Document Type: Special Notice Invitation for White Paper Submission

Category: Research and Development

Set Aside: N/A

Description

This announcement references the AAL BAA which can be found at https://aal.army/assets/files/pdf/baa-published-announcement.pdf

Synopsis:

The Army Applications Laboratory (AAL) and the AMD CFT are seeking technologies related to protecting armored vehicles on the move to meet the needs of the Army’s armored units as a Special Topic under the AAL Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) W911NF-24-S-0008 for Disruptive Applications and related research as described below. Upon receipt, the Government will evaluate submissions through the process established in the AAL BAA, except as modified herein. The Government reserves the right to cancel this special notice without award for any reason. Issuance of this notice does not commit the Government to pay for any preparation costs incurred in compiling a response.

As a general matter, all requirements referenced in BAA W911NF-24-S-0008 apply to this effort. The Government anticipates awarding one or more procurement contracts under this Special Topic but will consider other potential award types listed in the AAL BAA, to include other transactions, grants, cooperative agreements and Technology Investment Agreements.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION – Background

Title: C-sUAS Layered Protection System

AAL is interested in technologies to protect armored vehicles (exe: M1 Abrams and Bradley fighting vehicles) from small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) threats. This capability should be cost effective and easily deployable without opening vehicle hatches, while enhancing protection and survivability.

Recent conflicts have demonstrated the effectiveness of FPV self-detonating sUAS against armored vehicles. In addition to self-detonating, these sUAS can also carry munitions, grenades, and chemical materials that specifically target the armored vehicles. As a result of these attacks, armored vehicles are damaged, disabled, or destroyed, inhibiting their maneuverability and operational effectiveness. As evidenced by recent events in the Ukraine, the results of these attacks may also result in the vehicle’s hatch being open while under attack. When the vehicle’s hatch is open, Soldiers become vulnerable to additional targeted attacks and Soldier survivability is diminished. The proliferation and effectiveness of these low-cost systems pose a significant threat across multiple US Combatant Commands (COCOMs), highlighting opportunities for innovative and enhanced protection strategies for the armored force.

This effort seeks to provide a range of solutions that may include active, passive, kinetic, and/or non-kinetic strategies to protect armored vehicles from sUAS (Group 1) while allowing them to maintain maneuverability. Desired technical solutions will be deployed without requiring the hatch to be open in order to maintain Soldier protection. Emphasis will be placed on cost-effective solutions that are easily deployable, maintain maneuverability of the vehicle, and are usable across various armored platforms. The Army’s approach to cUAS is layered protection, where active and passive measures work in combination to defend against the threat of UAS, increasing resilience and creating redundancy. Individual vehicle self-protection strategies, such as the technology solutions being sought here, are incorporated in the layered protection strategy and serve as the last line of defense.

Performance Objectives for C-sUAS Layered Protection System:

1. High probability of Neutralization/Defeat (Pkd/Pn), if applicable
2. Does not interfere with the vehicle’s organic systems (e.g. movement, weapons, turret, antennas, etc.)
3. Does not prevent standard vehicle operations to include crew egress from the vehicle hatch
4. Minimizes impact on platform weight, power, and workload of the crew
5. Achieves full interoperability with existing command and control systems

1             Scope of the Call

This special notice invites white papers on the topic of “C-sUAS Layered Protection System”, as part of the Army Applications Laboratory BAA for Disruptive Applications.

A limited number of companies that submit white papers may be selected to submit a full proposal after a white paper review by Army officials. Full proposals should include a plan that includes delivering a prototype and planned demonstration during the period of performance.

The solution may be applicable to various military applications, and it is not known at this time what the quantities or dollar values will be, or which program office or agency may produce any follow-on product.

White papers should be for cutting-edge innovations with the potential to significantly impact current and future Army capabilities regarding armored vehicle hatch protection from Group 1 sUAS.

2             Research Themes

White Papers and Proposals (if invited to propose) should relate to one or more of the following themes:

• Armored vehicle protection
• Defenses against Group 1 sUAS
• Cost-effective, platform agnostic solutions for vehicle protection

3             Application Process

Eligibility: Applications for this call will follow the eligibility requirements of the Army Applications Laboratory BAA[1]. Should you require clarity regarding the eligibility of a particular institute, please send a request to one of the contacts detailed in Section 8.

Number of Awards: The Government anticipates awarding one or more awards.

Duration of Award: The Government anticipates a 6 to 18-month period of performance.

Funding: Funding will be commensurate with the agreed upon scope of work for this effort and is anticipated not to exceed $1,000,000.00.

Evaluators: Government employees that are subject matter experts in the topic area.

Closing Date: The deadline for white paper submissions is the date specified in this announcement. White papers received after the specified deadline will not be evaluated or considered for award. It is the responsibility of the submitting party to confirm receipt of submissions.

How to Apply: White papers must be submitted by the date specified in this announcement via email to: [email protected]

Please send with the subject line: “CLPS Special Notice”

Queries relating to the technical, management, contractual, and submission aspects of the call should be addressed to those individuals identified in section 8. Following evaluation, a select number of companies will be invited to submit a full proposal.

Security: Classified information may not be submitted through the normal submission process identified above. Any classified information must be coordinated with the POCs listed below.

4             Evaluation Criteria

Whitepapers will be evaluated for the concept’s scientific merit and potential contributions of the effort to the Army mission, as well as the availability of government funds to complete vendors’ proposed R&D activities and likelihood of government funding being available for future procurement and fielding.  Applicants whose whitepapers are evaluated as having significant scientific merit may be invited to submit a proposal.

If requested to submit a proposal, proposals will receive an initial review as described in the BAA, after which, proposals selected for further review will be evaluated under the evaluation criteria of the AAL BAA. Required documentation is outlined in the BAA document. The following areas will be used during proposal evaluation:

• The overall scientific and/or technical merits of the proposal and an assessment of risk versus potential impact of the technology.
• The potential contributions of the effort to the Army mission and the extent to which the research effort will contribute to balancing the overall AFC research program.
• Cost realism and reasonableness.
• Teaming arrangements and methodologies for creating and modifying teaming arrangements with other organizations.
• The applicant's capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques, or unique combinations of these, which are integral factors for achieving the proposed objectives.
• The qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the proposed principal investigator, team leader, or other key personnel who are critical to achievement of the proposed objectives.
• The applicant's record of past performance.

5             Review

White papers will be reviewed by the Government evaluators. Companies whose white papers receive a favorable evaluation may be invited to submit a full proposal.

6             Key Dates

Activity Date

Deadline for submitting technical questions  -- 25 June 2025

Deadline for white paper submissions  --  See date in this announcement.

Anticipated notification of selection to submit a proposal  --  14 July 2025

Anticipated deadline for full proposal submission  --  31 July 2025 (11:59 AM CDT)

Tentative contract award date  --  30 SEP 2025

7             References

• How Drone Combat in Ukraine is Changing Warfare https://www.reuters.com/graphics/UKRAINE-CRISIS/DRONES/dwpkeyjwkpm/

8             Contacts

Below is a list of contact information for additional information related to the call for proposals.

• Submission Questions:

MAJ Colby Burkhart, Project Manager, [email protected] 

• Technical Questions:

Dr. Jennifer Rego, Technical Point of Contact, [email protected]

[1] https://aal.army/assets/files/pdf/baa-published-announcement.pdf