N234-P05 TITLE: NAVSEA Open Topic for Operations and Logistics in a Contested Environment: Enhance Mission Capabilities of USV/UUV and Systems

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Renewable Energy Generation and Storage; Sustainment; Trusted AI and Autonomy

OBJECTIVE: DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY OPEN TOPIC - NAVSEA is seeking proposals for commercial technology to ensure resilient logistics and technology in a contested environment.

DESCRIPTION: NAVSEA requests proposals for existing technology demonstration platforms, prototypes, and commercial products in a contested environment to assess their relevance to Naval missions through operational experimentation. For Phase I awardees, NAVSEA will provide an operational context which technologies will be assessed against and provide feedback and guidance on enhancements to align with the Fleet's warfighting objectives. The proposing small business concern should have an existing solution, either hardware and/or software, which can be evaluated through operational experimentation with end users.

A contested environment means an environment in which armed forces engage in conflict with an adversary that presents challenges in all domains and directly targets 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.

As stated in the instruction, only one proposal from a single small business concern will be accepted for this topic. The proposed capability will address:

Commercial technology (TRL 8/9) to enhance mission capabilities of unmanned surface and subsurface vessels (USV/UUV) and systems. Global Positioning System (GPS) denied navigation, small unmanned underwater vehicles and bottom crawlers, improved C3 (Command, Control and Communications), resilient communications paths, high throughput data exfiltration/infiltration paths, replenishment, and monitoring, sustainment, repair and maintenance of unmanned systems. Sense and avoid systems for small UUVs. Increased autonomy for unmanned resupply USV. Alternative Position Navigation and Timing (PNT) systems, including optical ship-relative navigation. Reduced data-exchange requirements. Low Probability of Intercept/Detection (LPI/D) communications methods.

PHASE I: The DON is planning to issue multiple Phase I awards for this topic but reserves the right to issue. Each Phase I proposal must include a Base and Option period of performance. The Phase I Base must have a period of performance of four (4) months at a cost not to exceed $75,000. The Phase I Option must have a period of performance of six (6) months at a cost not to exceed $100,000.

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 will be detailed in a final technical report (Final Report).

The Phase I Option, if exercised, will include the initial design specifications and capabilities description to build a prototype solution in Phase II.

Phase I deliverables include:

• Kick-Off Briefing, due 15 days from start of Base award
• Final Report, due 120 days from start of Base award
• Initial Phase II Proposal, due 120 days from start of Base award

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.

The scope of the Phase II effort will be specific to each project but is generally expected to develop a functional prototype to demonstrate the capability, develop transition plan including production and fielding approach (including updated logistics and safety consideration) and further commercialization (non-DoD).

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Field capability and logistics support. Since the Navy is seeking commercial technologies, these technologies already have commercial applications.

REFERENCES:

1. GAO Report GAO-23-105608; "CONTESTED INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT: Actions Needed to Strengthen Education and Training for DOD Leaders"; https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-23-105608.pdf
2. Marine Corp Association; "Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment"; https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/2708135/littoral-operations-in-a-contested-environment-loce/#:~:text=Littoral%20Operations%20in%20a%20Contested%20Environment%20(LOCE)%20is%20a%20concept,depth%2C%20complexity%2C%20and%20lethality.

KEYWORDS: Contested Logistics; Contested Environment; UUV and USV; Energy efficiency; Launch and recovery; Maritime mining and MCM

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