Special Notice – TE 14-3_Explore Emerging Technology Solutions and Revolutionary Improvements in Technology for Special Operations Warfare

Notice Type: Special Notice

Posted Date: 18-MAR-14

Office Address: Other Defense Agencies; U.S. Special Operations Command; Headquarters Procurement Division; 7701 Tampa Point Blvd MacDill AFB FL 33621-5323

Subject: TE 14-3_Explore Emerging Technology Solutions and Revolutionary Improvements in Technology for Special Operations Warfare

Classification Code: A - Research & Development

Solicitation Number: RFI_TE_14-3_Technical_Experimentation

Contact: Diane Davis, Contract Specialist, Phone 813-826-7061, Fax 813-286-7504, Email [email protected] - Patsy Robinson, Contracting Specialist, Email [email protected]

Setaside: N/AN/A

Place of Performance Country: US

Description: Other Defense Agencies

U.S. Special Operations Command

Headquarters Procurement Division

Synopsis: A. INTRODUCTION: Technical Experimentation (TE) Collaboration This Request for Information (RFI) is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this RFI is to solicit technology experimentation candidates from Research and Development (R&D) organizations, private industry, and academia for inclusion in future experimentation events coordinated by the U. S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). USSOCOM invites industry, academia, individuals and Government labs to submit technology experimentation nominations addressing innovative technologies leading to possible Government/Industry collaboration for development of USSOCOM technology capabilities. The intent is to accelerate the delivery of innovative capabilities to the Special Operations Forces (SOF) warfighter.

SOF experimentation will explore emerging technologies, technical applications, and their potential to provide solutions to future SOF capabilities. After review of the technology experimentation nomination submissions, the Government may invite select candidates to demonstrate their technologies at the USSOCOM sponsored Technical Experimentation event. The TE venue will provide an opportunity for the submitter to interact with USSOCOM personnel for the purpose of USSOCOM assessing potential impact of emerging technology solutions on USSOCOM missions and capabilities. Industry participation in experimentation activities does not suggest or imply that USSOCOM will procure or purchase equipment.

B. OBJECTIVE: 1. Background: USSOCOM has traditionally conducted Technical Experimentation events at Muscatatuck UTC, IN; at Avon Park, FL, and Camp Roberts, CA. These Technical experiments are conducted with representatives from Government R&D organizations, academia, and private industry. Technical Experimentation events provide an opportunity for technology developers to interact with operational personnel to determine how their technology development efforts and ideas may support or enhance SOF capability needs. The environment facilitates a collaborative working relationship between Government, academia, and industry to promote the identification and assessment of emerging and mature technologies for the primary goal of accelerating the delivery of technology discoveries to the SOF warfighter. The event facilitates SOCOM personnel to identify potential technology solutions, impacts, limitations, and utility to meet SOF technical objectives and thrust areas. Materiel solutions brought to the event should be between a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 3 and 6. Experiments may be between a half day and five days in duration and be conducted in unimproved expeditionary-like conditions. At the discretion of USSOCOM, respondents may be asked to complete a vendor loan agreement (Attachment 3).

2. Experimentation Focus: Experiments will be conducted from 8 to 17 July 2014, at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, IN and will explore emerging technology solutions and revolutionary improvements in technology for Special Operations Warfare. Any technology-based experiment conducted at the event should provide a revolutionary improvement in SOF operations. Any and all solutions must include all necessary software and hardware to accomplish the mission. Technology areas may include, but are not limited to:

- Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance -- Identify, locate, and counter enemy fire -- FMV object of interest, indexing, and retrieval -- Near-real time detection of explosives -- Foliage penetration sensing devices -- Data structure association -- Smart tags -- Laser vibrometry

- Scalable effects weapons - individual handheld systems

- Signature Management -- Personnel signature management -- System signature management

- Energy storage and power management devices that incorporate higher density energy while maintaining safety for individual use and for vehicles

- Soldier Systems -- Individual navigation in denied spaces -- Anti-Access/Area Denial -- Concealable body armor with less weight -- Clothing adaptable to changes in environment (temperature, humidity, wind) -- Battlefield trauma care

- Command, Control, Communications and Computers -- Communications in an EMI environment -- Multi-band antennas -- Battlefield networking -- Other the Horizon (OTH) communications -- Dismounted battlefield communications

- Mobility systems -- All terrain vehicles -- Airborne vehicles -- Vehicle noise reduction -- Ground robotics systems -- Degraded visual environment systems

-Target engagement -- Digital night vision fusion with multi-band capability -- Precision target geo-location -- Small unit precision guided munitions at ranges beyond crew served weapons - 40mm tube-launched grenades, self-propelled hand-held grenades, 84mm Carl Gustav munitions, and unmanned guided air systems -- Tailored energetics - Energetic compounds and physical configurations for specific targets and target sets designed to achieve desired effects with no consequence to the user and can be configured by disadvantaged operators -- Common visual augmentation devices -- Enemy fire location and counter-fire -- Moving target lethality -- Counter-visual augmentation systems

- Psychological applications -- Automated interview transcription -- Credibility assessment

- Human performance

-Small arms -- Airburst/Counter Defilade Capability. proximity and/or bounding warheads in addition to time/ turn counting air burst options and enhanced fire control. Maximize the adaptation of current individual and crew served weapons to incorporate an airburst/counter defilade capability.

-- Sniper Rifle Barrel Technologies. --- Assess hot hard alloys (i.e. H-11,H14, H19 , etc) to cold hammer forged barrel making technology and cryo-cooling to create longer life sniper grade barrels in 7.62mm NATO, 300 Winchester Magnum, and/or 338 Lapua Magnum. The rifling of interest is 5R and/or 6R, land and groove with 1:9.5 to 1:10 twist rates.

--- Match grade 7.62mm and .338 caliber Rhenium and/ or Rhenium alloy lined rifle barrels with 5R or 6R land and groove with 1 in 9.5 twist for .338 and 1 in 10 twist in 7.62mm barrels. --- Other sniper barrel concepts, designs, materials and/or processes that significantly enhance barrel life and maintain accuracy. --- Small Arms Propellant. Assessment in standard military calibers that have a higher energy density (12%-20%), temperature stable pressure /velocities from -40F to 160F, and standard deviation velocities of <10ft/sec. -- Lightweight RPG-7 Launcher. Candidates for a modernized lightweight (<9lbs) 40mm Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher with enhanced fire control that can safely, reliably, and accurately fire U.S. and allied produced RPG-7 family of ammunition. -- M4A1 Belt Feed Kit. Candidates for a M4A1 Belt Feed Kit assessment. The M4A1 Belt Feed Kit enables the operator to convert the M4A1 from magazine fed to a belt fed lightweight machine gun. M4A1 Belt Feed Kit desired characteristics include quick change barrels (12in.,14.5 in., 20in.), lightweight(< 10 lbs), and accuracy within burst dispersion 50% improvement over M249 SAW. -- Concealable /Take Down Urban Sniper Rifle (CUSR) Candidates for a Concealable /Take Down Urban Sniper Rifle (CUSR) assessment. The CUSR is a small and light sniper rifle that can be rapidly dissembled for concealed carry and rapidly reassembled by the operator to engage target. CUSR desired characteristics include accurate (1 MOA at 300m), lightweight (8 lbs. objective 12 lbs. threshold), fit in small case (12in x 16in Objective, 12in x 20in Threshold), and compatible with current suppressor or include suppressed barrel. -- Personnel Defense Weapon (PDW). The PDW is significantly small and lighter than the M4A1 with capabilities beyond any pistol. Weapon configurations of interest are: 1) based on an operator/unit armor modification and M4A1 Carbine and 2) based on a unique weapons design, both designs must fire standard 5.56mm X 45mm NATO ammunition. PDW desired characteristics include lightweight (5 lbs. Objective, 6 lbs. Threshold), concealable (16 in Objective, 18 in Threshold), effectively fired in a collapsed configuration, semi/full automatic, and rapidly employed from concealed carry. -- 338 Lapua Magnum Anti-Materiel Ammunition. The ammunition would be fired from the Precision Sniper Rifle at ranges from 500m-1500m. Anti-Materiel 338 Lapua ammunition desired characteristics include: armor piercing capability to penetrate Level IV Body Armor (500m Threshold, 800m Objective), Cinder Block + 12 in 10% Gel, and stop vehicle/small boat engines.

Other technology areas of interest for experimentation during the event are found in the latest US Army Special Operations Command Science and Technology Gaps List (Attachment 1)

- Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) payload sensors. Technology developers must submit nominations according to the UAS Concept of Operations (CONOP) found in the attached document (Attachment 2).

- Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) enhanced mobility/protective technologies which may include, but are not limited to: -- Armor: Materials to support next generation Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to include head protection. -- Mobility/Agility: Enhancement platforms such as powered exoskeletons 'ituational Awareness (SA) -- Light/noise discipline -- Command, Control, Communications & Computers (C4): Such as conformable & wearable antennae and wearable computers -- Individual soldier combat ready displays: Including non-visual means of information display, and potentially utilization of cognitive thoughts and the surrounding environment to display personalized information -- Power generation and management -- Thermal management of suit occupant -- Medical: Embedded monitoring, oxygen systems, wound stasis, electromechanical compensation

3. Security Requirements: Vendors should not submit classified information in the technology experimentation nominations.

4.. All respondents shall prepare a Composite Risk Management (CRM) Worksheet (Department of the Army [DA] Form 7566, attached [Lotus Forms Viewer required]) in accordance with MIL-STD-882E and DA Field Manual 5-19. The risk assessment shall address the likelihood and severity of any inherent risks as well as risk mitigation measures required. The risk assessment shall be submitted as an attachment to the experiment nomination. Nominations submitted without a thorough and complete CRM will not be considered for participation. Reference the attached safety worksheet for assistance preparing the CRM. Also, respondents should include instructions that describe the safe operation of the device nominated for the experiment. Respondents wishing to conduct experiments of a kinetic or energetic nature are responsible for ammunition and/or explosives shipments to include an Interim Hazard Classification (IHC) or Final Hazard Classification (FHC) and coordination for receipt and storage at Muscatatuck UTC, IN.

If your experiment will be radiating electromagnetic energy (i.e transmitting), you must have prior approval to transmit on that frequency. Prior approval may include compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Title 47, Part 15 or a Special Temporary Authority (STA) from the FCC. If equipment is government owned and operating within a Federal Band, you must have National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) frequency approval. Your authority to radiate should be submitted along with your nomination or emailed directly to mailto:[email protected]. The FCC recommends you submit your request at least 30 days prior to the start of the event.

An exploratory closed cyber (virtual) network infrastructure, and an Electromagnetic Environment (EME) using electronic spectrum recording can be provided based on expressed interest. Please indicate in the Experiment Objectives Block of the white paper submission form, specific interest to conduct your experiment in either capability.

5. Other Special Requirements: DO NOT SUBMIT PROPOSALS. SUBMIT TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENTATION NOMINATIONS ONLY. EXPERIMENTATION NOMINATION SUBMITTALS FOR THIS RFI WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED UNTIL THE CLOSING DATE OF 04/17/20141600 EDT. No contracts will be awarded based solely on this announcement or any subsequent supplemental RFI announcements planned for FY14 TE events.

C. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Technology Experimentation nominations shall be submitted electronically via USSOCOM webpage: http://www.socom.mil/sordac/Pages/ExpNominationForm.aspx. Associated technology experiments but with distinctly different uses or applications should submit separate nominations by each respondent. Submissions will be reviewed by USSOCOM personnel to determine whether an experiment submission will be accepted for invitation. Each technology experiment nomination must address only one experiment.

Technology developers can select a degree of feedback for the technology being nominated. The degrees of feedback and definitions are as follows: - Participation Only - technology experiments are provided access and space for field experiments during the event. There is no interaction with Government personnel other than to brief the technology and experiment results. NOTE: Sufficient support (example: frequency de-confliction, range safety, airspace de-confliction) must be required for higher degree of feedback experiments (DEMONTRATION THROUGH IN-DEPTH ASSESSMENT) that are invited to the event before Participation Only experiments are allowed to the event. - Demonstration - Technologies are demonstrated using tabletop or field conditions methods. Only verbal feedback is provided by users or Subject Matter Experts (SME). No written feedback is provided by the Government. - User Evaluation - Technologies are demonstrated using tabletop or field conditions methods. Technology developers receive on site verbal feedback from users or SMEs and a brief written assessment of the technology after the conclusion of the event. - In-depth assessment - Multiple users conduct hands-on detailed operational assessments, SMEs conduct technical functionality, and technical measurement as needed. The technology developer may need to provide instructions and training in the use of the technology and hand over the technology for trials by users. Trials are scenario-based and may run from a few hours to several days. A detailed report is written after the event.

Technology developers requesting one of the methods of feedback stated above are advised that the Government will consider the request for feedback desired and ultimately reserves the right as to the degree of feedback and effort to conduct for a technology invited to participate during a TE event. A complete submission consists of: 1. - Completely filling all pertinent information in the on line nomination application. - For UAS and TALOS areas of technology in the on-line nomination form, title block start with the words "UAS" or "TALOS" followed by the idea or technology. - In the experiment objectives block, start with one of the following feedback titles (PARTICIPATION ONLY, DEMONSTRATION, USER EVALUATION, or IN-DEPTH ASSESSMENT) for the degree of feedback desired, then fill in the rest of the experiment objectives block with the results you expect to achieve during the TE event. NOTE: If you submit an online nomination for UAS related experiments following the UAS CONOPS procedures then you do not need to state a degree of feedback desired. 2. - System safety worksheet 3. - Composite risk management worksheet, 4. - Instructions on how to use the technology (as needed) 5. - STA or NTIA document (for developmental radio frequency emitting devices) 6. - Experiment plan (the online field titled "Plan" should be sufficient for simple experiment plan descriptions) for more detailed or complex plans you may need to attach an experiment plan to the on-line form 7. - A picture of the device with a short description of the size (show dimensions or compare against known objects like currency or rulers), weight, and power requirements 8. - Vendor loan agreement (on a case by case basis as requested by USSOCOM). Select respondents will be invited to participate in USSOCOM experiments. USSOCOM shall provide venues, supporting infrastructure, and assessment (operational and technical, based on availability of resources and written request) personnel at no cost to invited respondent(s). Respondent's travel costs and technology experiments will be at the respondent's expense. The TE venue will only provide basic access to training areas or ranges to conduct experiments, a facility to connect to the internet, basic venue infrastructure including frequency allocation/deconfliction, and portable power if needed. Invited respondents must be prepared to be self-sufficient during the execution of their experiments and not dependent on venue resources for success. D. BASIS FOR SELECTION TO PARTICIPATE: Selection of respondents to participate will be based on the extent to which the technology represents a particular class or level of capability that can be provided to Special Operations Forces. Other considerations include: - Technical maturity - Relevance of or adaptability to military operations/missions - Relevance to current operational needs - Relevance to Event Focus Area E. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: All efforts shall be made to protect proprietary information that is clearly marked in writing. Lessons learned by USSOCOM from these experiments may be disseminated within the Government and Government support contractors. If selected for participation in Technical Experimentation, vendors may be requested to provide additional information that will be used in preparation for the experiments.

Future technical experimentation events, focus areas, and locations are as follows:

Event Dates Theme/Focus Location RFI Release TE 15-1 28 October - 6 November 2014 Integrated Intelligence Systems/ Unconventional Warfare Avon Park FL 1 Jul 2014 TE 15-2 3 - 12 February 2015 Theater SOF Technologies and Signature Management Eglin AFB FL 29 Sep 2014 TE 15-3 16 - 26 June 2015 Unconventional and Urban Warfare Camp Atterbury IN 23 Feb 2015

F. USE OF INFORMATION: The purpose of this notice is to gain information leading to Government/Industry collaboration for development of USSOCOM technology capabilities and to assist in accelerating the delivery of these capabilities to the warrior. All proprietary information contained in the response shall be separately marked. Any properly marked proprietary information contained in response to this request will be protected from any unauthorized disclosure. The Government will not use proprietary information submitted from any one firm to establish future capability and requirements.

G. SPECIAL NOTICE: Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) or contractor consultant/advisors to the Government will review and provide support during evaluation of submittals. When appropriate, non-Government advisors may review and provide comments and recommendations to the Government. All advisors shall comply with procurement Integrity Laws and shall sign non-disclosure and rules of conduct/conflict of interest statements. The Government shall take into consideration requirements for avoiding conflicts of interest and ensure advisors comply with safeguarding proprietary data. Submission in response to this RFI constitutes approval to release the submittal to Government support contractors.

H. Per Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.215-3 Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997): 1. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI notice or to otherwise pay for the information. 2. Although "proposal" and "respondent" are used in this RFI, your responses will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. 3. In accordance with FAR Clause 15.209(c), the purpose of this RFI is to solicit technology experimentation candidates from R&D organizations, private industry, and academia for inclusion in future experimentation events coordinated by USSOCOM.

Contracting Office Address: 7701 Tampa Point Blvd MacDill AFB, Florida 33621-5323

Primary Point of contact: mailto:[email protected]

Secondary Point of contact: mailto:[email protected]

Technical Point of contact: mailto:[email protected]

Link/URL: https://www.fbo.gov/spg/ODA/USSOCOM/SOAL-KB/RFI_TE_14-3_Technical_Experimentation/listing.html