A -- CURRENT CAPABILITIES AND BEST PRACTICES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF MODELING AND SIMULATION IMPLEMENTATION ROADMAP AND INVESTMENT PLAN

The Defense Modeling and Simulation Office (DMSO) is collecting information for use in developing an implementation roadmap and an associated investment plan to support the pending Department of Defense (DoD) Modeling and Simulation Master Plan (MSMP). The MSMP, currently being staffed through the Department of Defense for issuance as a directive, will establish M&S objectives and milestones for the DoD to focus, guide and prioritize all DoD M&S investments for joint-, general-, and common-use.The DMSO is a technology transition and support organization charged with maximizing efficiency and effectiveness of M&S efforts across the (DoD) and to support the reuse of DoD models and simulations. The DMSO performs those key corporate level functions necessary to encourage cooperation, synergism, and cost-effectiveness among the M&S activities of the DoD Components. The DMSO supports the warfighter by leading a defense-wide team in fostering the interoperability, reuse, and affordability of M&S and the responsive application of these tools to provide revolutionary warfighting capabilities and improve aspects of DoD operations. Further information about the DMSO can be found on the Web at http://www.dmso.mil. In support of ongoing efforts to develop an implementation roadmap and an investment plan, the DMSO is interested in your: (1) Current methods, tools, techniques, processes, best practices, standards, and/or metrics for improving the usability of M&S (2) Current methods, tools, techniques, processes, best practices, standards, and/or metrics for improving the affordability of M&S (3) Current tools for improving the automated workflow/support of M&S systems (e.g., rapid database development, model composition, federation, etc.) (4) Current capabilities for improving M&S representations of the environment (e.g., including data sets, algorithms, tools, data models, interchange mechanisms, etc.) (5) Current capabilities for improving M&S representations of human behavior (e.g., human physiological and cognitive capabilities and limitations, individual and group performance, effects of organizational configuration and environment on performance, C3, doctrine/tactics, methodologies, data modeling, architectures, models, simulations, etc.) (6) Current capabilities for improving M&S representations of systems, families of systems, and systems of systems (7) Current capabilities for improving the establishment of standard, readily-available, distributed simulations (8) Current capabilities for improving the scientific, operational, technical, and theoretical underpinnings of M&S and its supporting technologies and disciplines (9) Current standards and/or best practices for improving M&S reuse and/or interoperability (10) Best practices for improving M&S composability, interoperability, and/or reuse (e.g., algorithms, protocols, standards, data sets, etc.) (11) Current methodologies and/or technologies for improving the process and/or application of VV&A (12) Best practices and/or current capabilities for improving M&S education and training at all levels (13) Current capabilities for improving access to and/or usability of M&S resources (14) Specific and current capabilities in support of Information Operations, C4ISR, unconventional warfare, WMD effects, effects-based operations, space, non-lethal weapons, and transformational warfighting concepts. Government organizations, commercial companies, universities, and other non-profit organizations involved in modeling and simulation activities are invited to submit an affirmative response to this notice. Interested parties are requested to respond to the questions above no later than 26 July 04. Responses may include capability statements, catalogs, or published literature appropriate to this RFI. Information submitted shall be limited to three pages per question, separated by question. Interested sources should respond to (U.S. Mail. Express / overnight deliveries and courier) Director, Defense Modeling and Simulation Office, ATTN: Mr. Steven Minning, 1901 North Beauregard Street, Suite 500, Alexandria, Virginia 22311, telephone (703)824-3446. All information provided shall be considered the intellectual property of the provider and will not be given to another source outside DMSO for any reason without the express permission of the respondent. Any questions should be directed to the technical and RFI POC listed above. This submission of information is for planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the government to procure any items / services, nor for the government to pay for the information received. No solicitation document exists. Per the Federal Acquisition Regulations, RFIs may be used when the Government does not presently intend to award a contract, but wants to obtain price, delivery, other market information, or capabilities for planning purposes. Responses to these notices are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.