USSOCOM releases industry collaboration tool, announces upcoming event

By Loren Blinde May 24, 2016

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On May 23, the U.S. Special Operations Command posted a notice related to upcoming industry collaboration events. The Sensitive Site Exploitation event will be held on June 21; registration is required no later than June 8.

The SOF AT&L Industry Collaboration Tool is up and operational at the link below:

https://www.socom.mil/sordac/Pages/IndustryCollaborationTool.aspx

This tool provides Industry with a schedule of collaboration events that will be hosted by SOF AT&L. The tool will allow you to make good business decisions on which events you want to attend. In addition, certain events will allow you to sign-up directly from the tool others such as Technical Experimentation events will be posted on FedBizOpps with instructions for sign-up.

In addition to the calendar of events, please see below information for the USSOCOM, SOF AT&L, Program Manager – Sensitive Site Exploitation event scheduled for 21 Jun at the SOFWERX facility.

General Synopsis:
Intent: USSOCOM, SOF AT&L, Program Manager – Sensitive Site Exploitation, in conjunction with SOFWERX, plans to conduct a broad topic discussion with industry, academia, and other Government activities regarding technology gaps which are estimated to be three to five years away from field-able technology. Unlike previous PM-SSE industry engagements, which generally focus on immediate or near-term solutions and often cover only a sub-set of SSE, this event will discuss the full spectrum of SSE and emphasize long term future requirements.

Format: Large open forum discussion, all interested parties welcome. This may include large and small business, academia, researchers, laboratories, individuals, etc. Registration is mandatory and Government issued ID matching the registration details will be required to attend. Discussion will be strictly unclassified and closed to the media. The USSOCOM Program Manager for SSE, as well as subject and technical matter experts from the PM, will be joined by USSOCOM J-staff as well as SOF operators. Other agencies from the IC will also be represented. In-depth discussion of technical challenges will be presented, as well as operational scenarios or vignettes, to help the audience gain insight into the future needs of SOF. Attendees are encouraged to be prepared to discuss, in open forum, clarifying details, critical questions, thought provoking ideas, alternative methods of approach, etc. Attendees should also recognize this opportunity to meet other researchers, academia and industry players in this space. The Government does not intend to offer one-on-one discussions at this venue, emphasizing the desire to discuss requirements, problems and technical challenges with the larger forum. However, participation in this event will lead to opportunities to later engage through the Technology and Industry Liaison Office (TILO) individually or as teams approximately six months in the future when the Government will conduct market research to understand progress, research and technology advancements, proprietary approaches and novel ideas to solving the challenges being discussed at this first event.

Sensitive Site Exploitation: The Sensitive Site Exploitation (SSE) Program Office is responsible for identifying, fielding and sustaining material solutions for Special Operations Forces (SOF) globally. The SOF operator in the field requires capabilities, technologies and methods to collect, process, and share data from live and latent biometrics, documents, electronic media, and forensic samples. The primary purpose of SSE is to inform the intelligence community (IC) for the purpose of identity operations, to match persons to other people, places, events, or things. In addition, SOF Exploitation Analysis Centers (EACs) require deployable, high fidelity instrumentation for more in-depth processing of collected data or samples, with the ability to share data rapidly with the whole of the IC.

Modalities: USSOCOM is seeking far-out, game changing technologies which will expand the SOF operators’ abilities to perform rapid collection and analysis by leveraging capabilities that are small, lightweight, rugged and deployable. Solutions which offer low-visibility or remote collection are highly desired. These devices must be capable of sustained long duration operation in remote, austere environments. SOF also requires connectivity for rapid data transmission and receiving in a global, mobile communications environment. SOF requirements are unique and primarily differ from other users of similar technology because of the need to deploy globally, man-carry a wide range of forensics collection kit, be prepared for a wide array of site scenarios, and reduce time on target.

Biometrics: Technology gaps that challenge SSE include post-mortem biometric collections, rapid-DNA collection and analysis, manufacturer or supplier source identification for chemicals, voice matching, and remote collections. Additionally, SOF are always seeking to reduce size, weight and power requirements. Also of interest are open architecture hardware and software devices which allow for easier upgrades or integration of additional capabilities.

Document and Media Exploitation (DOMEX): DOMEX includes the requirement for cellular and media extraction and exploitation at both the tactical and theater operational level. Target devices include cellular and digital media (computers, hard drives, thumb-drives etc.), as well as hard copies (paper, notebooks, etc). SOF are challenged by the speed at which new devices are proliferated, advancements in security encryption, increased memory and data transfer speed (or lack thereof). Automation of collection decisions against target devices is highly desired. Automation of analysis of data is also highly desired, such as profiling of cellular activity, texts, phone calls, emails, web browsing, network connections, mapping of movements, purchases, language translation, document ‘gist-ing’, etc.

Exploitation Analysis Center (EAC) Chemical and Explosives Forensics: Technologies, capabilities and methodologies of interest to support the EAC include trace evidence collection, identification and processing. The ability to identify both organic and inorganic chemistries as they pertain to forensic material recognition and identification (to include narcotics, chemicals, explosives, precursors and other materials) and to assist with attribution to an identity, network or geolocation.

Tactical and Theater Efforts: Combined “Detection” capabilities include the detection of biological threats (as the science matures to support detection), the detection of hidden rooms and chambers and the detection of small devices, such as sim cards, SD cards, or similar items on a person. SOF desires hand-held solutions for detectors.