A--Government Parties Seek Collaboration with Industry on Research and Development (R&D) to Advance Better Use of the Electromagnetic Spectrum

Special Notice Government Parties Seek Collaboration with Industry on Research and Development (R&D) to Advance Better Use of the Electromagnetic Spectrum The Department of Defense (DOD) is releasing this special notice to inform interested parties about an interest to establish a Section 845 Other Transaction (OTA) agreement with an eligible entity or group of entities to develop and mature technologies and support policy development to enable advanced approaches to electromagnetic spectrum use. This initiative will support possible needs across the government and industry, in alignment with the National Information Technology R&D (NITRD)/Wireless Spectrum R&D (WSRD) Senior Steering Group (SSG) mission to promote collaboration among government, industry and academia. Section 845(a) (2) of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 1994, Public Law (P.L.) 103-160, as amended (Title 10 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 2371 note), authorizes the Secretary of the Army (SA) to carry out prototype projects that are directly relevant to weapons or weapon systems. The Government must ensure that, when an agency enters into an Other Transaction Agreement for a prototype project under this authority, nontraditional defense contractor(s) participate to a significant extent in the prototype project; or at least one third of the total cost of the prototype project is to be paid out of funds provided by parties to the transaction other than the Federal Government. Currently, the Government and industry share a common challenge of satisfying vastly increasing demand for the use of electromagnetic spectrum(s). Multiple efforts are addressing this fundamental issue as it hampers U.S. innovation and economic growth and hinders U.S. military operations both domestically and overseas. The envisioned collaboration between the Government and Industry focuses on four major activities: - maturing technologies that assist in improved electromagnetic spectrum awareness, sharing, and use - experimentation to better inform the optimal allocation of those technologies for both public and private objectives - demonstration of new technologies to increase trust among spectrum stakeholders - policy development to ensure technologies don't outpace the appropriate guidance for their best use It is anticipated that industry members may propose forming a consortium that would seek to work with the Government, through an OTA agreement in this area. DOD and NITRD/WSRD recognize that both Government and industry can benefit from an OTA agreement with a consortium, in order to achieve more rapid contracting, acceleration of discovery, unparalleled ability to tailor research, policy consideration concurrent with technological advances, a more focused and synergistic research agenda, and relief from excessive bureaucratic requirements. Any company, university, or research organization is eligible to join the consortium. Specific industry segments of interest include wireless technologies, radars and signal processing, electronic warfare, and spectrum monitoring and sensing. Industry/academia will have an opportunity for dialog with the Government sponsors. A reception will be held March 31, 2014, 1800 hrs - 2000 hrs, in the Atrium of the National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230. This reception will serve as an initial opportunity for interested members of industry and academia to meet and discuss details with Government funding sponsors. Government Sponsors will conduct an Industry Day at a future date to be announced. Advance information can be obtained by interested Government participants by contacting Mrs. Ellen M. Purdy at contact@example.gov. Interested private entities should contact Mr. Vanu Bose, at contact@example.gov.