By 
On May 28, the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security (USDI&S) issued a sources sought notice for Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team (AWCFT) Support Services. Responses are due by 1:00 p.m. on June 4.
Background
The Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security (USD(I&S)) is the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense on intelligence, counterintelligence, security, sensitive activities, and other intelligence-related matters. The USD(I&S) exercises the Secretary of Defense’s authority, direction, and control over the Defense Agencies and DoD Field Activities that are Defense intelligence, counterintelligence, or security Components and exercises planning, policy, and strategic oversight over all DoD intelligence, counterintelligence, and security policy, plans, and programs.
The USD(I&S) is supported by the Director for Defense Intelligence Collection & Special Programs (DDI (C&SP)), Director for Defense Intelligence Warfighter Support (DDI (WS)), Director for Defense Intelligence Counterintelligence, Law Enforcement & Security (DDI (CL&S)), and Director for Defense Intelligence & Security Programs & Resources (DDI (I&SPR)). In addition, certain offices are Direct Reports to the Under Secretary: Chief of Staff; Human Capital Management Office; Congressional Activities; and Special Access Program Control Office (SAPCO). The Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team (AWCFT) is within the DDI WS.
Introduction
The Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team (AWCFT) aka Project Maven was established in April 2017 by the Deputy Secretary of Defense and formalized under a Directive-Type Memorandum (DTM) dated 23 March 2018.
Elements of Project Maven include new frameworks and tools for the creation of algorithms; tailored algorithms to perform discrete tasks, particularly in the fields of computer vision; innovative artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) computational environments; new labeling techniques to generate massive scale annotated data for supervised deep learning techniques; new methods of edge computation to bring deep learning algorithms to constrained computational environments; methods to evaluate and determine the effectiveness of algorithmic approaches; interfaces for the display, search, and interaction with algorithmically derived metadata and tabular structured algorithmic output; new techniques, hardware, software, and tools for the training, testing, and validating of algorithms; and storage and indexing capabilities for local algorithmically-produced data. Cumulatively, technologies supporting the Project comprise the AI Pipeline.
Objectives
The AWCFT is seeking highly qualified and expert consulting services to support the planning, transition and integration of Project Maven from its current alignment in USDI&S to its new alignment within the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) for long term operation and sustainment. This is the first time the Department of Defense (DoD) is transitioning a major AI program to a mission owner, elevating the risk of the transition given the lack of prior experience or lessons learned within the Department. A key objective of this engagement is to ensure a roadmap and conditions-based milestones are in place to support a smooth and successful transition for Project Maven across agencies.
Advisory support is needed to apply private sector approaches and commercial best practices to ensure successful transition and integration. The vendor will partner with program leadership to establish an integration timeline, pressure test transition work plans, and define critical milestones in the transition process.
Full information is available here.
Source: SAM
