USAF Electronic Warfare Battle Management Technology CRFI

TITLE: USAF Electronic Warfare Battle Management Technology Search DESCRIPTION: The Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC) Capabilities Development Division (XRS) is conducting market research analyses in support of examining technology levels and potential system availability to provide an initial capability for EWBM during operations conducted by USAF components of the DoD Airborne Electronic Attack System of Systems (AEA SoS). ASC is issuing this CRFI to gather information in support of any potential Air Combat Command (ACC) investment in such technology during a future (undefined) programming cycle. Only responses from US companies will be accepted. This request is for information and planning purposes only. In accordance with Part 10 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) the Government is conducting Market Research. Before submitting any information to the Government, be advised that the Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this request or to otherwise pay for the information you provide. In accordance with FAR 15.201 "Responses to these notices are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract." However, information may be used, not attributed to a particular Respondent, as a basis to engage with appropriate USAF organizations to inform and solicit programmatic support. Submission of Proprietary Information Caution: The government appreciates that interested firms may not be able to respond to this CRFI without disclosing information deemed "proprietary" or "competition sensitive". Data submitted in response to this CRFI will be widely distributed and discussed within the government as it will be used to assist in developing an acquisition strategy for any future ACC EWBM program. It is the responsibility of Respondents to clearly mark submitted information with appropriate restrictive markings. Respondents are further advised that the government's analysis of your responses may require disclosure of your responses to Advisory and Assistance Services contractor personnel. All members of the team will be reminded of their obligation to protect such information to the maximum extent permitted or required by the Economic Espionage Act, 18 U.S.C. 1831 et seq., and other applicable statutes or regulations. In addition, Government members will be reminded of their obligations to afford protection under the Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. 1905. All contractor members are required to protect the information by the terms of their contracts. The Government has also determined that the contractor personnel have no organizational conflicts of interest that could adversely affect protection of the information. The Government's support contractors will be required to sign non-disclosure agreements prior to being granted access to your data. Any information provided by the Government at this time is preliminary and may be updated or changed prior to a formal release of a Request for Proposal. APPROACH: ASC/XRS is requesting information on viable options that will provide an initial capability for EWBM during operations conducted by USAF components of the AEA SoS. Please note that while information sought for this CRFI is primarily concerned with optimization of USAF components of the AEA SoS, responders are encouraged to provide information on applicability of their EWBM technology to USN, USMC, USA and coalition capabilities that may be considered part of a surface, sea, and Airborne Electronic Attack SoS. Air Combat Command states the following EWBM tasks are applicable to all phases of conflict: Detect, Develop, Decide, Direct, and Assess. These tasks are accomplished via the enablers of Integrated Planning, Connectivity, Information Assimilation, and Decision Management. Respondents are asked to provide information on any existing system or any upgrade/concept/idea capable of being fielded in the near-term (2015 IOC) that provide capabilities/enhancement to the specific enablers of Integrated Planning and Decision Management. It is understood that in order to adequately accomplish EWBM tasks via these enablers, additional requirements such as low latency, high bandwidth communications systems may be required. This CRFI welcomes identification and bounding of such issues but does not seek information on solutions for those. Responders should provide information on methods to meaningfully 1) fuse and display existing/available electromagnetic spectrum data, 2) automate the target/weapon pairing process, 3) automate the course of action (COA) development process, 4) perform COA assessment and recommendation, and 5) assess planned and/or accomplished electronic attack effects. Where applicable and possible, information regarding the System Data Exchanges (SDEs) and functionality of a solution set should be provided and correlated with the Information Exchange Requirements (IERs) and activities contained within the AEA SoS Architecture. The overall objective is to improve the efficiency, reduce the time required, and minimize the potential for unintended consequences in the application of AEA during all phases of combat. Responders are asked to provide solutions that would upgrade/modify existing USAF ground and/or airborne systems, a response for a new stand alone system, or any combination of these solution sets. If multiple solutions are presented, each distinct solution should be fully documented as a complete response. The intent of this CRFI is to assist ACC with information needed to establish/refine operational requirements and set priorities for possible implementation of EWBM. The goal is to identify new and existing technology investments capable of optimizing AEA SoS effectiveness at both the component and SoS levels, in order to improve execution of all assigned missions. This CRFI seeks information on all aspects of EWBM as applied across all phases of combat. Wherever possible and practical, the utilization of open, digital, modular, scalable, sustainable and common architectures is encouraged. The responder's recommended solution(s) should include an implementation schedule for the development, procurement, and installation of possible solutions to include risk assessments and technology readiness levels. The goal is to develop a range of promising options at several capability and affordability levels. The technical solutions requested by this CRFI are comprehensive and, in some cases challenging. The Air Force is looking to industry to identify solutions that address the bulk of them, but there is no assumption that one company can satisfy them all. Therefore, companies that have partial solutions are encouraged to respond and address the extent to which their solutions provide answers to the technology challenges presented by this CRFI. This feedback provides the Air Force with insights into what is readily available and where the Technology Readiness Level is for solutions that can meet these challenges. It also provides an indication of what operational needs are most critical to costs and technical performance. To aid in the evaluation of affordability, rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost estimates should be provided. DATA LIBRARY: The government will provide an electronic library (e.g. CDs) for responder's accessibility to government furnished information (GFI) data/documents. This information includes: - (U) EWBM Gap Analysis results - (U) AEA SoS Architecture Description and products - (U) ACC EWBM Concept Information related to EWBM tasks, enablers, and functional concept is available in the government's data library and will be made available upon request from industry. Company responses should clearly indicate the solution(s) it is addressing and include a cover letter and a narrative summary of their approach as well as other pertinent data. Responses should include sufficient information (such as a plan of action and milestones) that describes how the recommended technologies/system would be fielded to provide an initial EWBM capability. Responses to this CRFI must be received No Later Than 1500 (EST) 17 July 2009. Request for Information responses may be submitted electronically or regular mail, but require both electronic and hard copies of responses. Firms responding to this announcement should indicate their business size in accordance with the size standard; ensure that the company name, address, a point of contact with e-mail address and telephone number, Federal CAGE Code, and Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. No collect calls will be accepted. Responses (UNCLASSIFIED and CLASSIFIED up to SECRET) should be sent to: ASC/XRSC, 2275 D Street Bldg 16, RM 0053 Wright-Patterson AFB 45433-7224 For information classified at other levels, please call to determine handling and applicability to this effort. Questions should be directed to Bob Matthews [robert.matthews@wpafb.af.mil] (973) 255-8419 or Rod Leighner [rodney.leighner@wpafb.af.mil] (937) 255-8449.