SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- A Seamless Multi-Domain Communications Fabric across the Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C2ISR) enterprise. - RFI-AFRL-RIK-18-03
- Notice Date
- 5/17/2018
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541715
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL/RIK - Rome, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, New York, 13441-4514, United States
- ZIP Code
- 13441-4514
- Solicitation Number
- RFI-AFRL-RIK-18-03
- Point of Contact
- Dr. Lauren Huie, Phone: 315-330-3187, Mr. James Metzler, Phone: 315-330-4033
- E-Mail Address
-
Lauren.Huie@us.af.mil, James.Metzler@us.af.mil
(Lauren.Huie@us.af.mil, James.Metzler@us.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- A Seamless Multi-Domain Communications Fabric across the Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C2ISR) enterprise. Solicitation Number: RFI-AFRL-RIK-18-03 Notice Type: Special Notice Synopsis: Requests for Information (RFI) entitled "A Seamless Multi-Domain Communications Fabric" across the Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C2ISR) enterprise. FEDERAL AGENCY NAME: Department of Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL - Rome Research Site, AFRL/Information Directorate, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY, 13441-4514 1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION 1.1 THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue a RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, the Air Force is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement. 1.2 FEEDBACK. Submission of an abstract is voluntary. Respondents are advised that AFRL is under no obligation to provide feedback with respect to any information submitted under this RFI. 1.3 REGULATORY GUIDANCE. This publication constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) as defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e), "RFIs may be used when the Government does not presently intend to award a contract, but wants to obtain price, delivery, other market information, or capabilities for planning purposes. Responses to these notices are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract." 2.0 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) The Air Force Research Laboratory, Information Directorate (AFRL/RI) is seeking information to better understand existing vendor offerings and the landscape of research and development (R&D) on building a seamless multi-domain communications "network of networks" fabric across the Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C2ISR) enterprise. 2.1 STATUS QUO: The communications environment today consists of a multitude of communications systems designed to meet specific and often discrete needs. This has resulted in "stove pipe" systems which have limited interoperability due to system-unique technical, data, security, and interface standards. 2.2 TECHNICAL CHALLENGE: AFRL/RI envisions a seamless multi-domain communications "network of networks" fabric across the C2ISR enterprise. The goal is not a single network; rather, a "network of networks" paradigm that appears seamless to the user and encompasses various missions, geographic areas, and threat environments. The ability to communicate has huge impact, it goes beyond allowing users to talk to each other; for the military it enables not just a kill-chain (a linear sequence to find-fix-track-target-engage-assess) but rather a "kill-web" compromised of complex connections between assets facing potential disruptions from many different directions and failure points. Key to delivering any communication capability is understanding the network information exchange requirements (IERs) of each node (platform) type to support effective mission execution. These IERs, in turn, drive the characteristics incumbent upon the network - i.e. bandwidths, frequencies, latency, information priority to the mission, and how long a node will be present on the network; i.e. dedicated versus opportunistic. These networks must bridge and span enterprise, strategic, and tactical operations globally to include high capacity backbone & tactical mesh interconnects to the edge. Moving towards a network of networks paradigm, AFRL/RI is developing technologies to CONNECT - SECURE - SHARE. The Figure in Attachment 1 shows the strategic focus and technical challenges towards architecting a "network of networks". It is expected that a submission will address at least one of the following four technical thrusts. Further, for each proposed technology, the respondent should indicate the current technology readiness level (TRL). For the to-be-designed technologies, the respondent should provide the timeframe and rough cost estimate (non-binding) needed to reach TRL 6 within each technology area: 1. CONNECT: Communication Links and Networks The goal is to provide reliable wideband LOS/BLOS connectivity, which is survivable in a contested environment towards a secure tactical intranet. This encompasses both physical and network layer challenges to include waveforms, modulation, spectrum selection, and spectrum maneuver across bands e.g. multiple RF and optical. Key challenges at the physical layer include but are not limited to: Propagation in varying environments, Agility for spectrum maneuver, Link Survivability in contested environments. Key challenges at the network layer include but are not limited to: Provisioning for unanticipated users & nodes, Scalability, and Dynamic network topologies. The following cause challenges at both layers: User mobility (velocities, trajectories), Timing (synchronization/latency), Interference (Non-intentional / Intentional), and Power constraints. The capability to be spectrum-agile within and across multiple bands is critical to assured communications. This requires building Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) and Line of Sight (LOS) communications capabilities that support: (i) agile wideband communications; (ii) affordable, secure, and robust multi-mission RF functions; and (iii) advanced low probability of intercept (LPI), low probability of detection (LPD) for survivability. Key technologies that are poised to overcome these challenges include: waveform design, modulation techniques, quantum, multi-antenna technologies, mil-hardened software defined radio, intelligent apertures, sparsity, directional networking, tactical software defined networking, autonomous protocol development, and network monitoring and management. 2. SECURE: Secure Multi-Domain Architectures Data and information across multiple networks and devices must be secured before it is shared. Information resides at different security levels on different devices & networks where users have varying privileges. The ability to move information across networks and devices from multiple forms of information (e.g., voice, video, text, files) as well as between networks of differing classifications and releasabilities is a necessity. There are two key technical challenges: 1) transfer of information across networks and (2) access requiring trust in users and devices. A military-unique challenge is tactical information sharing across joint and coalition forces. Fundamental technical challenges to transfer and access information are exacerbated at the tactical edge due to mobility and coordination between different varying joint-coalition forces. Joint and coalition information sharing, has and continues to be a huge challenge. Within even a single security domain there are many different restrictions and distribution groups that span our joint and coalition partners. Currently, this is a mainly manual process which is extremely human intensive. The ability to learn the origin of information and how aggregation dictates distribution and restrictions is a core technical challenge, envisioned to be machine learning assisted. For example, currently a lieutenant can classify information but only a general officer can declassify it. The near term must begin to build milestones towards achieving this goal. Technologies developed enable secure connectivity across multiple security domains. Technologies that are poised to close the gap include but are not limited to: (1) high assurance internet protocol encryptor (HAIPE), and (2) machine learning for determining file source creation (human-assisted) and authorized distribution (e.g. course of action (COA) generation for network operators/C2). 3. SHARE: Secure Information as a Service The digital transformation has changed not only technology but the way commercial industry is doing business, with the adoption of the As-a-Service model. Commercial communication and network companies are aiming to provide, "Data as a Service", and "Information as a Service". We aim to provide "Secure Information as a Service". The emphasis on security is of strategic importance as in the commercial world the paradigm is to first connect then secure versus the military's security focused paradigm. The goal is to connect tactical information seamlessly across multiple domains on-demand, at scale. These goals synergize with "combat cloud" concepts. It includes data from current and future generation aircraft, sensors, and other sources, enabled by technologies including gateways, data links, and a distributed server infrastructure. Technologies poised to close these gaps include but are not limited to: 1) cloud computing for tactical - tailored for AF use-cases that balance security and distribution of information, data management and storage, 2) information priority and scheduling, and 3) information interoperability between varying message formats and sensor types. 4. Network Verification and Validation (V&V) for Contested Environments The capability to test the performance of capabilities developed within the CAD portfolio in real over-the-air environments and against realistic threats is of critical importance. V&V to CONNECT - SECURE - SHARE is tied to their position in protocol stack, e.g. the ability to connect requires physical and network layer capability while sharing primarily targets the application layer. This requires a combination of both modeling and simulation (M&S) capability as well as over-the-air test capability. These capabilities will enable side-by-side government V&V of communications and networking technologies in multi-mission scenarios, from permissive to contested environments, in order to assess operational relevance decreasing both cost and risk while increasing ease of integration. 3.0 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ABSTRACTS 3.1 CONTENT NO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RFI RESPONSE. 3.2 FORMAT All abstracts shall state that they are submitted in response to this announcement. The abstracts will be formatted as follows: Section A : A cover page identifying the company or organization, street address, and the names, emails and telephone numbers of the point of contact. In the case of partnerships, please provide the appropriate information for the lead POC. Also provide a short summary statement of the company's or party's experience/capabilities and a short summary of the organization's experience in the areas described above. This section is not included in the page count. Section B : Technical Summary. The Government is assessing the current state-of-the-art and future networked communications solutions. The RFI responses should describe the product solution proposed, address coverage of the requirements stated in this RFI by the proposed solution, explain the potential advantage to the Air Force, and provide a rough order of magnitude for the cost of the proposed solution. The abstracts shall be limited to 8 pages. All abstracts shall be double spaced with a font no smaller than 12pt font. All responses to this announcement must be addressed to the POCs, as discussed in Section 6.0 of this announcement. Respondents are required to submit at least one electronic copy to the Government technical point of contact (TPOC) in Microsoft Office Word. 3.3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. The submitted documentation and content thereof becomes the property of the U.S. Government and will not be returned. No solicitation documents exist at this time. This is NOT an Invitation for Bid (IFB) or a Request for Proposal (RFP). The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this request. This is a request for information announcement for planning purposes only. The Government will not reimburse costs associated with the documentation submitted under this request. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this inquiry. Although proposal terminology may be used in this inquiry, your response will be treated as information only and will not be used as a proposal. This announcement is not to be construed as a formal solicitation. It does not commit the Government to reply to information received, or to later publish a solicitation, or to award a contract based on this information. 3.4 PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. This notice is part of Government market research. Information received as a result of this request will be considered as sensitive and will be protected as such. Any company or industry proprietary information contained in responses should be clearly marked as such, by paragraph, such that publicly releasable and proprietary information are clearly distinguished. Any proprietary information received in response to this request will be properly protected from unauthorized disclosure. The Government will not use proprietary information submitted from any one source to establish the capability and requirements for any future acquisition, so as to inadvertently restrict competition. 4.0 INDUSTRY DISCUSSIONS. AFRL/RI representatives may or may not choose to meet with potential offerors. Such discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability to meet the requirements. 5.0 SPECIAL C ONSIDERATIONS. Multiple abstracts within the purview of this RFI announcement may be submitted by each responder. 7.0 SUBMISSION. RFI abstract due date is June 19, 2018. 8.0 AGENCY CONTACTS. Verification of government receipt or questions of a technical nature can be directed to the cognizant technical points of contact (TPOCs): Primary TPOC Secondary TPOC Dr. Lauren Huie Mr. James Metzler Telephone: 315-330- 3187 Telephone: 315-330-4033 Email: Lauren.Huie@us.af.mil Email: James.Metzler@us.af.mil Questions of a contractual/business nature shall be directed to the cognizant Contracting Officer, as specified below: Gail Marsh Telephone: (315) 330-7518 Email: gail.marsh@us.af.mil
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