A -- DARPA Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) Common Operating System (COS) Industry Day

The DARPA Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) Office is hosting an Industry Day on June 24, 2005. This forum will present an overview of the consortium business arrangement for the development of the J-UCAS - Common Operating System (COS) and specifically the needs for technology contributions throughout the development of the COS. J-UCAS Overview: The Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) program is a joint DARPA/Air Force/Navy effort to demonstrate the technical feasibility, military utility and operational value for a networked system of high performance, weaponized unmanned air vehicles to effectively and affordably prosecute 21st century combat missions, including Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), surveillance, and precision strike within the emerging global command and control architecture. The J-UCAS office is currently managing two air vehicle development programs, the X-45 (Boeing), and the X-47 (Northrop Grumman). The COS is the software and the algorithms that provide for command and control, communications management, mission planning, much of the interactive autonomy, the human systems interface and the many other qualities associated with each of these. Consortium Overview: In order to accomplish the development of the COS, the J-UCAS program office is employing a unique business structure. This structure includes a consortium consisting of the program primes (Boeing and Northrop Grumman), and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory as the integrator/broker. Program primes are key stakeholders that directly contribute software functionality to the COS and are exclusively responsible for integrating the COS onto their own platform. The integrator/broker facilitates and coordinates the COS integration process amongst the primes and other technology providers and, if necessary, will act as DARPA's trusted agent in completing the development of enterprise architecture and COS. Technology contributors provide - best of breed algorithms to the COS. Their involvement in the consortium is based on the specific potential contributions that may enhance the COS functionality. Technology providers can include small developers, other large defense contractors, as well as traditional sub-contractors. This Industry Day will provide an opportunity for DARPA and the Consortium to brief COS plans and Technology Opportunities to industry. Additionally, DARPA will discuss goals with industry and conduct one-on-one dialogue with potential offerors. At this point in time, organizations specializing in Human Systems Interface are strongly encouraged to attend as there is an opportunity to fill an immediate need in the COS development. The Industry Day will be conducted on 24 June 2005 at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Kossiakoff Center, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723-6099. Directions and lodging options can be found at http://www.jhuapl.edu. Attendees should plan to arrive between 0830 and 0900. Industry Day will begin at 0900 and briefings will continue through 1200. Lunch will be made available between 1200 and 1300 after which written questions may be answered. Questions left unanswered may be answered and made available via the web at a later date. One-one-one meetings with potential offerors will be conducted from 1330-1700 in 30 minute segments. If more one-on-one meetings are requested than time allows, additional meetings will be scheduled at a later date. Attendance at Industry Day is limited to a maximum of 2 individuals per organization. Clearances are not required and all discussions will be unclassified. Please note that Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory personnel will be in attendance during the one-on-one meetings. This announcement is not a contract, request for proposal, a promise to contract, or a commitment of any kind. The Government will NOT assume liability for costs incurred by an offeror for travel expenses, presentations, marketing efforts or data offered for examination; therefore the cost of preparing information in response to this notice is not considered an allowable direct charge to the Government. Registration for the Industry Day can be made on-line starting Wednesday June 8th at http://www.jhuapl.edu/j-ucas. A $20 registration fee will be required and will be collected at the entrance to the Kossiakoff Center. Technical questions can be directed to Marc Pitarys, COS Program Manager, at mpitarys@darpa.mil. Business questions can be directed to Mark Bennington, J-UCAS Agreements Officer at (703) 696-2411.