Navy - 23.4 SBIR - NAVSEA Open Topic for Operations and Logistics in a Contested Environment: Improve Launch and Recovery of Air, Sea Surface, and UUV from Naval Vessels

NAVSEA Open Topic for Operations and Logistics in a Contested Environment: Improve Launch and Recovery of Air, Sea Surface, and UUV from Naval Vessels

Navy SBIR 23.4 - Open Topic N234-P04
NAVSEA - Naval Sea Systems Command
Pre-release 6/15/23 Opens to accept proposals 7/13/23 Closed 8/15/23 12:00pm ET [ View Q&A ]

N234-P04 TITLE: NAVSEA Open Topic for Operations and Logistics in a Contested Environment: Improve Launch and Recovery of Air, Sea Surface, and UUV from Naval Vessels

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 improve launch and recovery of air, sea surface, and undersea unmanned vehicles from Naval Vessels (architecture, artificial Intelligence applications, automated guidance).

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:

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
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

** 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.

Help: If you have general questions about the DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk via email at [email protected]

Topic Q & A

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.	The topic asks for �commercial technology (TRL 8/9).� Is TRL 8/9 the requirement at the start of the SBIR (entry criterion) or at the end of the SBIR (exit criterion)?
	A.	TRL 8/9 at entry.
6/26/23	Q.	1) In the document the paragraph "Commercial technology (TRL 8/9) to improve launch and recovery of air, sea surface, and undersea unmanned vehicles from Naval Vessels (architecture, artificial Intelligence applications, automated guidance)." What is the definition of Architecture? Would a self leveling flight deck for launch and recovery operations be considered "architecture"? 2) In the Phase 1 Paragraph, the sentence "The DON is planning to issue multiple Phase I awards for this topic but reserves the right to issue...." appears to be truncated. Is there additional text for this line? 3) Phase 1 Paragraph discusses a Base period and an Option period. The following paragraphs discuss Phase 1 feasibility and Phase 1 option. Is Phase 1 Base the same as Phase 1 feasibility? 4. In the Section titled "Phase 1 Deliverables include" the Phase 1 Final report and Phase II Proposal are both due 120 days from the start of the Base award. Should the Phase II Proposal be due AFTER the Completion of the Phase 1 Option? 5. The Phase 1 Feasibility states that "will describe ..., existing DON system(s) to improve, modifications required, anticipated Improvements to existing capabilities..... " Phase 2 also notes filling capability gaps, improve performance, modernize existing capability. Is it possible to have existing DON systems and capabilities(Gaps) identified in order to be addressed in Phase 1 Feasibility vs. our technology offering?
	A.	1) Naval architecture, or naval engineering, is an engineering discipline incorporating elements of mechanical, electrical, electronic, software and safety engineering as applied to the engineering design process, shipbuilding, maintenance, and operation of marine vessels and structures. In this case, to improve launch and recovery of air, sea surface, and undersea unmanned vehicles from Naval Vessels. 2) Yes, this complete sentence should read: The DON is planning to issue multiple Phase I awards for this topic but reserves the right to issue no awards. 3) Yes, proof of feasibility will occur during the Phase I Base period. 4) This section reads that the Final Report and the Initial Phase II Proposal are due 120 days from the start of the Base award. The date listed of 120 days from the start of the Base award is correct for both of these items. 5) Existing DON systems and capabilities can be found on the internet. The small business will have to decide if the viability of their technology offering addresses the ability to meet these criteria. NAVSEA is seeking commercial technology (TRL 8/9) to improve launch and recovery of air, sea surface, and undersea unmanned vehicles from Naval Vessels.
6/22/23	Q.	Can you provide examples of air and sea surface launch and recovery operations (e.g. what types of platforms and what operations)? Would sensors to assist with automated guidance be considered? And if so, what are the core challenges the TPOC faces in automated guidance today (cluttered environments, lack of multi-modal data, etc)?
	A.	Examples of Naval air and sea surface launch and recovery operations can be found on the internet. NAVSEA is seeking commercial technology (TRL 8/9) to improve launch and recovery of air, sea surface, and undersea unmanned vehicles from Naval Vessels. All technology that meets this criteria will be evaluated. Core challenges in automated guidance today can be found by searching the internet.

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