N234-P01 TITLE: MCSC Open Topic for Logistics in a Contested Environment
OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Renewable Energy Generation and Storage; Sustainment; Trusted AI and Autonomy
OBJECTIVE: DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY OPEN TOPIC - DON is seeking proposals for enhancing existing prototypes or concepts to improve operations in contested environments for extended periods of time through heightened tensions and conflict by significantly reducing or eliminating the need for replenishment or sustainment.
DESCRIPTION: A contested logistics environment means an environment in which armed forces engage in conflict with an adversary that presents challenges in all domains and directly targets logistics operations, facilities, and activities in the United States, abroad, or in transit from one location to the other. State and non-state actors employ space, cyberspace, and electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) capabilities, as well as information operations, against friendly naval forces. Adversaries may use these capabilities in attempts to deny, degrade, and exploit our use of our historic command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) strengths. Resilient logistics connects the foundry to the Fleet, is enabled by secure communications and information technology, and includes all activities and technologies needed to refuel, rearm, resupply, repair, and revive distributed naval forces down to the last tactical mile.
The Department of the Navy requests proposals for existing technology demonstration platforms, prototypes, and commercial products to assess their relevance to Naval missions through operational experimentation. Proposers should have an existing solution, either hardware and/or software, which can be evaluated through military utility assessments with end users.
The areas of interest for the Marine Corps are improved fuel efficiency and/or methods to utilize fossil fuel alternatives, such as hydrogen, for: Marine Corps Tactical Vehicles, Mobile Power Systems, Batteries, and energy storage systems for human portable devices such as radios. Examples of current Marine Corps systems are provided in the REFERENCES:.
Proposal for this topic shall address one or more of the following:
PHASE I: Phase I feasibility will describe the existing proposed technology, existing DON system(s) to improve, modifications required, anticipated improvements to existing capabilities, impacts to current logistics if any (i.e., transportation, storage, maintenance, safety, etc.) and transition approach to the DON system. Results of Phase I Base will be detailed in a final technical report (Final Report). The Results of Phase I Option (if exercised) will further refine the final technical report.
Phase I deliverables include:
Phase I Option (if exercised) deliverables include:
PHASE II: All Phase I awardees may submit an Initial Phase II proposal for evaluation and selection. The evaluation criteria for Phase II is the same as Phase I (as stated in this BAA). The Phase I Final Report and Initial Phase II Proposal will be used to evaluate the small business concern�s potential to adapt commercial products to fill a capability gap, improve performance, or modernize an existing capability for DON and transition the technology to Phase III. Details on the due date, content, and submission requirements of the Initial Phase II Proposal will be provided by the awarding SYSCOM either in the Phase I contract or by subsequent notification.
Develop and deliver a functional prototype(s) which can be tested, evaluated through a military utility assessments with end users, and/or certified (as appropriate), develop transition plan including production and fielding approach (including updated logistics and safety consideration) and further commercialization (non-DoD).
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Improve the technology per the Phase II guidance and transition to a fielding activity. Dual-Use applications may include commercially available trucks, generators, batteries, and energy storage systems.
REFERENCES:
KEYWORDS: Contested Logistics Environment; Marine Corps Tactical Vehicles; Mobile Power Systems; Batteries; Energy Storage Systems; Fuel Efficiency; Fossil Fuel Alternatives
** TOPIC NOTICE ** |
The Navy Topic above is an "unofficial" copy from the Navy Topics in the DoD 23.4 SBIR BAA. Please see the official DoD Topic website at www.defensesbirsttr.mil/SBIR-STTR/Opportunities/#announcements for any updates. The DoD issued its Navy 23.4 Navy Open SBIR Topics pre-release on June 15, 2023 which opens to receive proposals on July 13, 2023, and closes August 15, 2023 (12:00pm ET). Direct Contact with Topic Authors: During the pre-release period (June 15, 2023 through July 12, 2023) 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 July 13, 2023 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, until August 1, 2023, (at 12:00 PM ET), proposers may submit written questions through SITIS (SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System) at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/ by logging in and following 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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| 7/28/23 | Q. | 1. Can the Government elaborate on current storage and distribution needs or focus areas?
2. Is the Government interested in software solutions that improve storage and distribution operations? |
| A. | 1. Please review the references.
2. Please see previous Topic Q&A Answers for 7/6/23 and 6/17/23. |
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| 7/20/23 | Q. | We completed a phase I award in 2021, are we eligible to apply for the phase II award in this solicitation? |
| A. | Hello - this topic is soliciting Phase I proposals. | |
| 7/12/23 | Q. | 1.Other than use of renewable fuels, what other metrics are valuable for the target platform?
2. Is the focus on operating conventional generators with renewable fuels? |
| A. | No further information is available, please refer the BAA | |
| 7/6/23 | Q. | Would the government consider modular/modern software solutions that implement generative artificial intelligence technologies that work with warfighters to dynamically optimize aggregate distribution of class III supply across varied Marine Corps units operating in an operational area? |
| A. | Yes | |
| 7/5/23 | Q. | We are conducting advanced R&D on a revolutionary modular micro-fusion (nuclear) / electric power technology, but it does not meet the TRL requirement of the current BAA. Additionally, we are designing a small, solid state, high-voltage power module (100s of kV) for our reactor that may also support high-power microwave drivers and directed energy systems. Please advise on other appropriate avenues for engaging and/or working with the Marine Corps and MCSC in particular. |
| A. | Hello - This DSIP Topic Q&A platform is used to provide clarifications related to the SBIR or STTR topics. For further information on engaging Navy SYSCOMs outside of the SBIR and STTR Programs please review the Contacts menu on www.navysbir.com. - www.navysbir.com/poc.htm
On this page you will see each SYSCOM that participates in the Navy SBIR/STTR Programs will have a webpage listed which will provide further information on their respective commands. |
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| 7/5/23 | Q. | The following question was received during the DON Open Topics Ask Me Anything (AMA) session held on Tuesday, June 27:
If we are planning to team with a government (DoD lab or institution) can the Navy pay the subcontract amount directly to the subcontractor (DoD research institute)?, instead of the small business paying the sub-awardee? |
| A. | There is no privity of contract between the Government and the subcontractor, therefore the Navy cannot pay the subcontractor directly. | |
| 6/30/23 | Q. | The following question was received during the DON Open Topics Ask Me Anything (AMA) session held on Tuesday, June 27:
Does scientific publication serve as proven? |
| A. | DON intends to leverage open topics to solicit proposals to adapt commercial products to fill a capability gap, improve performance, or modernize existing capability for the DON in various mission critical areas. Content of publications (thesis, observations, results of experiments, and studies) does not serve as proven technology. For Phase I, submitting small business concerns will propose the technical approach and innovation for the transition of an in production (Manufacturing Readiness Level 8/9) commercial technology to solve the DON�s needs. | |
| 6/29/23 | Q. | We are developing a modular micro-fusion reactor that is not yet mature enough for this solicitation; however, it may significantly impact the operation reach of mobile and distributed units and platforms at the tactical edge in the future. What is the best way to communicate our R&D efforts to the Marine Corps? I see no TPOC POC in the solicitation. Thank you! |
| A. | Please view the DON Open Topics on www.navysbir.com/topics23_4.htm. Here you will find the TPOC POC email address listed for each topic. | |
| 6/17/23 | Q. | 1) Would a TRL-9 DoD funded and used by another DoD service, but not commercialized acceptable, i.e. technology adaptation from another DoD use-case?
2) What is the lowest TRL acceptable? 3) Is only hardware technology sought, or software technology also acceptable? 4) Is there a plan to hold a webinar to provide any additional specific details? |
| A. | 1. Yes, a system/technology that has been proven in mission operations (TRL 9) meets the intent of the MRL 8/9 guidance provided in the DoN Phase I Technical Volume 2 Open Topic Template 6-15-23 posted at https://navysbir.com/links_forms.htm.
2. The following information is included in the DON Open Topic Phase I proposal template for Volume 2 regarding Manufacturing Readiness Level. Present the technical approach and innovation for the transition of an in production (Manufacturing Readiness Level 8/9) commercial technology to solve the Department of the Navy�s need. Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) definitions create a measurement scale and vocabulary for assessing and discussing manufacturing maturity and risk. Information on MRLs can be found in the Manufacturing Readiness Level Deskbook at https://www.dodmrl.com/MRL_Deskbook_V2.pdf. MRL 8 and 9 details start on page 2-4. 3. Yes, software technology is also acceptable. 4. Information on virtual Listening Sessions and Ask Me Anything events for the Open Topics in this BAA will be posted at https://navysbir.com/open_topic.htm. |