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 partnering 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, & CBRNE)
Low Visibility (Tactical Effects without the Overt Tactical Signature)

The TSOA project supports the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Rapid Reaction Technology office (RRTO) to improve Warfighter maneuver, survivability and lethality. The TSOA team identifies potential vulnerabilities in emerging technologies including performance degradation in contested environments, interoperability, adaptability and training/ease of use through live experiment venues.

After reviewing the technology submissions, the Government may invite select candidates to participate in a TSOA field experiment/assessment venue in which we evaluate the capability as applied to the Warfighter, its technical limitations and vulnerabilities through an enemy perspective. These assessments will be held at various venues to include, but not limited to, Camp Dawson, WV, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA, Camp Roberts, CA, Camp Shelby, MS, Ft. Hood, TX, Fort AP Hill, VA, Joint Base Lewis-McCord, WA, Camp Atterbury, IN, Stennis, MS and Port Canaveral, FL through 31 December 2019. 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.

Technology White papers shall be submitted electronically to email address: usarmy.belvoir.rdecom-cerdec.mbx.nvesd-art-tsoa-submissions@mail.mil
The subject line of the email must indicate TSOA, followed by the submitting organization's name. This RFI is effective through 31 December 2019. Papers may be submitted at any time during the effective periods, but specific event cut-off dates are listed below, and an indication of which event the submission is for is needed.

B. OBJECTIVE

(1) Background: The TSOA conducts Field Experiments/Assessments funded by RRTO 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 assessments will be conducted: December 2018, February/March 2019, and June 2019. Off-cycle assessments may be conducted on an as needed basis throughout 2019.

TSOA Field Assessments

TSOA 19-1
Execution: 3-7 December 2018
Focus (not limited to): Building Coalition Partner Capacity in Very Complex Terrain
Location: Camp Roberts, CA
Environment: Extensive Urban Environment, some SUB-T, restricted airspace, Sharp elevation and complex terrain
RFI Submission Deadline: 1 October 2018

TSOA 19-2
Execution: February/March 2019
Focus (not limited to): Maneuver in Built-up Areas
Location: Camp Shelby, MS
Environment: Urban Environment (Containers), some SUB-T, restricted airspace, large wooded maneuver space
RFI Submission Deadline: 28 December 2018

TSOA 19-3
Execution: June 2019
Focus (not limited to): Near-Peer Connectedness in Urban Environments and Fighting in Multi-tiered, Segmented Manmade Structures
Location: Complex Urban Environment
Environment: Urban, tall buildings, Extensive SUB-T (Improved & primitive), congested RF
RFI Submission Deadline: 1 April 2019

(3) Field Experiment/Assessment Focus: The following technical areas are of particular interest:

TSOA main focus areas include but are not limited to the following

a. Timely Mission Command and Tactical Intelligence:
Common Operating Picture
Battle Space Owner (relevant)
Realtime Situational Awareness
Hyper Spectral Imagery Enhancement
Standoff Measurement
3D Mapping on the move (standoff and/or man-packable)
Object Recognition
Data Compression and Transfer
Data Standard / Common Operational Environment
Communications
Sensor & Data Fusion
Autonomy
Data Dissemination
Secure Communications
Data Handling & Storage

b. Reduce Warfighter Overburden:
Weight & Volume
Forward Edge Computing/Processing
Set Up
User Interface
Electronic Burden
Trouble Shooting
Training
Ergonomics
Integrated Capabilities
Transport
Multi-Functional Capabilities
Logistics supportability
Availability
Sustainable
Scalable Functionality
Adaptability/Flexibility
Customizable

c. Enhance Lethality and/or Capability to Temporarily Incapacitate Threats:
Detecting
Locating
Targeting
Hardware/Software leveraging for Internet of Things (IoT) devices and other Electronics
Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS)
BDA
Marking
Identifying
Target Discrimination
Reduce collateral damage
Reduced TLE / CAS
HUMINT
SIGINT
MASINT
STANO Devices
Extended Ranges

d. Increase Force Protection (Soldier/Vehicle/Base):
Active Defense
Identify Management/Threat Mitigation
Concealable Antennas
Counter Multi-Threats
Cover from Direct /Indirect Fire
Enhance Troop Movement
Perimeter Security
Entry Control Points
Expeditionary Power
Long Range Surveillance
Sense and Warn
360° Hemispherical Protection
Subsurface Protection
Obscuration
Active Defense
Detect/ID/Mitigate CBRNE
Detect/ID/ Mitigate Explosive Hazards
Autonomous Systems
Warn & Alert
Area Denial
Establish, Expand, Protect, and Close Bases
Shape Terrain
Perform Infrastructure Reconnaissance
Access, Establish, Secure, Expand Ports of Debarkation (POD)

(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 warfighter 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. SUBMIT TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT PAPERS ONLY. Instructions and templates can be found at www.uniquemissioncell.org No contracts will be awarded based on this announcement.

C. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Responses shall be addressed to:

usarmy.belvoir.rdecom-cerdec.mbx.nvesd-TSOA-tsoa-submissions@mail.mil

(1) General Information: Technology White papers shall not exceed two (2) pages using a PDF format and no less than 10-point font. The Respondent shall prepare an additional unclassified, non-proprietary title and summary page at the beginning of the document, which does not count toward the page limit. Technology assessment papers in excess of two (2) pages may not be evaluated. Multiple concept papers addressing different technology assessments may be submitted by each respondent. Papers will be reviewed by TSOA personnel. Each technology assessment paper must address only one assessment. If you are submitting a technology that has previously been assessed at a TSOA event, you are highly encouraged to explain what has changed from the previous assessment. Selected Respondents will be invited to participate in TSOA field experiments. TSOA will provide venues, supporting infrastructure, and assessment (operational and technical) personnel at no cost to the selected respondent. The respondent's travel and shipping will be at the respondent's expense.

(2) Submission Format:

Section A: Respondent Name, Point of Contact, Title, Date, E-Mail Address, Phone #, Fax #, Organization/Office Symbol, and Address.

Section B: Capability Description--What is the capability you are proposing for the assessment? What is the intended purpose of this technology? How will the capability enhance mission effectiveness? Describe limits of environment in which this solution can operate.

Section C: Technology Assessment--How do you envision execution of the technology assessment? What is the proposed assessment methodology?

Section D: Support Components--What additional support is required for the assessment including hardware, software, data, facilities, and training?

Section E: Please note related federal contracts to include point of contact and current telephone number and address.

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. The Government does NOT intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI Notice or to otherwise pay for the information solicited.

H. POINTS OF CONTACT: Questions on the objectives or preparation of technical assessment papers should be addressed to: usarmy.belvoir.rdecom-cerdec.mbx.nvesd-TSOA-tsoa-submissions@mail.mil, and the Subject Line must be titled: QUESTION(s) for TSOA.