Foreign Information Environment Characterization

I. Background The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) Information Resilience Office (IRO) is responsible for ensuring the Agency and its partners have the necessary knowledge and capabilities to maintain information resilience in the global Information Environment (IE) against threats to DTRA's countering weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) mission. The IRO focuses on proactively anticipating, preparing, and adapting to changing IE conditions to better defend the Agency, its people, and partners in the face of Foreign Malign Influence (FMI). Understanding and characterizing foreign malign narratives, tactics, and techniques is essential for the IRO to effectively synchronize Agency efforts to mitigate FMI risks to mission assurance and enhance information resilience among the workforce. The IE consists of shared information (e.g., multimedia social media messaging, news, documents, and structured information) and the technology that facilitates information creation, consumption, and sharing (e.g., apps, social media platforms, and networks). II. Objectives The IRO is seeking an integrated capability to meet IE characterization and information advantage requirements. This will enable DTRA to understand emerging FMI threats, inform information resilience training content, and ensure alignment of DTRA messaging with its Operations, Activities, and Investments (OAIs). An integrated solution should address the following capabilities: (1) data provisioning (2) narrative detection, sensemaking, and tracking (3) narrative resonance characterization (4) narrative triage (5) narrative knowledgebase creation and (6) program management. Information must be available via an interactive user interface capable of searching and viewing on map-based, timeline and other relevant displays. III. Scope Proposed work should focus on the DTRA IRO specific use case of detecting FMI relevant to DTRA equities. The capabilities should generalize to any foreign country of potential interest, but offerors should describe which capabilities they would initially focus on, what data they can provide, and how their efforts would scale to additional countries. Of particular interest are those countries that are non-aligned, as they may be potential targets of FMI to undermine potential US Government partnerships.IE characterization will require the use of Publicly Available Information (PAI). Directive 3115.18 covers the use of PAI for authorized DoD efforts. The desired capabilities will work with PAI only, with US Person Information (USPI) requiring sequestration. Additionally, the handling of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is necessary to protect individual privacy. IV. Information Sought The DTRA IRO is interested in receiving information from contractors, industry, academia, or other organizations that have capabilities, experience, and expertise in the areas described in the objectives and scope sections. Respondents should provide the following information: Company name, size and seriocomic status, and CAGE Code. A description of the organization, its core competencies, and relevant experience and qualifications. A brief description of the capabilities, tools, methodologies, or technical approaches proposed to address the IRO's objectives and scope. Identification of any known limitations or challenges associated with the proposed approach and potential solutions or workarounds. A description of data sets, databases, or other sources of information your approach would leverage, including any existing relationships your organization has to acquire this information. An estimated schedule, timeline, or Gantt chart for delivering your proposed capabilities or services. An estimated cost or fee structure for your proposed capabilities or services. In addition to the general capabilities statement and specific technical information, vendors shall provide answers to the following questions with their submissions: 1. What do you see as a possible timeline to successfully deploy this system to an approved contractor-maintained, cloud-based environment for live use from award? 2. For this effort, would you be able to deliver tools to a DTRA-maintained, cloud-based environment at the conclusion of this effort? 3. What additional information would you need from DTRA to develop an approach for this requirement? 4. Do you currently possess the resources and capabilities to successfully provide an integrated capability, or do you anticipate teaming with other partners on this requirement? 5. What is the socio-economic status of your company? 6. Are your services available through an existing Government-wide vehicle (such as GSA schedule), or solely in the open market? If available on a government-wide vehicle, which one(s)? 7. If the requirement is set aside for small business, do you plan to prime the effort? 8. If the requirement is not set aside for small business, do you plan to prime the effort? 9. What recommendations do you have to mitigate risk? V. Submission Instructions Responses should be submitted by email to the identified point of contact (POC) and address all requested information. The POC is Ms. Rorri Waters at rorri.d.waters.civ@mail.mil and Ms. Michelle Etienne at michelle.etienne.civ@mail.mil. All responses must be received no later than 12:00 PM EDT, 21 October 2024. Please note that no monetary awards will be made based on the responses to this Sources Sought announcement. This announcement is for information and planning purposes only. It does not constitute a solicitation, nor does it commit the IRO to issue a solicitation in the future. Any participation is at the offeror's voluntary and self-financed expense. VI. Disclaimer This announcement does not bind the Government to any action or obligation, nor does it create any claimable interests or entitlement in any person, firm, or corporation or otherwise create any rights. The Government reserves the right to issue a solicitation or not issue a solicitation, including terminating this announcement, without any other notice, at any time. VII. References Information Environment: https://www.dni.gov/index.php/ncsc-what-we-do/ncsc-national-intelligence-strategy/ncsc-3-understand-challenges-opportunities-information-environment-support-merica-global-influence Foreign Malign Influence: https://www.dni.gov/ckfinder/userfiles/157/Malign_Influence_web-final.pdf DTRA's Foreign Malign Influence website: https://www.dtra.mil/About/Foreign-Malign-Influence/ Dept. of State's Global Engagement Center website: https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-public-diplomacy-and-public-affairs/global-engagement-center/ Ukraine Bio-Labs Narrative: https://www.state.gov/debunking-russian-disinformation-on-ukraine-biological-weapons/ * Amendment 01: Questions in response to this Sources Sought must be submitted to the POCs listed above by 12:00 PM EDT, 16 October 2024. *Amendment 02: To revise section VII. References/Links from the above to the following; Information Environment: https://media.defense.gov/2023/Nov/17/2003342901/-1/-1/1/2023-DEPARTMENT-OF-DEFENSE-STRATEGY-FOR-OPERATIONS-IN-THE-INFORMATION-ENVIRONMENT.PDF Foreign Malign Influence: https://www.dni.gov/files/FMIC/documents/products/04-25-24_Report_FMI-Primer-Public-Release.pdf DTRA's Foreign Malign Influence website: https://www.dtra.mil/About/Foreign-Malign-Influence/ [NO CHANGE] Dept. of State's Global Engagement Center website: https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-public-diplomacy-and-public-affairs/global-engagement-center/ [NO CHANGE] Ukraine Bio-Labs Narrative: https://www.state.gov/disarming-disinformation/kremlin-disinformation-bulletin-2/ *Amendment 03: To extend the response date from 12:00 PM EDT 21 October 2024 to 12:00 PM EDT 24 October 2024 *Amendment 04: To upload Questions and Answers received in response to the Sources Sought.