Persistent Cyber Training Environment (PCTE) - Request for Information

Purpose: The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain information for the purposes of market research which may inform future requirement and contract efforts for the Persistent Cyber Training Environment (PCTE). Summary: The U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) is requesting white papers providing possible technical solutions for all or part of the requirement discussed below. PCTE is a training platform that allows cyber mission forces to train in emulated network environments utilizing current cyber tool suites. The PCTE supports both individual and team training, in addition to large scale exercise and experimentation via a distributed close network across multiple classifications. The evolution of the platform will largely focus on integration of available applications, enabling increased automation to ultimately support multiple simultaneous training events. At maturity, the DoD joint PCTE will be a constellation of federated, interoperable common training capabilities enabling full spectrum training from individual competencies to the team, unit, group and force training, exercises, TTP development and mission rehearsal. Currently, the DoD uses a combination of loosely affiliated or independent virtual environments that lacks the automation necessary to establish and maintain persistent and scalable training environments. Previous analysis efforts have detailed gaps associated with PCTE event planning, event management, training assessment, restoration of the training environments, and automated opposition force. The future of PCTE includes the development and evolution of new capability solutions focused on improving the timeliness and effectiveness to meet the requirements of fully functional cyber mission forces. The DoD cyber mission forces training is focused on building proficiency to joint standards. The future training platform should include: - Realistic vignettes/scenarios as part of a system of individual and collective training from initial qualification through certification to mission rehearsal; - Event scheduling, management and execution; - Standardized training assessment; - A live, highly expert joint Opposing Force (OPFOR)/Aggressor to realistically simulate adversary threats and vulnerabilities, in addition to "canned" scenarios mimicking an automated OPFOR based on the current threat. The two categories for the submission of white papers are Event Management and Environment and Resource Management. Interested parties may provide two white papers, one for each category, and respond to as many sub-categories as desired within the white paper. Each white paper submission is limited to 20 pages. Category 1: Event Management. Dedicated and distributed event creation, scheduling, allocation and management functions for event design, planning and execution, replay, and archiving. Sub-Category A: PCTE Event Management Platform. This is the central instance (physical and logical infrastructure) that is the core of PCTE and enables training activities. Sub-Category B: Master Control. Functions of the master control include the centralized planning, scheduling and direction of PTE training operations. Sub-Category C: Centralized Order Portal. This is the entry point for customer training event requests, taking customer training requirements from planning to event design to execution and assessment. Sub-Category D: Event Design. This function takes customer requirements and joint standards and develops course and scenario design to deliver vignettes as well as a complete Master Scenario Events List (MSEL) leveraging automation and content library. Sub-Category E: Exercise Control. Describes the automated functions that control the exercise environment and drives training audience accomplishment of tasks and training objectives. Sub-Category F: Opposing Force. Automated and live application and emulation of threat actors from unsophisticated actors to advanced persistent threats with the highest level of proficiency. Sub-Category G: Assessment. Provides automated assessment tools and capabilities for capture and playback including visualization. Sub-Category H: Content Library. The central repository of all certified and relevant training content that would be available to the cyber workforce. Sub-Category I: Virtual Cyber Classroom. This includes the management of individual learning ecosystem portal to support a virtual learning environment and augments reality courses. Category 2: Environment and Resource Management. The management of a closed cyber exercise network (e.g., simulated general purpose red, gray, blue space, and related command and control) and cloud access to the full suite of DoD and Service distributed exercise resources, training environments, and capabilities enabling remote, geographically-separated network access for the cyber mission forces. The environments will be at multiple classifications from unclassified through Top Secret-SCI and can be a combination of virtual machines and physical instances. Request: Interested parties are requested to provide white paper responses (no more than one per category) outlining possible technical solutions, capabilities, and critical cost/schedule drivers related to the above mentioned categories/sub-categories. The cover page of the response shall include the company name, Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code, address, point of contact including phone number and email address, as well as the small business status of the responding company. There is no specified format for the white papers but they shall be limited to no greater than 20 pages and highlight the categories/sub-categories addressed. Responses: The response shall be due no later than 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 16 November 2016. The responses shall be emailed to Mr. Brian Serra, contact@example.gov, with a courtesy copy to Ms. Liz Bledsoe, contact@example.gov. Note: PEO STRI is planning to host an Industry Day for PCTE in early November 2016 in Orlando, FL. A separate notice will be posted providing specific information related to the Industry Day. Disclaimer: This notice does not constitute an invitation for bids or a request for proposal and is not a commitment by the U.S. Government to procure subject products or services nor will the Government reimburse any parties for costs associated with this request. The Government will use the information received to forge its acquisition strategy. Additionally, all submissions become government property and will not be returned. No basis for a claim against the Government shall arise as a result from a response to this RFI.