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Cyber Community of Interest (CoI) Study on Technology Future and Science &Technology (S&T) Investment: Survey for Industry August 2019 Contact: United States (U.S.) Army Combat Capabilities Developmen... Cyber Community of Interest (CoI) Study on Technology Future and Science &Technology (S&T) Investment: Survey for Industry August 2019 Contact: United States (U.S.) Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, C5ISR Center, Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate (I2WD). Email: usarmy.apg.ccdc-c5isr.mbx.i2wd-hq-cyber-coi-rfi@mail.mil Synopsis: The Department of Defense (DoD) has established S&T CoIs in many S&T areas. These CoIs are staffed by S&T Leaders from the DoD Services and Agencies. Each CoI coordinates investments by Services and Agencies in applied research and advanced technology development in the relevant area, develops DoD-wide S&T Roadmap in that area, facilitates leverage across the DoD and facilitates interactions with Industry, Federally Funded Research & Development Center (FFRDC), other Government Agencies and Academia. Cyber CoI is among the CoIs established by the DOD. The Cyber CoI is conducting a study to identify important new technologies and applications that are likely to have major impact on the Cyber S&T (applied research and advanced technology development) investments in near (now till 2025), mid (2025-2030) and far (beyond 2030) term future. The CoI leadership feels that input from Industry, FFRDC, other Government Agencies and Academia will be very valuable and requests that these organizations identify a primary Point of Contact (POC) to provide their organization's views by responding to the attached survey. In order to get the most value from this effort, the Government is providing some information about the goals of this study, types of technologies of interest and the Government's use of the time horizons. The Government is most interested in the technologies that will affect Cyber S&T investments in 2025-2030 time frame (mid-term future) but your organization's input for the other two time periods will also be very valuable. Disclaimer: This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. In accordance with FAR 15.202 (e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This is a pre-solicitation RFI and I2WD is currently conducting market research only. No award is intended as a result of this synopsis. The Government will not reimburse costs incurred by Respondent in response to this RFI or for participating in information exchange regarding details of the RFI. Due Date: 45 days after release of this RFI. Pending a review of the responses, the quality of submission and the level of specification of the information provided, the Government intends to down-select responses and may conduct follow up discussions (if needed) with Respondents. Please note however, the Government is under no obligation to conduct these follow-up Q&A sessions. Description: The key goal is to identify a prioritized list of new technologies that are likely to have major impact on the challenges and opportunities for Cyber Operations for the DoD and hence require decisions on Cyber S&T investment in near, mid and far term future. Requested Information: Responses provided shall address, but not be limited to the following topics: Classes of Technologies Cyber S&T efforts are aimed at novel approaches and technologies to Secure current, emerging and future cyberspace and its applications against cyber-attacks Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO) Create desired effects on existing and future adversary cyberspace Offensive Cyber Operations (OCO) Technologies in the current and future cyberspace and its application domains are not developed by the Cyber S&T community but these technologies change the battleground for cyber defense and offense. Thus Cyber S&T investment is affected by several different types of technology advances, not all under the control of the Cyber S&T community. We consider three classes of technologies of interest to the Cyber S&T community. All three are important in our study. Class A: Technologies aimed at bringing new capabilities and higher capacities/performance to the cyberspace. In some cases, the new capabilities and Size, Weight and Power and/or Cooling may allow new applications of the cyberspace (e.g. platforms, weapons systems, distributed sensors). These new cyberspace capabilities and applications could also bring new cyber threats and opportunities for cyber operations. Examples: 5G; Advances in Autonomy; Massive MIMO; mmWave and FSO communication; Software Defined Networks (SDN); Computing and Network Function Virtualization; Quantum Communication; Brain-Computer Hybrid; Applications of cyberspace to low SWaPC Internet of Things (IoT) devices and military platforms; Autonomy for military platforms; Brain-brain communication. Class B: Technologies that radically increase computing (and communication) speed and capacities, thus enabling the use of algorithms and analytics for DCO/OCO that are not feasible otherwise. Examples: Quantum Computing; Graphics Processing Unit enabled large Neural Networks and Deep Machine Learning; Tensor Processing Units; Massively Parallel Computing; Neuromorphic Chips; 3D chips; Domain Specific Architectures and Languages; Human computer interfaces using natural languages, voice, and direct brain signals. Class C: New concepts, techniques and algorithms that provide radically improved cyber defense and/or offense capabilities. Examples: Fuzzing; Cyber diversity and dynamics to provide obfuscation and deception against cyber attackers; Autonomic and rapid cyber level recovery to provide cyber resilience; Innovative analytics for improved anomaly detection; late stage customization of software to provide minimal but sufficient functionality for the mission; Breakthrough machine learning concepts that defeat adversarial tampering. We now describe the time periods and related definitions. Given our interest in Cyber S&T (applied research and advanced technology development) investment decisions, a technology is far-term (FT) if the decision on the Cyber S&T investments for this technology can wait till 2030. A technology is mid-term if a decision on the Cyber S&T Investments influenced by this technology needs to be made by 2025. A technology is near term if the Cyber Investment decisions have already been made or there are investment gaps to be filled in the near future. Thus, our definition of the time periods is not based on when the technology will be deployed. Rather, they are based on when the Cyber S&T investment decisions need to be made. For Class C technologies we expect that Technology Readiness Level (TRL) in the range of Two - Four is required for early 6.2 to late 6.3 investment decisions. For Class A and B technologies, TRL may be much higher when the Cyber S&T decisions are to be made, especially for technologies motivated by commercial business imperatives. Survey Template (feel free to use any other format to provide the information requested below): 1. List of Technologies a. Provide a list of technologies your organization considers important for future cyber defense and offense. For each technology in your list, provide the following: 2. Technology Name and Plain Language One-Line Description 3. Technology Description in a Paragraph a. What does it do? b. Applications (e.g. tactical networks, strategic networks, sensor networks, platforms and weapons systems, man-machine and machine-machine communication, cyber-attack detection, cyber deception, automated cyber weapon generation, planning defensive and/or offensive cyber operations.) c. Expected impact 4. Technology Class (see above definitions of the Classes) a. Select among A, B, and C b. Reasons for binning. Some could be binned into more than one categories. 5. Drivers a. Driven by commercial business imperatives or niche Government needs/opportunity 6. Probability (Likelihood) of Adoption by the DoD a. For Class C technologies: What is the likelihood of successful technical solution and adoption in commercial and DoD practice? High, Medium, and Low (H, M, L) for each will suffice but provide more information if you feel comfortable. b. For Class A or Class B Technology: If driven by commercial business imperatives, what are the likelihoods of commercial success and DoD adoption. High, Medium, and Low for each may suffice but provide more information if you feel comfortable. c. For Class A and Class B Technology: If driven by commercial business imperative, what customization may be required before adoption by the DoD d. For Class A or B Technology: If driven by Government imperatives, what is the likelihood of technical success and adoption by the DoD. 7. For Class A Technologies Driven by Commercial Business Imperatives, What is the Probability (Likelihood) of Adoption by Adversaries (Peer Nation States, Rogue Nation States, Non-State) a. Select among H, M, L b. Reasons for binning, if providing additional insight 8. For Class C Technologies, Identify a. Major new capabilities and likely gains in cyber defense and offense. b. What remains to be accomplished to deliver on the promise 9. For Class A and Class B Technologies, Identify Important Consequences of Deploying These Technologies in the Future Cyberspace for Future Cyber Defense and Offense, and What are related Impacts on Missions a. New vulnerabilities, threats, and risks for cyber and mission systems. Severity of consequences of successful cyber attacks b. Ability to develop and implement new DCO/OCO techniques and algorithms 10. Time Horizon for Cyber S&T Investment Decisions a. Select among Near Term (now till 2025), Mid Term (2025-2030), and Far Term (2030 and out) b. Discuss the reasons for binning, if it adds further insight. Submission Requirements: All assumptions, including any assumed government support, shall be clearly identified. Multiple submissions for different component technologies will be accepted. All documents shall be portion marked accordingly. Submission of proprietary and other sensitive information shall be marked and identified with disposition instructions that allows for government, SETA support contractors, and contracted University Affiliated Research Center/FFRDC personnel to review (submitted material will not be returned). Submissions shall include the email address and phone number for a technical POC for conducting possible follow up discussions. All emailed questions and RFI responses shall contain the subject line: Cyber CoI Study on Technology Future and S&T Investment: Survey for Industry Responses are required in soft copy Adobe.pdf format. Documents shall not exceed ten pages in length - excluding title page and table of contents. Unclassified responses must be submitted to: usarmy.apg.ccdc-c5isr.mbx.i2wd-hq-cyber-coi-rfi@mail.mil ? Classified responses shall be submitted via SIPRNet to: usarmy.apg.ccdc-c5isr.mesg.i2wd-hq-cyber-coi-rfi@mail.smil.mil. If you do not have access to SIPRNet, request mailing instructions for a hard copy through the unclassified email address. Responses submitted by contractors that contain U.S. Classified Military Information generated in conjunction with a DoD program should be classified in accordance with the applicable Security Classification Guide. Please include a copy of the SCG with the submission. ? Questions and requests for clarification of information must be submitted to: usarmy.apg.ccdc-c5isr.mbx.i2wd-hq-cyber-coi-rfi@mail.mil no later than 45 days after release of this RFI. Requests must be submitted only to the email address specified above. Any other forms of request for additional information will not be honored.