SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- Silent Swarm 2024
- Notice Date
- 9/22/2023 9:39:54 AM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 5417
— Scientific Research and Development ServicesT
- Contracting Office
- NSWC CRANE CRANE IN 47522-5001 USA
- ZIP Code
- 47522-5001
- Solicitation Number
- N0016423SNC17
- Response Due
- 10/16/2023 7:00:00 AM
- Archive Date
- 10/31/2023
- Point of Contact
- Robert Gamberg, Michelle Kitley
- E-Mail Address
-
robert.d.gamberg.civ@us.navy.mil, michelle.s.kitley.civ@us.navy.mil
(robert.d.gamberg.civ@us.navy.mil, michelle.s.kitley.civ@us.navy.mil)
- Description
- N0016423SNC17 - SPECIAL NOTICE - Silent Swarm 2024 � FSC/PSC AJ13 � NAICS 5417 ISSUE DATE: 8 SEP 2023������������������������ CLOSING DATE: 16 OCT 2023 10:00AM ET THIS IS A REQUEST FOR SUBMISSIONS ONLY. THIS REQUEST IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN INVITATION FOR BIDS, A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, A SOLICITATION, A REQUEST FOR QUOTES, OR AN INDICATION THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTRACT FOR THE ITEMS CONTAINED IN THIS NOTICE. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT REIMBURSE RESPONDENTS FOR ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBMISSION OF THE INFORMATION BEING REQUESTED OR REIMBURSE EXPENSES INCURRED TO INTERESTED PARTIES FOR RESPONSES OR PARTICIPATION. The Government will NOT be responsible for any cost associated to Silent Swarm 2024 to include, but not limited to, responses and submissions to this Special Notice, attendance of workshops, nor the Silent Swarm event.�� Background and Description: This Special Notice is being issued by Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane), in support of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering [OUSD(R&E)], and other entities within the Department of Defense (DoD). �This Special Notice is intended to be a Request for Submissions for participation consideration in the Silent Swarm 2024 Experimentation Event.� Silent Swarm is a series of events focused on experimentation with early development Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) capabilities that can be employed on small, multi-domain Unmanned Systems (UxS). �The Silent Swarm series provides a challenging and flexible experimentation environment to enable rapid development of emerging technology. Selected participants will be able to further develop their technologies while operating in an operationally-relevant sandbox environment alongside subject matter experts (SMEs) from joint operational and technical communities.� Given the extraordinary reliance of the DoD on commercial vendors and private sector solution providers, NSWC Crane will require a combined effort of industry and government experts to bring innovative initiatives into the experimentation event to achieve definable specific outcomes. �Small and large businesses, along with University Affiliated Research Centers (UARC), Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC) and Government activities are encouraged to submit in response to this request for submissions. Definitions: The following terms will be used throughout this Special Notice and Silent Swarm execution. Their definitions are as follows: Initiative � A specific technology that has been developed by a vendor or a Government, FFRDC, or UARC lab that will experiment during the Silent Swarm Event. ""Initiative"" may also refer to the entities (industry, academia, or government) who bring technology to Silent Swarm to demonstrate/experiment. Vignette � An operationally relevant scenario in which initiatives will participate in teams in order to demonstrate and experiment with their capabilities. Effects - Capabilities that directly impact the operational environment. Enablers - Capabilities that contribute to the success of the effect. Swarming � Decentralized, self-organized systems operating cooperatively to accomplish their intended goal. There is no minimum number of cooperative systems required to be defined as a ""swarm."" Objectives: Responses to this request for submissions should identify initiatives focused on implementation of EMSO related capabilities that could be employed on small multi-domain UxS.� Silent Swarm is targeting technologies in the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2-5 range.� Swarming, small, attritable UxS will be the objective employment vehicles for capability employment in the experimentation environment.� Lower TRL initiatives that do not currently meet constraints for small platform integration will still benefit from Silent Swarm participation. Silent Swarm provides an experimentation venue and environment for rapid technology exploration and innovation, provides an opportunity for teaming and direct feedback from technical and operational SMEs.� Silent Swarm experimentation culminates with a series of vignettes, which allow for individual technology initiatives to collaboratively operate in teams to demonstrate operationally relevant objectives in a multi-domain environment, to include land, air, sea, undersea, cyber, and space. Capability and modularity to integrate into various UxS is not a requirement, but it will add value to initiatives� involvement over the course of the two weeks of the Silent Swarm experimentation event. Initiatives that participate in Silent Swarm are expected to attend virtual and in-person planning workshops starting 14 - 16 November 2023, be willing to collaborate with other initiative participants, and be able to participate in vignettes in person at the two-week Silent Swarm event in July 2024. While collaboration and experimentation are key tenets of Silent Swarm, neither the sharing of proprietary information with other companies nor the arduous integration work with another's system are required to be successful. Participating initiatives will have the opportunity to establish a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with NSWC Crane, the opportunity to conduct several multi-domain field experiments, run risk-reduction simulations with a government modeling and simulation team, receive real-time feedback from uniformed operators and engineers in relevant fields, and a final written report after the event that includes documented feedback from assessors, spectrum managers, and the modeling and simulation team. Focus Areas and Priorities: Silent Swarm 2024 will focus on effects of Distributed Electromagnetic Attack (EA), Deception, and Digital Payload Delivery. Initiatives participating in this experimentation may fit under one or more of these focus areas. Respondents should address as many as possible of the following components about their capability within their submissions: Distributed EA What it means within the context of Silent Swarm: Distributed delivery of electromagnetic energy to include high power microwave to deny, degrade, disrupt and deceive an adversary�s capabilities via high-mobility platforms. Focus on High Frequency (HF) to Ku-band. Key Attributes: Coordinated / Coherent / Reactive EA effects�� Highly mobile Small Form Factor (ideally less than 25 lbs. or under 10 lbs. for UAS) Support Swarming capabilities Reconfigurable Networked Adaptive Modular Multiband and dynamic Remote operated or autonomous Able to integrate into a host platform Targets: HF/VHF/UHF/Ku-Band communication systems S-Band/X-Band/Navigation Radar Advanced Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Systems Objectives: EA effects from many small autonomous vehicles carrying small low-cost jammers / smart sensors� Utilize distributed reactive EA assets to hinder adversary spectrum sensing Deception What it means within the context of Silent Swarm: Distributed capabilities to create chaos and confusion in the spectrum through RF means. Targeting adversary situational awareness, command and control, and decision-making processes to enable friendly force freedom of maneuver. Key Attributes: Ability to mimic signal of interest Realism of waveforms, frequencies, power levels, and pattern of life Ability to overwhelm adversary sensors and decision making Create an RF congested environment Enlarge or shrink force size Targets: Electromagnetic Warfare Support (ES) systems Command & Control (C2) Networks and Data Links Tactical Communications Radar Objectives: Deny adversary ability to maintain an accurate picture of the operational environment. Use distributed, low observable deception devices to obscure, give false targets, and clutter Digital Payload Delivery What it means within the context of Silent Swarm: Digital capabilities that can be used in support of electromagnetic spectrum operations. Capabilities that contribute to blinding, seeing, or targeting the adversary by degrading their ability to utilize the electromagnetic spectrum and their ability to share information over tactical edge networks. These capabilities may interact above the analog and RF processing signal in space chain to effect C5ISR (Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) systems. Silent Swarm may provide a closed access environment as part of the event. Key Attributes: Active and Passive Reconnaissance Access Effect Collection Analytics that improve multi-domain operations Process, exploit, disseminate, and act on information against emerging and evolving threats Resource Denial Offensive cyber access and effects Cybersecurity and network defenses Network Traffic Analysis Effects against UxS Closed Network Targets: C5ISR systems Commercial Wireless Tactical Networks Resilient Tactical Communications (defend and attack) Network simulation and/or deception Objectives: Perform reconnaissance in cyber and RF domains in order to obtain situation awareness Deny adversary ability to maintain an accurate picture of the operational environment. Deny or degrade the adversary the ability to access and control their tactical edge and/or Command and Control (C2) networks Test new equipment, digital capabilities, techniques, tactics, and procedures in a multi-domain environment. Additionally, Silent Swarm is looking for participants with Enabling Technologies in the areas of: Distributed Electromagnetic Warfare Support (ES) Swarming / Intelligent Algorithms Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) Resilient Communications Free Space Optics Alternative Position, Navigation, and Timing (ALT PNT) Passive Geolocation Small unmanned air, surface, underwater, and ground vehicle Response Submission: How do I submit? If you do NOT have a Vulcan account, you need to first register at https://vulcan-sof.com/. With a Vulcan account you can initiate your submission on the call page titled: Silent Swarm 2024 Submissions https://vulcan-sof.com/login/ng2/submission?collectionUuid=cb83c073-8f8d-4dbf-aedb-990cc95f085b . You can also find it by navigating to ""Calls� on the navigation bar. Your submission must be made on the Silent Swarm 2024 Submissions, which allows you to access the scout card submission form designed in accordance with the specific requirements of SS24. Submission Requirements Silent Swarm Submissions in Vulcan must be UNCLASSIFIED, up to and including Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). If your capability contains classified information, you must first provide an UNCLASSIFIED submission in Vulcan and separately obtain from the Government (via SIPR or JWICS, as appropriate) the steps/procedures for submitting Classified information. Initiatives shall submit a Scout Card with all required fields completed. Please be ready with all needed information in order to complete your submission. Note that you can edit your submission up until the published deadline (16 October 2023), but you must at least have preliminary answers in required fields in order to save your submission. If the capability you intend to submit already exists in Vulcan, you can ""Review & Submit"" this Scout Card. If your capability does not yet exist in Vulcan, you will need to first create a new Scout Card and then submit your Scout Card to the Vulcan collection. For more information and Frequently Asked Questions please go to the FAQ Page on Vulcan (https://www.cylitix.com/homepage/about-us/services/innovation-science/vulcan-page/faq-gov202/). For technical questions about the Vulcan platform or 'How to Submit', you may email: support@vulcan-sof.com Required submission documentation: Scout Card on Vulcan (accessible to Government Vulcan users only) White paper (no required format) no more than three (3) pages in length, not to include the cover page. The white paper should address how your submitted initiative meets the Focus Areas and related priorities identified above (accessible to Government Vulcan users only) Quad Chart, template provided in Vulcan submission, which provides non-proprietary, sharable information that will be used to engage with other selected participants who could be potential collaborators. Responses to following questions posted in the Vulcan submission: What focus areas from above does this initiative most closely align to, and how so? What key attributes does this initiative address? What unique or novel capability does this initiative provide? Is this initiative able to readily integrate with unmanned vehicles? If so, what vehicle(s) and would you be able to bring that vehicle to the experimentation event? Is your system capable of implementing swarming concepts (i.e. intelligent behavior, responsive systems, dynamic C2 nodes, etc.)? Is this initiative capable of distributed (coordinated) operations? If so, how? What is the current technical readiness level (TRL) for this initiative? What is the projected TRL for this initiative by July 2024? Has this initiative participated in Silent Swarm before? All inquiries (technical and administrative) or clarifications of any kind must be submitted via email to the POCs listed below with the appropriate classification markings. All contracting related responses should be unclassified and for general access by the Government, other evaluators, and other respondents. All material provided (responses, discussions, questions/answers, and other data) that is not related to competition sensitive or marked contractor proprietary material may be provided to other respondents. Any material provided may be used in development of future requirement documents. Any proprietary information submitted must be clearly and separately identified and marked and will be appropriately protected. The Government will NOT be responsible for any proprietary information not clearly marked.� Responders may include information that is not within the scope of this request for submissions, but must be relevant to the overall goals. In addition, if responses include technical requirements that have been identified as CUI in accordance with NIST SP 800-171, the documents shall be identified with the appropriate category markings. See https://www.archives.gov/cui/registry/category-marking-list for guidance. Classified responses shall NOT be mailed.� Classified responses shall be marked and delivered in accordance with DoD Manual 5200.01. Classified responses must include identification of their source of classification guidance. All submissions via Vulcan must be UNCLASSIFIED. This Special Notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a program or contractual solicitation. NSWC Crane is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of submissions or of the information received, or to provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this request for submissions. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this request for submissions. The Government intends to use the information received in response to this request for submissions for planning purposes. The Government will not award a contract directly on the basis of this request for submissions or to otherwise pay for the information solicited. Participants reviewing submissions to this request for submissions may include: The US Government; Federally Funded Research and Development Centers; Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) government support contractors; all are bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirement and bound by all proprietary laws. Regarding this request for submissions, no contact is allowed with these organizations.� Respondents must submit program/idea/concept white paper(s) and associated briefing(s) for review and consideration to NSWC Crane no later than 10:00AM ET 16 October 2023.� No additional forms or other materials are needed. As a result of Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) domain complexities, there may be future updates to this announcement, additional request, inquiries, and/or potential demonstrations opportunities in a shared experimentation environment.�� Any changes or updates to this announcement can be found at the Government Point of Entry SAM.gov.�� Individual notifications will not be sent to respondents.� It is the respondents� responsibility to monitor and respond accordingly to Government announcements. Future opportunities may become available at shared experimentation venue that will focus on representative scenarios and an environment that is conducive to evaluating the state of technology as it relates to employment and CONOPS development. Points of Contacts (POC); Primary Point of Contact: Address any questions, comments and areas/ideas for the government to consider relative to this request for submissions to: Robert Gamberg NSWC Crane, Spectrum Warfare S&T Division Michelle Kitley NSWC Crane, Intelligence Systems Branch Classification Level������ Communication Method���������������� Submission POCs Unclassified��� NIPR���� robert.d.gamberg.civ@us.navy.mil ��michelle.s.kitley.civ@us.navy.mil�� Secret�������������� SIPR����� robert.d.gamberg1@navy.smil.mil���� michelle.kitley1@navy.smil.mil Top Secret �����JWICS���� gamberr@nmic.ic.gov���������������������� michelle.k.stanforth@coe.ic.gov All submissions should be submitted at the UNCLASSIFIED level via the Vulcan posting at https://vulcan-sof.com/login/ng2/submission?collectionUuid=cb83c073-8f8d-4dbf-aedb-990cc95f085b AMENDMENT 0001: The purpose of this amendment is to post questions and answers received regarding the Silent Swarm 2024 event. Q1:Do you anticipate financial support being available to performers? If so, in what capacity?�� A1: The Government will not be responsible for any cost associated to Silent Swarm 2024 to include, but not limited to, responses and submissions to this Special Notice, attendance of workshops, nor the Silent Swarm event. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this request for submissions. The Government intends to use the information received in response to this request for submissions for planning purposes. The Government will not award a contract directly on the basis of this request for submissions or to otherwise pay for the information solicited.� � Q2: In terms of program outcomes, is there an identified transition partner for developed enablers?� A2: There is no one set identified transition partners for developed initiatives. �However, participants receive Government subject matter expert (SME) feedback during the event as well as via our post-event Final Report. �Additionally, many Government Stakeholders attend Silent Swarm to observe technologies in action during the two-week experimentation event. �The value in participating in Silent Swarm beyond potential transition partners includes the opportunity to leverage our event and experimentation environment to enable rapid technology development and significant potential teaming opportunities during planning and execution.�
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://sam.gov/opp/431663ec57ab430eb427a828ba91d3fd/view)
- Record
- SN06842074-F 20230924/230922230053 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's SAM Daily Index Page |