Compass Bright Request for Information

Request for Information (RFI) COMPASS BRIGHT CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS: Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Special Operations Forces Directorate (AFLCMC/WI), ISR Sensors and Foreign Military Sales Division (AFLCMC/WIN) Contracting Offices, 2530 Loop Road West, Room 144, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7106, United States. SYNOPSIS: AFLCMC/WIN manages the USAF Compass Bright portfolio supporting the SIGINT Capabilities Working Group (SCWG). The SCWG manages and plans Air Force airborne SIGINT Capabilities Research, Development Test and Evaluation investments. The Compass Bright portfolio is a key resource of the SCWG. The types of work as identified by the Compass Bright charter cover six technical support areas: (1) Electronic Intelligence; (2) Communications Intelligence; (3) Special Signals; (4) Analytics; (5) Audio; and (6) Non-Traditional ISR. The successful bidder will need to understand these technical areas and have demonstrated experience with developing technologies that meet USAF Gaps in these areas that can be transitioned to USAF ISR platforms. Additionally, any proposal submitted should be pre-milestone B, with a TRL 4-6, lasting less than 2 years, and requiring funding of $1M-1.5M per year. PURPOSE: In support of the Compass Bright program, AFLCMC/WIN is conducting market research across industry, academia, and government agency programs. The intent is to identify promising candidate programs/technology efforts with projected capabilities that may improve current and future Air Force airborne SIGINT sensors. Market research will help identify what research has been accomplished in the field of SIGINT, as well as technologies that currently exist or could be modified to fill a need. Although FY22 funding is uncertain, Compass Bright managers are seeking 1-2 year projects beginning in FY22 that require funding of less than $1.5 million per year with Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4-6 with the objective of taking TRL to 6 or higher. AFLCMC/WIN seeks white papers and quad-charts by 1600 EST, 22 June 2020. All correspondence submitted will be protected as Source Selection Sensitive. After reviewing the submitted white papers and quad-charts, the Government may request technical exchanges and/or site surveys of respondents facilities. This market research will potentially shape Air Force efforts in the FY22-26 timeframe. The Government anticipates the information received will be used to plan and program the required efforts to support airborne SIGINT objectives. SUBMISSION: Submitted white papers should identify potential candidate programs and technology efforts related to development and demonstration of SIGINT sensors, associated on-board data processing, and algorithms and components supporting end-to-end SIGINT functionality. Components do not need to be a part of an existing sensor system; research and development of these components may be ongoing independent of a full system. However, the focus of Compass Bright is focused on airborne (or on-board) SIGINT capabilities with a clear transition path to USAF platforms. Mark all submitted documents with the appropriate security classification; to include the security classification guides for ELINT and COMINT. Documents may be classified up to the TS/SCI level. BE ADVISED: Review of submitted white papers will be accomplished by both United States Government (USG) employees and USG support contractors who have executed non-disclosure agreements. USG support contractor input is advisory in nature only. BACKGROUND: Candidate Compass Bright technologies may include on-board processing for multiple airborne platforms, and sensor technologies to increase range, resolution and/or aid in rapid targeting (geolocation models, sensor-based exploitation/recognition tools, sensor networking capabilities). Candidate Projects must address one or more of the following FY21 SCWG goals and the National Defense Strategy. AFLCMC/WIN requests information on the following SIGINT focus areas that will: - Improve SIGINT capabilities in anti-access, denied areas and contested environments - Support find, fix, track, target, assess in near real time for airborne ISR assets, - Detect, identify and track personnel of interest, - Enhance current data throughput - Support for enhancement of on-board real-time processing for correlation/fusion of multi-source sensor data WHITE PAPER / QUAD-CHART SUBMITTAL: The Government invites industry to submit one White Paper and Quad Chart per project (see attached Guidance) at the unclassified or FOUO or classified level up to TS/SCI at any time on or before 1600 EST, 22 June 2020. Templates for the White Paper and Quad-Chart have been provided. Send your submittals to all POC's JWICS emails listed in the chart below. You will receive acknowledgement that your submittal was received. POINTS OF CONTACT (POC): For inquiries, technical or otherwise, email or contact POCs listed below. (Name, Unclassified Phone, Email) Jeancarlo Vasquez 937-904-5434 NIPR: jeancarlo.vasquez@us.af.mil JWICS: jeancarlo.vasquez@af.ic.gov Jim Miller 937-904-5428 NIPR: james.miller.92.ctr@us.af.mil JWICS: james.r.miller_ctr@af.ic.gov Michelle Sayre 937-255-4438 NIPR: michelle.sayre.ctr@us.af.mil JWICS: michelle.sayre_ctr@af.ic.gov THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this announcement. Submitting capabilities and concepts in response to this announcement is voluntary, and participants shall not be compensated.