TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems, Sensors
OBJECTIVE: The Government seeks innovative solutions to improve the process of software development. Traditional software development utilizing the current acquisition process can take months or years for technology to reach operational users. Additionally, the current software development process within the Department of Defense (DoD) is drastically more expensive than available options used in the commercial market space. This topic intends to bring small business innovative rapid software solutions from the commercial market space into SOCOM. The Government desires innovative software products and solutions to be delivered for use within a Government cloud environment (Amazon Web Services) in as short a time as possible (for example: 5 days or less). SOCOM seeks to leverage free-lance software developers globally sourced from non-traditional developers and small businesses leveraging reverse auction technologies available on the Internet. SOCOM intends to leverage the benefits of professional free-lancing. The Government desires to tap into the growing trend and popularity of freelance resources. This topic is seeking innovative ideas for technologies like platforms, web-sites, architectures, algorithms that could quickly populate existing web-sites or create new web-based portal functionality to address this process improvement.
Potential design concepts include a cloud-based, open software architectures that may include leveraging GitHub micro-services, stand-alone apps as well as crowd sourced solutions. The Government seeks completely new and innovative approaches by small business to: 1) drastically lower cost 2) improve results 3) significantly reduce delivery periods. This solution could include talent from a pool of small businesses, academic institutions, and free-lance individuals not accustomed to traditional Government acquisition models, processes, and mechanisms. Specifically, the United States Government and SOCOM seeks access to skillsets that are in high demand such as software developers, graphic artists, and other talented individuals (User Experiences, CYBER, Machine and Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, etc.), located across the globe but not available via traditional Government and Defense industrial bases.
DESCRIPTION: This SBIR topic intends to specifically address software development process improvement in order to lower costs and speed development. This construct should ultimately facilitate the rapid development and delivery of unique capabilities/skillsets into an existing cloud-based and open software architectures currently deployed and/or in production. Proposed solutions for web-based applications should address security and cyber threat. This effort is intended to attract highly talented, minimally vetted, U.S. or non-U.S. performers consolidated into a network environment consisting of small business and/or individuals hosting applications and/or services where sellers compete to obtain business from the buyer. The proposed network may include reverse auction software that competitively drives cost downward and quality upward. Proposals should discuss potential ways forward that may include prototypes, demonstrations and test environments and offer a wide range of commercial advanced capabilities and tools. The Government is interested in proposed solutions that provide a rating system (for example: five stars, Yelp) means of providing feedback to the business and software developers that deliver products.
PHASE I: Conduct a feasibility study to assess what is in the art of the possible that satisfies the requirements specified in the above paragraphs entitled “Objective” and “Description.”
The objective of this SOCOM Phase I SBIR effort is to conduct and document the results of a thorough feasibility study to investigate what is in the art of the possible within the given trade space that will satisfy a needed technology. The feasibility study should investigate all known options that meet or exceed the minimum performance parameters specified in this write up. It should also address the risks and potential payoffs of the innovative technology options that are investigated and recommend the option that best achieves the objective of this technology pursuit. The funds obligated on the resulting Phase I SBIR contracts are to be used for the sole purpose of conducting a thorough feasibility study using scientific experiments and laboratory studies as necessary. Operational prototypes will not be developed with SOCOM SBIR funds during Phase I feasibility studies. Operational prototypes developed with other than SBIR funds that are provided at the end of Phase I feasibility studies will not be considered in deciding what firm(s) will be selected for Phase II.
PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate a prototype software capability (web-site, platform, and architecture) or service determined to be the most feasible solution during the Phase I feasibility study. The prototype implementation should be demonstrated on a stand-alone capability using representative data. Characterize performance under various network conditions and assess utility of user-centric tasks and workflows.
PHASE III: This system could be used in a broad range of defense related applications that employ micro-services in a cloud-based architecture. The offeror can mature the design by adding features to meet other Government (federal, state, and local) and commercial applications where data centric systems will be utilized. To the greatest extent possible, demonstrate cloud and client architecture agnostic implementation of capabilities and/or services.
REFERENCES: 1: "Microservices" (Not Dated), Retrieved June 29, 2016 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microservices 2: "Department of Defense Cloud Computing Strategy," July 2012. https://dodcio.defense.gove/Portals/0/Documents/Cloud/DoD%20Cloud%20Computing%20Strategy%20Final%20with%20Memo%-%20July%205%202012.pdf 3: "The 15 Best Freelance Websites to Find Jobs"4: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/245953KEYWORDS: Cloud-based, Open Software Architecture, Web-based Applications, Reverse Auction Software, Rating And/or Review System, Micro-services
sbir@socom.mil
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