USSOCOM invites industry to Capability Collaboration Event

By Loren Blinde July 17, 2018

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On July 12, the U.S. Special Operations Command posted an invitation to the SOFWERX Capability Collaboration Event. The event will be held on September 5 and 6, and RSVPs are due no later than August 15.

USSOCOM is seeking information on current and future state of the art technologies and capabilities for Next Generation Identification and Awareness. SOFWERX will host a Capability Collaboration Event September 5-6, 2018, that will consist of USSOCOM Warfighter presented Problem Statements, Briefings and a facilitated Ideation/Design Thinking Session to more clearly identify potential solutions and capabilities. RSVP to attend the event no later than 15 August 2018, at www.sofwerx.org/NGIA USSOCOM intends to conduct multiple subsequent events and activities at SOFWERX beginning with this Special Notice Capability Collaboration Event.

All detailed information regarding this event and subsequent events can be found at www.sofwerx.org/NGIA FBO may be used as an additional and supplemental announcement means for future events as well. Any acquisitions related to Next Generation Identification and Awareness Technologies are anticipated to be handled through FAR based contracts, other transactions and Prize Challenges. . Any future FAR based actions will follow announcement procedures as prescribed in the FAR.
Details on the areas of interest, submission process and requirements are provided in this notice and with additional details at www.sofwerx.org/NGIA
The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG), Natick Contracting Division is supporting USSOCOM in this effort to obtain information regarding the capability of companies with technologies that can Identify and characterize adversaries in the future operating environment.
NEXT GENERATION IDENTIFICATION AND AWARENESS
Background: U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) requests information from industry on approaches, products, and/or services to support their interests in “Next Generation Identification Awareness (NGIA)” capabilities. NGIA is considered the integration of standoff biometrics, technical sensors, and advanced data architecture and analytics to complement traditional intelligence capabilities to enable identification in near-peer, sensitive, and less permissive environments. NGIA innovative capabilities include but are not limited to the ability to integrate multiple domain sensors to collectively derive high-fidelity information on identities, locations, and actions.
Areas of Interest: USSOCOM is seeking technologies available now, under development, or anticipated to be developed in the next 3-5 years. The NGIA technology focus areas are:
• Standoff biometrics (face, gait, other)
• Micro/nano technology
• Internet-connected home devices (e.g. smart TVs and appliances)
• Metadata analysis
• Edge computing
• Unattended sensors
• Autonomous vehicles
• Long-duration power
• Meshed networking
• Multi-domain sensor fusion
• Full EM spectrum detection
• Alternate technology or tools which meet the spirit and intent of the NGIA problem set

Technologies and concepts should address the interrelated problems of gaining/maintaining persistent access, collecting and characterizing data, and fusing data to inform decisions. This includes information gathering and data aggregation as well as the architectures and analytical tools associated with the information and aggregation. Preferred technology will allow sifting of information gathered prior to transmitting/returning to requester to minimize the bandwidth required. Alternate means to achieve the same ends or effects will also be considered and responses are encouraged even if you have only a part of a more comprehensive solution.

Submission of Capabilities:

Capabilities that are considered to meet the NGIA areas of interest shall be submitted as one (1) slide quad chart and a two (2) page paper in the format provided USSOCOM. Potential performers will provide their submissions to a USSOCOM central repository. Instructions for the submission process can be found at: www.sofwerx.org/NGIA All written responses must be received by Close of Business (5:00pm Pacific Time) on 28 September 2018.

Proprietary information should be identified as Company Proprietary. Do not submit classified information. All information received with proprietary markings will be handled accordingly. Submissions will not be returned. Material that is only advertisement or marketing material in nature is not desired. Responses shall specify if they have or plan to have a capability that expressly meets any of the parameters listed above.