W912CG24C0008

Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II

Automated Requirements Interpretation and Evaluation for the secure facility Lifecycle (ARIEL)

Given the swiftly evolving threat landscape and geopolitical factors, it is imperative that the most advanced technological solutions are accessible to both military personnel and government end users. The intricacies of the non-standardized, compliance-intensive secure facility lifecycle, spanning from design to accreditation, pose a significant barrier to entry for numerous small and nontraditional industry partners aiming to engage in classified activities. This project outlines a comprehensive approach to develop and implement a sophisticated software solution to streamline the complex process of the secure facility lifecycle within the DoD. Leveraging the power of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), this innovative software will facilitate efficient navigation through the intricate requirements and procedures of securing facility accreditation, to include paperwork and design automation and construction auditing and oversight. Our proposed solution is ARIEL - Automated Requirements Interpretation and Evaluation for the secure facility Lifecycle. The integration of advanced NLP techniques will empower end users to converse with ARIEL naturally, retrieving information, clarifying doubts, and receiving real-time guidance through each stage of accreditation. This conversational agent, or chatbot, will be underpinned by a finely-tuned version of an open-sourced large language model, ensuring its effectiveness in interpreting user queries and providing accurate responses. This proposal embraces a phased methodology, initially focusing on integrating the specific needs of a single sponsor and accreditor during the base period, followed by an expansion to incorporate multiple accreditors and additional features during the option period. In the base period, the software will be tailored to meet the unique needs of a single sponsor, allowing for focused development and fine-tuning. By aligning with this sponsor's specific requirements, ARIEL will deliver a targeted solution that addresses their pain points and enhances their secure facility accreditation process. Building upon the foundation established during the base period, the option period will employ a strategic expansion of the software's capabilities. Multiple sponsors and accreditors will be incorporated, and additional features will be introduced to cater to the diverse needs of various stakeholders within the DoD. This expansion will encompass a broader range of compliance documents, government manuals, and industrial security best practices, all of which will be seamlessly navigated through the software's intelligent NLP capabilities.

The goal of phase II is to continue the R&D efforts initiated in Phase I. Funding is based on the results achieved in Phase I and the scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of the project proposed in Phase II.

HR0011SB20234-16

D2D-0661

23.4

Daniel N Kerr