonstration 6 within two topic areas:

1. Group 3 short range defeat: Systems used to detect, track, identify, and defeat (DTID) Group 3 UAS within 2km slant range from the C-sUAS platform. The JCO is specifically interested in small arms munitions at or below 40mm and kinetic interceptor effectors.
2. Groups 1 and 2 dismounted DTID: Systems used by dismounted forces to detect, track, identify, and/or defeat Group 1-2 UAS. This includes handheld weapons, personal weapon affixable systems such as enhanced optics and warfighter wearable systems.

The C-sUAS capabilities that meet the description above must be able to successfully operate in a contested electromagnetic environment within the frequency ranges of 30 MHz – 20,000 MHz.

Contested electromagnetic environment is defined as an operating environment where the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) is experiencing interference or adversary effects across the spectrum, to include active jamming.

Successful operation within a contested electromagnetic environment means that the C-sUAS platform must be able to detect, track, identify, and defeat for Group 3 short range defeat, or the C-sUAS platform must be able to detect, track, identify, and/or defeat Group 1-2 UAS. The sensor systems must effectively operate while being actively interfered with or targeted by adversary jamming systems or experiencing other electromagnetic interference. The sensor systems must then accurately cue effector systems that are impacted by the contested electromagnetic environment. Finally, the effector systems then must effectively defeat, deny, or degrade threat UAS within this contested environment.

Methods to enable system resiliency and successful operation within a contested electromagnetic environment may include but are not limited to the following: incorporating low probability of detect (LPD), low probability of intercept (LPI), adaptive beamforming, frequency hop, and other means to maneuver across the EMS. The C-sUAS platforms must have the ability to understand they are being impacted within the EMS and autonomously maneuver elsewhere within the EMS or enact other resiliency measures to enable functionality, continued operation, and successful mission performance.

RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS

Respondents are asked to provide responses to the following questions.

1. Capability: Does your solution have a C-sUAS capability that meets the description within either topic 1 or 2 listed above while also being able to successfully operate within a contested electromagnetic environment between the frequency ranges of 30 MHz – 20,000 MHz?

   1. If so, provide a description of what types of sensors and effectors the solution uses.
      1. Describe which method the solution uses to enable resiliency within a contested electromagnetic environment against jamming or other adversary electromagnetic effects.
      2. List the frequency ranges that your solution operates in.
   2. If not, inform us of which frequency ranges can be contested by jamming or other adversary electromagnetic effects and still successfully operate your solution.
2. Availability: Will your C-sUAS platform be available to demonstrate its capabilities by 1 March 2025?
   1. If not, please state when your C-sUAS platform will be available to demonstrate.
3. Exportability: Is your C-sUAS platform that will be used to meet the needs outlined above exportable?
   1. If so, please list the countries you have a license to export to. Additionally, please provide the approved DSP-5, and/or the approved DPS-83/85.
   2. If not, do you foresee a problem obtaining exportability licenses by 28 February 2025? Any approved licensing must be completed by this date. Please list which countries you forecast obtaining an exportability license for by this date.

CLARIFYING INFORMATION

This is a Request for Information (RFI). Both large and small businesses are encouraged to respond. This request is for planning purposes, and shall not be construed as a solicitation announcement, invitation for bids, request for proposals, request for quotes, or an indication that the Government will contract for the items contained in this notice. Interested contractors are invited to provide responses to the questions provided. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any cost associated with the submission of the information being requested or reimburse expenses incurred to the interested parties for responses. This request does not constitute a solicitation for proposals or the authority to enter into negotiations to award a contract. The information provided may be used by the Military Services as general market research to aid in developing their acquisition strategy, statement of work / performance work statements, and/or statement of objectives for other efforts and RCCTO may share any or all submissions with other Military Services. Interested parties are responsible to adequately mark proprietary, restricted or competition sensitive information contained in their response accordingly.

Based on responses from this RFI, the Government anticipates releasing a solicitation or request for quote in 4QFY24. The demonstration is projected to take place during 2QFY25 but may be refined based on industry response of availability of technology, funding availability and mission priorities to meet the C-sUAS capability needs outlined above.

RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

All written responses shall be submitted no later than Tuesday, 06 August 2024, at 1600 hours EDT via email submission to Ms. Jolynda Ivy.

Subject line must read RFI/JCO FY25 Demonstration 6-[Company Name]. Example: RFI/JCO Demonstration 6-ABC Inc.

Please submit all RFI responses in writing to jolynda.v.ivy.civ@army.mil only.

Limit response length to three pages (single space, no larger than size 12 font).

Contractors shall not contact any Government personnel regarding this RFI other than the individual designated above. Contacting any Government personnel other than the individual designated above may result in an organizational conflict of interest (OCI) and may result in a contractor being excluded from any subsequent related competition and corresponding consideration for award.