Cyber-Physical Research and Testing for Distributive Sensing   2

The United States Air Force Research Laboratory Sensors Directorate, Multi-Domain Sensing Autonomy Division (AFRL/RYA) intends to enter into a sole source contract with New Mexico Institution of Mining and Technology (NMIMT), Socorro, New Mexico, under the authority of FAR 6.302-3(a)(2)(ii), to establish or maintain an essential engineering, research, or development capability to be provided by an educational or other nonprofit institution or a federally funded research and development center. The objective of this effor entitled, "Cyber-Physical Research and Testing for Distributive Sensing', is to conduct research and development in a relevant and realistic cyber and electronic warfare (EW) environment for the employment of assets for cyber-kinetic combat effects and Multi-Domain Operations (MDO). This effort will establish or maintain the existing capabilities at the PTRC in Playas, New Mexico. This is needed in order to expand current capabilities and meet test range requirements in support of AFRL Sensors Directorate research goals in understanding sensing effects across multiple domains (air, space, cyber, and ground) to include internet of things (IoT) and distributed sensing with traditional and ad hoc configurations. There is a definite and urgent need for a cyber-kinetic infrastructure to facilitate development, testing, and evaluation of operational cyber, EW, and non-kinetic capabilities in support of national military objectives.

Of particular importance to AFRL/RYA is the research and development of the physics and phenomenology in regards to the interface between the physical world, i.e. objects and the environment, and the cyber realm, i.e. networked devices. This specifically includes techniques by which objects and events can be sensed or manipulated via transducers and kinetic actuators on cyber-connected devices. This must also address challenges associated with adversarial or natural denial or degradation of the sensing/manipulation channel, as well as opportunities gained with geometric and spectral diversity of distributed and multi-phenomenology employments.

There are limited test and training opportunities for employment of cyber and EW effects since current military operating ranges are overscheduled or unavailable, and do not possess credible cyber system capabilities to support regular use by cyber and EW customers. Only the deployment of relevant technology and networks in realistic and representative environments, free from physical or electronic interference, can assure the accurate development of operational cyber capabilities. An open-air test and training environment where researchers and operators can replicate combat conditions and perform simultaneous operations, cyber-enabled kinetic operations, or physically-enabled cyber operations is a necessity.

The contractor shall establish or maintain existing facilities to expand current capabilities and develop an environment that will eventually serve as an operational range for DoD cyber-kinetic and multi-domain operations. The facilities and capabilities will include wired and open-air communications and network infrastructure, representative worldwide physical infrastructure, and specialized facilities to support test, training, and operations. The effort will bring together warfighter requirements, hardware, software, expertise, and best practices to create a reconfigurable and realistic cyber-kinetic environment and range complex.

In order to successfully meet the Government's Objectives under this effort, any potential offeror must:

1. Have existing facilities capable of performing research and development in the area of realistic cyber and EW environment for the employment of cyber-kinetic combat effects and MDO. Current facilities must be available for upgrading, through research and development, to the most current and state-of-the art capabilities.

2. Proposed testing facilities must be remote enough to be free of physical and electronic interference.

3. Have personnel with the technical background, experience, and intimate knowledge of current capabilities to perform the necessary research and development resulting in the development of test facilities to meet the Air Force's needs as described above.

4. Have geographical location, such that, the range can cost effectively support cyber-kinetic and EW research, test, and training missions.

AFRL/RYA is not seeking technologies which exist entirely within cyber networks and do not interface with the physical world at this time. Examples of technologies not sought at this time include offensive and defensive cyber network operations, cyber access concepts, purely-cyber frameworks within the data-link and network-transport layers, and purely-cyber exploits.

Vendors who are capable of providing the effort above shall fully identify their interest and submit, in writing, information documenting their qualifications and capabilities, including a full description and location of proposed facilities and detailed technical qualifications to meet the requirements stated above within 15 days after publication of this synopsis. Responses must be submitted to Joseph M. Strehle, Contracting Officer, via email at Joseph.Strehle@us.af.mil. Responses received after 15 days or without the required information will not be considered. Other business opportunities for AFRL are available at www.fedbizopps.gov. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contractual action based upon responses received to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Direct questions to the Contracting point of contact (POC) identified in this announcement.

General Operations Security (OPSEC) procedures, policies and awareness are required in an effort to reduce program vulnerability from successful adversary collection and exploitation of critical information. The Critical Information List (CIL) will be provided upon request by AFRL/RYOY Information Protection Office. While working on the government installation, OPSEC guidance will be provided by the AFRL/RYOY Information Protection Office.