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Technical Support and Operational Analysis (TSOA) 21-2 RFI A. INTRODUCTION This is a Request for Information (RFI). This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The pur... Technical Support and Operational Analysis (TSOA) 21-2 RFI A. INTRODUCTION This is a Request for Information (RFI). This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this RFI is to gain information leading to Government/Industry collaboration at TSOA 21-2 to accelerate the development of technologies that will enable the Warfighter to be more effective, efficient, and lethal. The Technical Support and Operational Analysis (TSOA) invites industry, academia, individuals, and laboratories to submit technology white papers addressing innovative technologies and capabilities that can be used in challenging environments: Physical (Terrain - Natural & Urban) Electronic (Frequency Congestion & Overload) Contested (Electronic Interference, Cyber Attacks, & Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive [CBRNE]) Low Visibility (Tactical Effects without the Overt Tactical Signature) Adversaries to the United States can attack it across all domains. The Department of Defense (DoD) writ large should focus on maintaining domain superiority; such a feat may not be practical for a small tactical unit. The issue that small, tactical units face is adjusting domain superiority throughout a conflict so that they remain ready, balanced, and lethal. Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2AD), dense urban, contested, or congested environments pose a particular challenge for tactical teams. In these environments, Joint Forces require domain superiority for mission success, but find it fragile to maintain constantly. To perform successfully in contested environments, Joint Forces must understand if and when they lose domain superiority, and what measures they need to employ to regain superiority. However, Joint Forces do not need to maintain domain superiority throughout the entire mission to achieve success; they need to identify the periods of time where domain superiority is critical. Identifying these mission-critical time periods will allow Joint Forces to survive in contested environments and remain lethal. TSOA 21-2 assessments will aid tactical units in understanding how and when to employ and maximize their superiority across multiple domains. Specifically, TSOA 21-2 will focus on air and land domains. This experiment will allow units to compete against and disrupt increasingly adaptive enemy forces. After reviewing the technology submissions, the Government may invite select candidates to participate in a TSOA field experiment/assessment venue in which the Government will evaluate the capability as applied to the Warfighter, and its technical limitations and vulnerabilities through an enemy perspective. These assessments will provide the submitter an opportunity to interact with the Warfighter, the DoD Science and Technology community, academia, Combatant Commands (COCOMS), Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs), and other federal agencies for the purpose of assessing potential impact of emerging technology solutions on missions and capabilities. Submissions and Verification of Submission will be made through Vulcan. B. OBJECTIVE (1) Background: The Army’s C5ISR Center Unique Mission Cell (UMC) conducts field experiments/assessments to support the vulnerability identification and system limitation in contested environments for emerging capabilities in an operationally relevant venue. These assessments are conducted with representatives from Government Research and Development (R&D) organizations, academia, and industry. TSOA events provide an opportunity for technology developers to interact with operational personnel and determine how their efforts might support military capability gaps and high priority mission deficiencies. The environment facilitates a collaborative working relationship between academia, Government, and industry and supports identification, assessment, and dissemination of emerging and mature technology information and the acceleration of delivering capabilities to the Warfighters and those they support. The assessment results are reported back to the program director. (2) Assessment Focus and Submission Timeline: TSOA 21-2 assessment will be conducted: 15-19 March 2021 at Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico, VA. TSOA 21-2 Focus: Tactical Domain Superiority Restoration from small unit peer/near peer threats. Detect and protect (from) small / advanced (highly covert and adaptable) units Detect and counter cyber threats Detect and counter Unmanned Aerial System threats Conduct electromagnetic spectrum defense Location: Urban training sites located on MCB Quantico RFI Submission Deadline: 15 January 2021 – All respondents to the submission will be notified by the Government NLT 26 January 2021 Focus Details: During this experiment, small unit teams will conduct Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) in a military operations in urban terrain (MOUT) environment while an increasingly adaptive enemy disrupts and denies specific capabilities such as open maneuver, communications, and resupply. Through the use of scripted, operational scenarios, tactical teams will understand what capabilities were lost, how they were lost, and how to regain them by using offensive technologies. The warfighters will use the technologies in a realistic, austere environment where factors regarding technological performance, systems integration, logistics, training, and adaptability are examined. The experiment will incorporate red team adversaries and stress the dominance of the technologies in air and on land to force the warfighters to innovatively identify solutions. Once it is clear to evaluators that the warfighters and the technologies have been sufficiently challenged, warfighters will be offered offensive technologies to understand how to regain dominance. The offensive technologies will likely consist of electronic warfare (EW) and kinetic systems. (3) Field Experiment/Assessment Focus: The following technical areas are of particular interest: Overall TSOA focus areas (considered after primary focus technologies selected): a. Increase Force Protection (Soldier/Vehicle/Base) b. Timely Mission Command and Tactical Intelligence c. Reduce Warfighter Overburden d. Enhance Lethality and/or Capability to Temporarily Incapacitate Threats (4) Security Requirements: The submittal process under this RFI is intended to be as streamlined as possible in order to allow the Government to leverage technology solutions capable of meeting urgent service member needs. Respondents should not submit classified information in the technology assessment papers and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restrictions should be clearly listed. (5) Other Special Requirements: DO NOT SUBMIT PROPOSALS. No contracts will be awarded based on this announcement. C. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS TSOA 21-2 Submission Deadline: 15 January 2021 If you wish to submit a technology for consideration for TSOA 21-2, Respondent must be registered with the Vulcan website. https://www.vulcan-sof.com A complete submission includes a Scout Card and Quad Chart for each technology. Respondent are required to submit all information prior to the submission deadline to be considered for the event. Should Respondent wish to submit multiple technologies for consideration, separate submissions are required for each technology. General Event Information: https://vulcan-sof.com/event/event/390ec13b-60a4-4f69-bb9e-1aa3395f9a90 Required Documents: Vulcan Scout Card Quad Chart (template provided on submission page) Vulcan Registration Instructions: (please give yourself enough time to create and be verified for a Vulcan account before creating your Scout Card) Visit https://www.vulcan-sof.com and click Request Access Follow the on-screen instructions Vulcan access questions, please contact: contact@vulcan-sof.com TSOA 21-2 Submission Instructions (Scout Card can be created on the submissions page) Navigate to the TSOA 21-2 Submission Page: https://vulcan-sof.com/login/ng2/submission?collectionUuid=6e573755-9938-4b49-b25f-0d396b22d2b4 For new Scout Cards: Fill in all areas of the card and include as much detail as possible. At the bottom of the page, select Tab 3 (Submit a New Card). Follow the instructions to include watching the video to complete your Scout Card submission. The aforementioned Quad Chart should be attached to the last page of the Scout Card submission. For existing Scout Cards: At the bottom of the page, select Tab 2 (Submit Existing Card). You will see a list of your organizations previously submitted Scout Cards for inclusion in this submission. The aforementioned Quad Chart should be attached to the last page of the Scout Card submission. For already submitted Scout Cards: At the bottom of the page, select Tab 1 (Already Submitted) to see a list of Scout Cards your organization has previously submitted to this call. If you experience issues with the Vulcan website, contact the Vulcan Help Desk at contact@vulcan-sof.com. You will receive on screen confirmation of a successful submission. Quick Tips: • If your organization has already submitted to this RFI, you will be able to see it under "Submitted". • If your technology is already in Vulcan but not yet submitted to TSOA 21-2, you may click "Select Existing" to quickly add it. 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 the forces. Other considerations include: Relevance of or adaptability to military operations/missions Relevance to current operational needs Breadth of application Technical maturity Available time Government funding Integration into a Common Operating Picture Selected Respondents will be notified in writing prior to event execution for the selected Technology Assessment events specified in paragraph B.(2). E. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION All Respondents shall clearly identify and mark in writing all proprietary information provided on all documents. Technical lessons learned by TSOA assessments may be broadly disseminated within the Government and Government support contractors. Respondents must provide information that clearly asserts rights in technical data if developed exclusively or partially at private expense in order to claim any restrictions. Developed exclusively at private expense means development was accomplished entirely with costs charged to indirect cost pools, cost not allocated to a government contract, or any combination thereof. Identification of the data or software must have enough specificity to support the respondent's assertion is important for the parties to avoid misunderstanding during the information gathering assessment activities. F. USE OF INFORMATION The purpose of this notice is to gain information on possible Government/Industry collaboration for development of TSOA technologies and capabilities, and to accelerate the delivery of these capabilities to the warfighter. All proprietary information contained in the response shall be separately identified and marked. Any proprietary information contained in response to this request will be properly protected from any unauthorized disclosure. G. All data transmitted, received and stored during the conduct of TSOA 21-2 is the property of the US Government. All press releases and public announcements based on TSOA attendance are not permitted unless permission is obtained in writing. H. The Government does NOT intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI Notice or to otherwise pay for the information solicited. I. POINTS OF CONTACT: Questions on the objectives or preparation of technical documents should be addressed to: todd.j.fruehauf.civ@mail.mil, and the Subject Line must be titled: QUESTION(s) for TSOA 21-2. Contracting Office Address: 800 Park Office Drive Frontier Building RTP Durham, North Carolina 27709-3048 United States Primary Point of Contact.: John Klopfenstein john.p.klopfenstein.civ@mail.mil