Next Generation Identification and Awareness Initiative

Agency: Department of the Army

Office: Army Contracting Command, Edgewood Contracting Division Fort Detrick Branch

Location: Frederick, MD

Solicitation Number: W911SR-22-S-NGIA

Notice Type: Sources Sought

Synopsis: This is a solicitation for parties interested in participating in projects sought by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), Program Manager Special Programs (PMSP) for state of the art technologies and capabilities for the Next

Generation Identification and Awareness Initiative (NGIA). NGIA is established to meet requirements in the following focus areas:

Focus Area 1: TAGGING, TRACKING AND LOCATING (TTL): Having knowledge of when, where and what the enemy is doing is crucial to mission planning and eventual success. USASOC is looking to fill technology gaps in special technical capabilities for Tagging, Tracking, and Locating of High Value Individuals and Targets (HVI&T). Tailored solutions should provide Over The Horizon (OTH) and Line of Sight (LOS) day and night target tracking capabilities for extended periods, in all terrain/weather conditions, using ground based, airborne, or satellite receive methods. Specific desired characteristics include LPI/LPD communications, non-traditional means of exfiltration, and ability to survive in austere, near/peer operational environments.

Focus Area 2: RECONNAISSANCE & SURVEILLANCE (R&S): USASOC must provide operators with the ability to gain intelligence in areas that are not easily accessible due to terrain/weather restrictions, political sensitivities, and hostile forces. Special, unattended ground base sensors will provide, “orbits without orbits”, giving commanders situational awareness where traditional ISR systems are either non-existent or units are operating in unfamiliar environments where traditional collection may fail. Specific efforts that include OTH Audio/Video sensors, novel sensor modalities, and passive audio, machine vision object recognition sensors and can bypass adversarial countermeasures are highly desirable.

Focus Area 3: UNMANNED SYSTEMS (UMS): Remotely controlled ground and aerial based systems have become a significant contested technology focus area for USASOC. Multiple solutions are required for the US military to win in the next fight. The solutions include the creation of denied/degraded GPS, anti-RF C2 link jamming capabilities that are manufactured by US companies using parts, and able to be integrated on group 1 and/or group 2 UAS. Additionally, we require the ability to manage and reduce the RF control link signature in order to protect the UAS from opposition EW exploitation. Autonomy is increasingly important and will allow operators to keep focus on mission tasks and decrease the amount of “eyes on screen” time required to operate remotely controlled drones, reducing troop to task requirements. With the increased proliferation of commercial and enemy drone platforms, the ability to deny, control, exploit and counter those platforms is required to survive in the current and future operating environment.

Focus Area #4: Integrated Information and Electromagnetic Operations (I2EO): The Integrated Information and Electromagnetic Operations (I2EO) focus area for USASOC is centered on the development and integration of advanced capabilities in Cyber, Electronic Warfare (EW), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Space Operations, and Communications. I2EO aims to provide USASOC with the ability to operate in a contested and dynamic environment, leveraging the electromagnetic spectrum to gain a decisive advantage over adversaries. The I2EO focus area combines the capabilities of cyber, EW, SIGINT, space operations, and communications to enable USASOC to disrupt, degrade, and destroy enemy command and control systems, while also protecting friendly forces from similar threats and maintaining secure and reliable communications in support of special operations missions. This is achieved through the development and fielding of advanced technologies, such as cyber tools, EW systems, SIGINT sensors, space-based assets, and tactical communication networks, which are integrated into a unified framework to provide real-time situational awareness, precision targeting, and effects-based operations. I2EO also emphasizes the importance of advanced analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to support the planning, execution, and assessment of special operations missions, ensuring that USASOC can operate at the speed and scale required to succeed in today's complex and rapidly evolving operational environment. I2EO will enhance the effectiveness of USASOC, improve the security of SOF, and maintain a strategic advantage over adversaries in the electromagnetic spectrum, while also ensuring seamless and secure communication between USASOC elements, coalition partners, and other stakeholders. 

The NGIA's purpose is to form a sphere of technological excellence made up of participants from industry, non-profit organizations, and not-for-profit entities able to rapidly and efficiently propose and carry out, the development of prototype solutions that sustain and expand strategic superiority within broadly stated special operations focus areas of interest. It is intended that participants will perform a strategically important role in developing systems focused on the development, demonstration and transition of resilient and dynamic technological capabilities critically necessary for the Nation's special operation forces. Prototype projects awarded as a result of this announcement may result in follow-on production Other Transaction Agreements or Contracts in the quantities specified within any particular project announcement released within the NGIA competitive environment.

Other Transaction Authority in accordance with 10 USC 4022 (formerly 10 USC 2371b) will be used in support of NGIA. The resultant award of any OT agreement will NOT be made or issued under the provisions of the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984 (P.L. 98-369), FAR Part 6 or any other FAR based regulation.

The NGIA will be carried out under the terms of a Participant Basic Agreement (PBA). The PBA is available for qualified entities interested in participating in the NGIA. Entities wishing to participate shall submit an email to the Primary Point of Contact identified below demonstrating technical relevancy/recency in the desired "Focus Areas of Interest." Material that is only advertisement or marketing material in nature is not desired.

The U.S. Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG), Edgewood Contracting Division is supporting USSOCOM in the execution of NGIA.

Primary Point of Contact: Elizabeth Nordell

Email Address: elizabeth.m.nordell.civ@army.mil

Please send technical and administrative questions and inquiries to the Primary Point of Contact to facilitate communication on all matters relating to this Announcement.

The Government is prohibited from soliciting and awarding actions to contractors that have engaged or are suspected to have engaged in criminal, fraudulent, or seriously improper conduct.

Prospective vendors shall complete electronic annual representations and certifications at SAM. By submission of an offer, the Offeror acknowledges the requirement that prospective awardees MUST be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to submitting an invoice and through final payment of any agreement resulting from NGIA. Vendors that are not registered should consider applying for registration immediately. To remain registered in the SAM database after the initial registration, the Vendors is required to review and update on an annual basis from the date of initial registration (or subsequent updates) its information in the SAM database to ensure it is current, accurate and complete.

This notification is for planning purposes only. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for the information solicited.