N221-025 TITLE: DIGITAL ENGINEERING - Advanced Technologies for Automated Replay and Reconstruction of Theater Undersea Warfare Mission Data
OUSD (R&E) MODERNIZATION PRIORITY: Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML)
TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Information Systems
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.
OBJECTIVE: Develop the capability to automate multi-platform Theater Undersea Warfare (TUSW) mission data collection and use for time-periods of up to 180 days.
DESCRIPTION: Current processes and tools to reconstruct TUSW mission data information are manually cumbersome, labor-intensive, and time-consuming. The existing state-of-practice is to (a) bring together data recordings from different tactical systems across multiple platforms, and (b) filter and edit the data files to get some level of synchronization and fidelity across time and space. The resulting collated data set is used for replay to provide a wide-area Theater view of events. The TUSW mission is sufficiently complex and unique that there is no analogous commercial state of the art from which to draw.
The Navy desires a TUSW mission capability to be fielded within the AN/UYQ-100 Undersea Warfare Decision Support System (USW-DSS) to provide rapid data recording and replay, and event reconstruction through automation, which provides minimal user pre-processing. The rapid replay solution must use a robust automated data recording and automated replay, storage, archival, and retrieval procedure that is built into the overall system architecture, along with a logically formulated user methodology supported by reliable software toolsets.
To enable in-depth operational analysis and assessment by subject matter experts, the ability to comprehensively reconstruct long-term TUSW events is essential. Additionally, reconstruction is expected to support system engineers in improving the usability of the system from a human-factors perspective. These require the capability to (a) capture user interactions with the system (like menu selections, mouse clicks, etc.), and (b) collect Theater team member interactions (for example, between watchfloor personnel, command site and subordinate tactical units).
Since TUSW events can extend over several weeks and possibly months, the solution will collect mission data over a 180-day time-period and manage the data without burdensome Information Technology (IT) administration and intervention. It is often that high-interest events cross over from one Theater to another requiring the solution to have a multi-Theater system synchronization capability. The solution will be analyzed by the Government to ensure it effectively provides the rapid replay and comprehensive reconstruction required to conduct operational analysis and assessment, and perform usability improvements. Once the prospective contractor(s) demonstrates that their technology is beneficial on data they provide, the Navy will evaluate the solution with relevant tactical data to assess how well the capability meets performance goals, with an eye to the feasibility of having the capability meet Navy information assurance specifications for classification security. Once the technology is deemed acceptable to integrate into USW-DSS, the capability will be integrated into a future USW-DSS build for metrics-based Independent Validation and Verification (IV&V) tests during the normal USW-DSS System Integration Test events to qualify and certify the updated USW-DSS system for Fleet use.
Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. Owned and Operated with no Foreign Influence as defined by DOD 5220.22-M, National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence Security Agency (DCSA), formerly the Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances, in order to perform on advanced phases of this contract as set forth by DCSA and NAVSEA in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material IAW DoD 5220.22-M during the advance phases of this contract.
PHASE I: Develop a concept for automated replay and reconstruction of TUSW Mission Data over extended time-periods of up to 180 days. Demonstrate the concept meets the parameters in the Description. Establish feasibility in meeting Navy needs by sample testing, modeling, simulation, and analysis. The Phase I Option, if exercised, will include the initial design specifications and a capabilities description to build a prototype solution in Phase II. State of the practice standards such as Google Protocol Buffers (protobuf) and Advanced Message Queuing Protocol (AMQP) are to be supported. Cybersecurity is to be in accordance with Navy Authorizing Official (NAO) policies and procedures. This information will be provided during Phase I.
PHASE II: Based on the results of the research in Phase I, develop and deliver the prototype solution architecture, methodology and toolsets for incorporating automated replay and reconstruction into the USW-DSS. Demonstrate the prototype meets the required range of desired performance attributes given in the Description. System performance will be demonstrated through installation and prototype testing on a testbed with the lead system integrator.
It is probable that the work under this effort will be classified under Phase II (see Description section for details).
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Support the Navy in transitioning the technology to Navy use as a software configuration item in the production USW-DSS. The performer will be expected to follow the Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) cycle as mandated by the Navy�s DevSecOps processes and the transition Program Office (IWS 5). The Navy will conduct metrics-based Independent Validation and Verification (IV&V) tests during the normal USW-DSS System Integration Test events to qualify and certify the component for Fleet use.
Data replay and reconstruction are key components of engineering systems that support a variety of military applications involving aircraft and ground vehicles in tactical operations. Commercial applications where the technology could be used include the aircraft industry, land-based shipping operations, and maritime shipping, travel, and rescue operations.
REFERENCES:
KEYWORDS: Theater Undersea Warfare; TUSW; TUSW Mission Data; Automated data recording; Multi-Theater; Automated Replay; Event Reconstruction
** TOPIC NOTICE ** |
The Navy Topic above is an "unofficial" copy from the overall DoD 22.1 SBIR BAA. Please see the official DoD Topic website at rt.cto.mil/rtl-small-business-resources/sbir-sttr/ for any updates. The DoD issued its 22.1 SBIR BAA pre-release on December 1, 2021, which opens to receive proposals on January 12, 2022, and closes February 10, 2022 (12:00pm est). Direct Contact with Topic Authors: During the pre-release period (December 1, 2021 thru January 11, 2022) proposing firms have an opportunity to directly contact the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) to ask technical questions about the specific BAA topic. Once DoD begins accepting proposals on January 12, 2022 no further direct contact between proposers and topic authors is allowed unless the Topic Author is responding to a question submitted during the Pre-release period. SITIS Q&A System: After the pre-release period, proposers may submit written questions through SITIS (SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System) at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/, login and follow instructions. In SITIS, the questioner and respondent remain anonymous but all questions and answers are posted for general viewing. Topics Search Engine: Visit the DoD Topic Search Tool at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/ to find topics by keyword across all DoD Components participating in this BAA.
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