US AFRL is looking for C4I technologies for Controllable Contested Environments

On January 7, the United States Air Force Research Laboratory posted the following notice (BAA-RIK-2015-0003). Interested contractors should submit white papers by February 9, 2015 for FY15 funding.

The Air Force Research Laboratory – Information Directorate (AFRL/RI) is soliciting white papers under this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for research, design, development, concept testing, evaluation and experimentation with Command, Control, Communications, Computers & Intelligence (C4I)-related information and communications technologies/techniques supporting the implementation and use of a controllable contested environment (CCE). In particular, this effort seeks to assess advanced communication, networking and RF technologies and concepts.
AFRL’s Stockbridge facility is a 300 acre site that hosts a Controllable Contested Environment (CCE). This environment can be used to create a “real-world RF contested environment” where RF transmissions and receptions can be controlled and measured. Stockbridge also hosts Small Unmanned Aerial System (SUAS) flight operations from two 600 foot runways. This capability enables small payload packages to be flown in support of CCE and related experimentation. Additionally the site hosts microwave and optical line-of sight communication links with reach-back to AFRL/RI in Rome, NY and AFRL/RI’s Newport Test Site located in Newport, NY.

The characteristics of today’s electromagnetic environment, communications and networks may limit our combat effectiveness, especially in contested, degraded, operationally limited (CDO), and anti-access area denial (A2/AD) environments. The Stockbridge Controllable Contested Environment may be used to emulate the battlefield environment in cyberspace by hosting a very diverse set of tactical analog and digital communication systems, wired and wireless sensor and C2 networks. The CCE will have the flexibility and adaptability to create this complex RF and Cyber environment. Together the CCE and the SUAS enable the testing of emerging C4I capabilities on mobile platforms in near real-world environments.
This BAA seeks white papers that propose new capabilities that will support the warfighter in an anti-access area denial (A2/AD) and contested spectrum environment. These technologies should focus on information technologies including communications, networking and RF technologies. Enhancement of capabilities of the Stockbridge Controllable Contested Environment (CCE) will be considered of secondary benefit. Potential efforts in this area may include technologies and techniques to control, monitor, configure and analyze the RF and spectrum environment. They may also include assessment, instrumentation and configuration and control of experimental systems. As new warfighter challenges emerge, new tools will be required to improve the usability, adaptability, and functionality of the CCE and SUAS environments.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, research and development, integration, and demonstration/experimentation/evaluation.

The Government is only soliciting white papers at this time. Those white papers found to be consistent with the intent of this BAA may be invited to submit a technical and cost proposal.

Full information is available here.

Source: FedBizOpps