SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- Identification of technological and functijonal enhancements to current capabilities used in JWFC's operational training of joint forces
- Notice Date
- 6/28/2004
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Navy, Naval Supply Systems Command, FISC NORFOLK DETACHMENT PHILADELPHIA, 700 Robbins Avenue, Building 2B, Philadelphia, PA, 19111-5083
- ZIP Code
- 19111-5083
- Solicitation Number
- H2004
- Response Due
- 8/9/2004
- Archive Date
- 8/24/2004
- Point of Contact
- John Favata, Contract Specialist, Phone 215-697-9632, Fax 215-697-9569,
- E-Mail Address
-
john.favata@navy.mil
- Description
- This synopsis constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 35.106. There will be no formal request for proposals or other solicitation regarding this announcement. It is anticipated that information other than provided within this BAA will be disseminated. This BAA is requesting the submission of INITIAL proposals from industry, educational institutions, and other non-profit organizations on 1) utilizing commercial off the shelf (COTS) desktop software that will further improve the training programs currently being used and reduce the efforts required to support these events using desktop modeling and simulation tools, and 2) identifying hardware, software, and procedural initiatives that provide unique functional capabilities and technological enhancements to the operational training of joint forces and are value-added to the JNTC. 1.0 INTRODUCTION United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) is the chief advocate for jointness and the Joint Warfighting Center (JWFC), as chief advocate for Joint Force Training Transformation, contributes to the Nation?s current and future joint force capabilities and joint capable forces in support of the National Security Strategy. To meet the challenges of the 21st century, the JWFC conducts joint force training and validates joint concepts using training as an integrating environment. The JWFC also provides and supports world-wide joint training for Combatant Commanders (COCOM), leads the development and operation of systems and architectures for distributed joint training, and provides support for joint training-related modeling and simulation. As part of this overall training effort, USJFCOM has been directed by the Deputy Secretary of Defense to establish a Joint National Training Capability (JNTC) under the auspices of the JWFC to integrate a network of live ranges, simulations and simulators, including both testing and training assets, that supports joint, interoperable and service-level training. To orchestrate this, USJFCOM has established the JNTC Joint Management Office (JMO) to collect, merge and validate joint training requirements and put in place key plans and processes focused on the operational needs of the services and combatant commands. JMO functions include: planning; requirements analysis and validation; systems engineering; joint training architecture and standards development; performance measurement of joint training capabilities; and advice to Services, OSD, and agencies providing joint context for research, development, experimentation and acquisition decisions. Eventual full functionality will consist of the following work breakdown under the JMO?s core program management: Joint Training System Applications (JTSA); Joint Command and Control (JCC); Standing Joint Force Headquarters (SJFHQ) Core Element; standing Opposition Forces (OPFOR); Global Joint Training Infrastructure (GJTI); and Advanced Training Technologies (ATT). The four pillars of training transformation constitute the overarching guidance for JNTC enhancements. The pillars are described below: JNTC PILLARS and THEIR MEANING: (1.) Realistic Combat Training, meaning Joint context - horizontal/vertical, Employs joint doctrine/tactics/techniques, Live training with simulation/stimulation, Mission rehearsal implications, Realistic information ops and C4ISR and Potentially deployable/distributable. (2.) Opposing Forces, meaning Multi-dimensional peer adversary, Asymmetric challenges and Diverse targets/threats. (3.) Ground Truth, meaning Integrated range instrumentation, Joint Observer/Trainers and Certified, accredited. (4.) Feedback, meaning Focus on joint performance outcomes, Ability to assess concepts and doctrine, Feeds joint lessons learned and Promotes Joint Training System use. JWFC is significantly interested in identifying technological and functional enhancements to current capabilities used in the operational training of joint forces. JWFC is soliciting input from industry, educational institutions, and other non-profit organizations on 1) utilizing commercial off the shelf (COTS) desktop software that will further improve the training programs currently being used and reduce the efforts required to support these events using desktop modeling and simulation tools, and 2) identifying hardware, software, and procedural initiatives that provide unique functional capabilities and technological enhancements to the operational training of joint forces and are value-added to the JNTC. Sections 2 and 3 describe these needed capabilities in more detail. Initial proposals will be accepted up to 45 days after this BAA is posted by the Contracting Officer. The deliverable will be a Proof of Concept due within 90 days after award of a contract. This BAA is being used to engage industry, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations in order to attract state of the art solutions for joint training needs. Additionally, USJFCOM will hold a Focused Forum in the September or October time frame to discuss the results of the Training Capability Analysis of Alternatives effort currently being finished. 1.1 AUTHORITY The Department of the Navy, Naval Supply Systems Command, FISC Norfolk Detachment Philadelphia, 700 Robbins Avenue, Building 2B, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5083, issues this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). Contracts with educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private industry for research and development may be issued in those areas covered in Section 2.0 of this BAA. This BAA is intended to cover the research and development of state of the art training technologies in support of establishing a robust JNTC. Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulations 35.016, this solicitation is for basic and applied research and that part of development not related to the development of a specific system or hardware procurement. 1.2 PROCESS The following process is established for submission of a proposal under this BAA. As this is a 2-step process, the Government?s acceptance of an initial proposal may result in the Contracting Officer requesting the submission of a formal proposal followed by a contract award. 1.2.1 Step 1 - Initial Proposal Your proposed research project should be described in sufficient detail to identify its relationship to and value to the joint training program described in this announcement. Specific areas covered under this BAA are further described in Sections 2 and 3. The Government may request that the respondent provide a demonstration of their proposed solution in order to assist in the selection process. 1.2.2 Step 2 - Submission of Formal Research Proposal If there is sufficient interest in a proposed research project, the Contracting Officer will request the submission of a formal research proposal. The primary basis for selecting initial proposals for award shall be scientific/technical merit, importance to JWFC programs, and cost realism/reasonableness. 2.0 JWFC RESEARCH NEEDS 2.1 OVERVIEW Technical requirements for the JWFC are derived from the operational requirements of COCOMs, the Services, and Agencies. It is anticipated that the overall technical infrastructure for the JWFC will be enhanced by: a) establishing a long term vision ?To Be? architecture that is scalable and evolves with emerging and changing technology and requirements, b) instantiating a small-scale prototype, and c) growing and evolving toward the ?To Be? architecture through a spiral development process. 2.2 TECHNICAL FOCUS AREAS Simulations are typically expensive, one of a kind systems used to create models with very little re-use, sharing, or interoperability. Simulations are also difficult to maintain, operate, and make changes to, requiring significant people and dollar resources on an ongoing basis. The lack of an industry standard simulation software which runs on standard PC hardware (e.g. the equivalent of standard industry presentation software) limits the accessibility of simulation technology to only a few, higher-end needs. The final result should be a flexible, COTS-based simulation software toolkit that can be used to rapidly create and modify training and planning simulations for land, sea, air, and joint missions, involving a common synthetic natural environment and database structure, which can provide views of both single entity and aggregated forces in the same simulation. These integrated applications should be able to be run from desktop computers utilizing simple drop and drag capabilities. The following focus areas comprise the primary technical fields of interest for the JWFC program. These do not preclude submission in another category considered by the offeror to have a high probability of interest to the joint planning, training, mission rehearsal, and experimentation communities. These initial proposals will be evaluated, in part, by their contribution to one or more of the following areas: 2.2.1 Multi-resolution modeling (MRM) capabilities are required to support both aggregated (e.g. Brigade, Wing, Task Group, city, state) and entity-level objects (e.g. tank, aircraft, ship, trucks, trains, buildings) in a single simulation model using simple desktop drag and drop applications. This capability must achieve a level of granularity sufficient to support Joint Urban Operations training and experiments. Future MRM development will reduce the number of simulation model federates and associated overhead to run large model federations. 2.2.2 A common synthetic natural environment (SNE) is required to link different simulations, resulting in the ability to share data and models as well as dissimilar development processes and appearances for both terrain and real world objects. This capability supports the common training environment and also enhances the rapid database development effort. 3.0 JNTC RESEARCH NEEDS 3.1 OVERVIEW Technical requirements for the JNTC shall be derived from the operational requirements of COCOMs and the Services. It is anticipated that the overall technical infrastructure for the JNTC will be achieved by: a) establishing a long term vision ?To Be? architecture that is scalable and evolves with emerging and changing technology and requirements, b) instantiating a small-scale prototype, and c) growing and evolving toward the ?To Be? architecture through a spiral development process. If required, offerors also need to ensure that any initial proposal addresses how their system performs within the Global Information Grid (GIG) specifications by meeting the Net Centric requirements established by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Networks and Information Integration). These requirements are delineated in the DoD Net Centric Data Strategy and the DoD Net Centric Check List. In order to define, build, implement, and maintain the technical architecture required to support the operational training concepts of the JNTC, a well-structured and defined technical research program shall be established and managed by the JNTC ATT Director. Until recently there has been no single portal for migration of technology and technical training concepts into a single joint context. This however, is necessary for the JNTC to achieve its mission of ?training the joint warfighter.? This portal is the flagship laboratory for the JNTC, known as the JNTC Advanced Training Technology Laboratory (JATTL). This laboratory will act as a lens by concentrating on Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) of technologies, which enhance capabilities in the JNTC technical focus areas (Command, Control, Communications, Computers & Intelligence (C4I); Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) Environment; Instrumentation, Data Collection and After Action Review (AAR); Opposing Forces; Information/Knowledge Management; Architecture/Standards) while ensuring interoperability, maturity, stability and most importantly relevance for candidate technologies under development for use in Service and joint training environments. The ATT mission is to evolve, enhance and provide tools, processes and products for the JNTC by acting as the technology pipeline in support of joint training for the warfighter. A sustained process using systems engineering and acquisition best practices to identify, evolve, enhance and develop new capabilities that address training requirements, challenges and shortfalls is essential. ATT will leverage existing and future Science & Technology (S&T) investments to a maximum extent with Industry, Academia, Government and International organizations. Finally, by taking a holistic approach, the JATTL will assimilate joint standards and architectures to enable a seamless integrated LVC training environment for on demand warfighter use. 3.2 TECHNICAL FOCUS AREAS The following focus areas comprise the primary technical fields of interest for the JNTC Program. These do not preclude submission in another category considered by the offeror to have a high probability of interest to the joint planning, training, mission rehearsal, and experimentation communities. Initial proposals will be evaluated, in part, by their contribution to one or more of these current areas; or, by exception, to significant contributions in another area. 3.2.1 JOINT COMMAND, CONTROL, COMMUNICATIONS, ANDCOMPUTERS (C4) ENABLING CAPABILITIES The JNTC plan for focusing on Joint C4 systems is to develop, install, operate, and maintain a dedicated, persistent, bandwidth-on-demand infrastructure available anytime at key combatant command, service, agency, or interagency locations throughout the world. These organizations will have access to train, test, evaluate, and experiment with Command and Control & Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C2 & ISR) capabilities. Selected projects will research, develop, test, evaluate and integrate new or improved technologies, standards, processes, and concepts that support the Joint C4 systems to include SIPRNET connectivity to non-DISA provisioned DoD networks, permanent network infrastructure technologies, peering, multi-level security, multi-network security, and designing TADIL/JDN into the Joint Training Architecture. 3.2.2 JOINT INSTRUMENTATION AND AFTER ACTION REVIEW (AAR) The Joint Training Data Infrastructure will put forth technical solutions for data systems that will enable joint, distributed training across DoD sites, simulation centers, Service, and combatant command training locations. JNTC?s near-term focus for Joint Training Data Infrastructure is to develop a roadmap for JNTC range/simulation center interconnectivity, develop technical goals and timelines for instrumentation, data collection, and after action review standardization, and endorse service instrumentation-related procurement actions. Selected projects will research, develop, test, evaluate and integrate new or improved technologies, standards, processes, and concepts that support the Joint Instrumentation and AAR program to include live range security classification issues, validation and integration of live architecture, real-time casualty assessment capability ?ground truth,? elimination of dual tracks, and data repository capability. Research, develop and integrate roadmaps to ensure that Service instrumentation can migrate to Test and Training Enabling Architecture (TENA) compliance. 3.2.3 JOINT OPPOSING FORCES (OPFOR) OPFOR technologies focus on identifying technological products/concepts that support establishment of a credible, full capability, adversary representation. Selected projects will research, develop, test, evaluate and integrate new or improved technologies, standards, processes, and concepts that support the OPFOR program to include realistic multi-spectral representations of ground, sea and airborne elements, improved and realistic OPFOR command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, information and electronic attack to include Joint Offensive OPFOR Information Operations Capability and Joint Defensive OPFOR Information Operations Capability; upgraded real-time casualty assessment, reconfigurable and robust OPFOR command and control representations, integrated nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological effects, OPFOR firepower in live and simulated environments, OPFOR representation of terrorism related activities, and OPFOR Scenario Development Capability. 3.2.4 JOINT LIVE VIRTUAL CONSTRUCTIVE (LVC) ENVIRONMENT LVC technologies focus on identifying technological products/concepts that support establishment of a seamless joint training environment for horizontal, vertical, integrated and functional mission planning, rehearsal, training, and experimentation events. Selected projects will research, develop, test, evaluate and integrate new or improved technologies, standards, processes, and concepts that support the LVC technology program to include database/scenario generation & repository, simulation initialization, mission planning/rehearsal, course of action, full spectrum, natural and accurate urban environment, common sensor engagement (level playing field), large-scale terrain representation, composable and scaleable simulation environments, non-attrition models (other than combat adjudication), federation tools to enhance development of a Joint Federated Object Model (JFOM), immersive visual technologies, story driven technologies and massive multi-player on-line gaming/military training application. 3.2.5 JOINT KNOWLEDGE/INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Knowledge/Information Management technology focus will identify and select advanced knowledge/information management and collaborative information environment technologies to ensure real-time, collaborative, distributed information sharing among JNTC participants. Selected projects will research, develop, test, evaluate and integrate new or improved technologies, standards, processes, and concepts that support the Knowledge/Information Management program to include collaborative tools for information sharing, knowledge management technologies, Joint Exercise Control Group (JECG) systems, information systems automation, WAN & SAN management, resource management, planning, and scheduling tools, and other large scale distributed computing IS solutions. 3.2.6 JOINT TRAINING ARCHITECTURE AND STANDARDS The Joint Technical Architecture team is seeking assistance in defining JNTC technical standards and architectures. Selected projects will research, develop, test, evaluate and integrate JNTC future technical standards and architectures. 4.0 INITIAL PROPOSAL SUBMISSION Initial proposals may be submitted in response to this announcement for 45 days after issuance. Respondents should submit them to John D. Favata, FISC Norfolk Detachment Philadelphia, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5083. 4.1 INITIAL PROPOSAL FORMAT AND CONTENT The following is information to be used in the preparation and submission of Initial proposals. 4.1.1 Contractor format is acceptable. 4.1.2 Maximum of 10 pages single-spaced, minimum of 12-pitch font. 4.1.3 Proposal submissions shall be unclassified. 4.1.4 Project description addressing in sufficient detail the characteristics identified in Sections 2 and 3 to allow for adequate assessment of the proposed solution to the Government?s requirements. 4.1.5 Any required access to government facilities, systems, documentation, or information. 4.1.6 Rough order of magnitude (ROM) of costs by government fiscal year for development of the Proof of Concept. ROMS that exceed $350,000 may not be reviewed. 4.1.7 Identify deliverables by government fiscal year. 4.1.8 Point of contact to provide information and answer further questions, if necessary. 4.1.9 Due within 45 days of the issuance of this BAA. 4.2 INITIAL PROPOSAL EVALUATION AND SELECTION Each initial proposal will be evaluated on its scientific and technical merit and the overall potential contribution to J7/JNTC?s mission. While scientific and technical merit and overall contribution to the program will generally outweigh estimated costs in the initial evaluation phase, available funding will still be taken into account when selecting Initial proposals for award. In some cases, the Government may request that the offeror provide a demonstration of their proposed solution in order to assist in the selection process. The Government reserves the right to select all, some, or none of the initial proposals received.
- Record
- SN00611455-W 20040630/040628212405 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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