FORUM FOR INNOVATIVE NOVEL & DISCOVERY- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC) is announcing the second Forum for Innovative & Novel Discovery or FIND. The FIND program is voluntary and open to all interested small business members of industry. Businesses that participate in the FIND will not receive any financial reimbursement for their participation from the U.S. Army. If your company qualifies as a small business, they are eligible to submit a proposal to FIND at usarmy.jble.arcic-cdld.mbx.FIND-coordinator@mail.mil. On 13-14 March 17 concurrent with Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Global Force Symposium and Exposition, ARCIC will conduct its second FIND event. The FIND will concentrate on sustainment. Each FIND session provides a forum allowing an individual member of industry to share proprietary information on its long-range Research and Development (R&D) efforts (outside the presence of competing industry members) with U.S. Army officials knowledgeable on the general subject matter of Army Warfighting Challenges (AWFC) best aligned with the private R&D effort. The sessions are executive level meetings chaired by an Army Flag Officer or equivalent. The purpose of FIND is to provide industry the opportunity to present their most innovative project/idea to key Senior Army Leaders and receive feedback with the goal of developing an opportunity for the Army to discover innovative technologies through a novel approach with industry. FIND events will focus on a variety of topics across the TRADOC Big 6+1 priority capabilities and Army science and technology warfighting needs to enable the Army to focus future force development and prioritize research, development, and acquisition. FINDs will emphasize long-range planning to define future decision points that consider equipment age, degradation of overmatch, industrial base viability and closure of capability gaps in the near-term (FYs 17-21), mid-term (FYs 22-31), and long-term (FYs 32-50) time frames, while allowing for cost-informed decisions that balance force generation needs for Force 2025 and Beyond. AWFCs and the Warfighters' Science and Technology Needs should be used when reviewing topics. See http://www.arcic.army.mil/Initiatives/ArmyWarfightingChallenges, and http://www.arcic.army.mil/App_Documents/Army-Warfighters-ST-Needs-Bulletin.pdf. A small business wishing this opportunity will submit a no greater than 1000 word white paper to ARCIC, NLT 17 February 17 for review and selection. Selected companies will be notified by ARCIC of the date/time of their presentation. When responding, please include a brief description of the company and points of contact for further coordination. When submitting a white paper to ARCIC, companies must satisfy at least one of the following criteria to be considered: a. Autonomous Aerial Resupply. Provide unmanned aerial distribution platforms to support responsive sustainment to widely dispersed units. Autonomous aerial resupply capabilities would reduce Soldier exposure to risk; decrease demand for ground distribution; extend operational reach; decrease customer wait time; and increase operational readiness. b. Autonomous Ground Resupply. Incorporates autonomous technology into existing tactical wheeled vehicles (TWVs). Vehicles can operate independently or in a manned-unmanned teaming environment. Allows for control, as well as mission assignment remotely through an operator control unit. Potential benefits include reduced Soldier exposure to risk; extended operational reach; increased throughput; mitigated human endurance constraints; and improved Soldier ability to focus on mission-critical tasks. c. Alternative Sources of Water. Measures to provide alternative sources of water reduce the total Army demand through point-of-need water production, reuse, and efficiencies. Potential benefits include improved ability meet demand at the point of need; reduced convoy requirements and logistics footprint associated with centralized water production and distribution; and increased endurance for expeditionary forces. d. Additive Manufacturing. Making a three-dimensional, solid object from a digital model using an additive process where successive layers of material are laid down to form different shapes. Has application at the strategic, operational, and tactical level. Potential benefits include improved ability to meet demand at the point of need; reduced Class IX distribution requirements; decreased manufacturing lead times and Authorized Stockage List (ASL) requirements; improved supply metrics and increased operational readiness; and reduced life cycle cost and enhanced ability to exploit innovation. e. Intelligent Power Management and Distribution. Combine hardware and software to optimize usage and distribution of electrical power. Will enable energy informed operations to inform decisions, optimize use, assure access, and build resiliency. Potential benefits include reduced requirements and logistics footprint associated with fuel distribution and improved endurance for widely dispersed, expeditionary forces. f. Alternative Fuels and Advanced Power Generation. Can decrease the total Army demand and provide the future force with improved endurance and greater, self-sustaining capability. Potential benefits include increased reliability and access of power; reduced demand for fossil fuels, increased redundancy within the power distribution network; reduced requirements and logistic footprint associated with fuel distribution; and increased endurance for widely dispersed, expeditionary forces. When submitting requests for attendance/participation to the FIND mailbox, include: The company name, name(s) of employees presenting, and a company point-of -contact with a phone number and e-mail address. (Admin Note: THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. Announcements are used to gather information and inform from industry without any promise of a current or future contract or requirement. This is not a solicitation for bids or offers. Information provided cannot be used to create a binding contract. Respondents to this announcement will not be reimbursed for the information they provide to ARCIC or for their attendance at the FIND.) The FIND Coordinator is listed below: Mr. Grant, FIND Coordinator. TRADOC ARCIC Science, Technology, Research, and Accelerated Capabilities Division (ATFC-ET), Concept Development and Learning Directorate, 950 Jefferson Ave, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA 23604-5763, Telephone: (757 501-5529) Email: usarmy.jble.arcic-cdld.mbx.FIND-coordinator@mail.mil. Contracting Office Address: MICC Center - Fort Eustis (Joint Base Langley-Eustis), Building 705, Fort Eustis, VA 23604-5538 Point of Contact(s): Woody Slate, 757-501-8133 Contracting Office Address: Building 705 Washington Blvd Fort Eustis, Virginia 23604-5538 United States