A -- Industry Advanced Technology Search / Discovery

Information Requested on: Advanced Technologies and Ways to Better Discover Advanced Technologies Description: US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) is tasked with transforming the joint military force. Within the United States military, transformation requires changing the form, or structure of our military forces; the nature of our military culture and doctrine supporting those forces; and streamlining our warfighting functions to more effectively meet the complexities of the new threats challenging our nation in this new millennium. Joint concept development and experimentation is the cornerstone for developing future joint warfighting concepts and capabilities. The Unified Command Plan (UCP) identifies USJFCOM's key role in transforming U.S. military forces. To accomplish this mission, the command develops new concepts and tests them through experimentation and, in collaboration with other combatant commands, services and agencies, recommends solutions to better integrate their warfighting capabilities. Included within these capabilities are mission areas that run the gamut from major combat operations to peace keeping, nation building, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, while working with the multinational, interagency and non-government organizations (NGOs) in a whole of government approach. The command also collaborates with and builds on best practices from industry and academia. USJFCOM uses Technology Transfer Authority (TTA) to speed the research and development process. The goal is to quickly develop new ideas from academic, industrial, national and international research laboratories into integrated joint warfighting capabilities. One way USJFCOM uses TTA is by entering into Cooperative Research And Development Agreements (CRADAs) with private companies and other entities, which allow partners to share costs, without exchanging funds. The objective of a CRADA is cooperative research that will enhance the mission of the command and benefit the other party. CRADAs define the individual responsibilities of each party and rights to intellectual property developed under the agreement. Under federal law, the command can establish CRADAs with industrial organizations, industrial development organizations, non-profit organizations, universities, state and local governments. USJFCOM may provide personnel, facilities, and equipment to perform the cooperative research, but may not provide funds to support a CRADA. The other party may provide personnel, facilities, equipment, and funding. The Advanced Technology Department conducts exploratory efforts with industry, academia, and laboratories to identify opportunities to interface with Joint Concept Development and Experimentation efforts and provides solutions to the joint war fighter. The Advanced Technology Department is soliciting Industry and Academia's assistance in discovering advanced technologies and assistance in developing better methodologies for discovering technologies that best support improved, "leap-ahead" or revolutionary capabilities to the joint warfighter. Responses to this request for information (RFI) would enable USJFCOM to find those new technologies that show greatest promise to improved capability for the joint war fighter. In some rare cases, these new capabilities may be simply better or different applications of an existing technology, or integrate technologies in to provide capability. RFI Guidelines: USJFCOM will not pay for information provided under this RFI, and there is no guarantee that a war fighter capability will be supported as a result of this RFI. This RFI is not accepting applications for financial assistance or financial incentives. The purpose of this RFI is solely to solicit input for USJFCOM consideration in determining the most beneficial capabilities for the war fighter, and the most efficient way to discover advanced technologies that will provide advanced and improved capabilities to the joint war fighter. Comments in response to this RFI should be submitted in Microsoft Word or PDF to contact@example.gov by 8:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on February 29, 2008. Please provide responses to this RFI in less than a 2 page paper format, or no larger than a 3 MB Powerpoint presentation. Questions relative to responding to this RFI may be sent to this same mailbox in advance of your response, and will be answered via the mailbox only. Rationale or Justification: Industry and Academia play a significant role in all technological development in the United States. Numerous opportunities exist to enhance the efficient use of these new technologies to support the joint war fighter. USJFCOM would appreciate input from industry, industry associations, academia, academic associations and other entities regarding the most beneficial advanced technologies, and the most efficient ways to discover advanced technologies in order to implement better capabilities for the joint war fighter. How are Disruptive Technologies used, and how they can be used against the US? Information on the overall level of interest by respondents participating in this program; possible incentives needed to encourage the immediate adoption of best-in-kind advanced technologies; recommendations for technology development or other support needed to achieve this goal; and other factors, critical for meeting this goal, that should be considered to ensure strong industry and academia participation are requested. Please consider the list of topics below in your response. You may also wish to consider issues that you believe are relevant to improving capabilities for our joint war fighters. - Experience or lessons learned from searching/discovery of advance technologies. - Challenges, pitfalls (what not to do) learned from these activities. - Roadblocks and concerns that industry and academia may have learned from searching / discovery of advanced technologies. - What is the most beneficial means to manage innovation to answer operational requirements? - The most effective way(s) to motivate industry and academia to participate in this initiative, including possible incentives. - How to document and verify the industrial and academia search / discovery and to evaluate the success of these programs. - The level of interest in participating in the planning or in partnering with the USJFCOM to achieve this goal. - Specific technical or technology metrics to support assessment of search / discovery means. In summary, please provide comments to aid and inform USJFCOM in the creation of an advanced technologies search / discovery program; please provide any advanced technologies for consideration for cooperative research and development into capabilities to support the joint war fighter. Template for RFI Responses Contact Information for the submitting organization: Company Name: ____________________________________ Company / Academic Institution Contact: ___________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________ Phone Number: ______________________________________ Email: _____________________________________________ Type of business or institution: __________________________ Please provide input regarding the most beneficial and efficient way search, discover, and categorize advanced technologies that will best contribute to improved capabilities to our joint war fighter. Experience or lessons learned from discovery of advanced technologies activities: Challenges, pitfalls (what not to do) learned from these activities: Roadblocks and concerns that industry or academia may have with searching and discovering these advanced technologies: How essential is finding advanced technologies to your company's economic competitiveness: The most effective way(s) to motivate industry to participate in this initiative, including possible incentives: How to document and verify the industrial and academia search / discovery and to evaluate the success of these programs. The level of interest in participating in the planning or in partnering with the USJFCOM to achieve this goal. Specific technical or technology metrics to support assessment of various search / discovery means. In summary, please provide comments to aid and inform USJFCOM in the creation of an advanced technologies search / discovery program; please provide any advanced technologies for consideration for cooperative research and development into capabilities to support the joint war fighter. USJFCOM thanks you for your assistance and input. USJFCOM POC Name: Mr. Michael Sottung Phone: +1 (555) 000-0000