C2 SDK integration for controllers and HMI of robotic and autonomous systems

*Note on Continuous Submission: This is an open and continuous Call for Solutions. Submissions received by the Initial Evaluation Cut-Off Date will be prioritized for the first evaluation cycle. All submissions received thereafter will be evaluated on a continuous, rolling basis as they are received to ensure a steady pipeline of innovative solutions to the UAS Marketplace.

BACKGROUND

The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA) is issuing this Call for Solutions (abbreviated “Call” hereafter) against Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) W58RGZ-26-S-C001 under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 3458. This Call will seek solutions for participation in the USG Command and Control (C2) Software Development Kit (SDK) Integration event. PM UAS will acquire, field, and sustain reusable, network-integrated software control capabilities for the Army’s portfolio of Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS). UAS software encompasses the architecture and applications necessary for the operation, control, integration, and data exploitation of the UAS. This includes but is not limited to: Control System software for intuitive mission planning and execution; Command and Control (C2) software for secure, resilient datalinks; and Data Analytics software for real-time sensor exploitation and dissemination. The Government prioritizes software solutions built upon Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) principles to enable seamless interoperability, reuse, rapid capability insertion, and integration with existing Army enterprise network architectures. As a critical element of the Army's transformation, PM UAS provides control capability in the Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) foundation. This Call for Solutions does not seek to procure RAS but rather identify candidate vendors and systems to participate in the PM UAS USG C2 SDK Integration event. The primary goal of this Call is to identify and assess innovative solutions for participation in the USG C2 SDK Integration event. The process is designed to evaluate systems and invite potential solutions to attend and actively participate in the integration event.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Soldiers need an integrated C2 architecture solution to conduct operations and maneuver as a team with RAS integrated into NGC2. The current portfolio of disparate, stove-piped control systems makes this level of integrated command and control impossible, creating operational seams the enemy can exploit. Soldiers need integrated C2 solutions in all operating environments and operational phases to execute warfighting functions in collaborative teams with RAS. The USG’s C2 architecture solution provides scalable control capabilities to enable the simultaneous operation of heterogenous RAS in the formation. Control services are provided to enable one or more operators to execute control simultaneously on the network as a team. This consolidates and integrates these control capabilities as services in NGC2 for networked operations. PM UAS seeks to minimize barriers to integration for RAS systems to the USG C2 architecture. The USG C2 SDK Integration event will provide vendors of controllers/Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) for Group 1-3 UAS, Launched Effects (LE), and Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) the opportunity to rapidly integrate with the USG’s C2 architecture solution, test their solution against the Army network, and receive immediate soldier-driven feedback on their systems. The Government intends to invite key Government and Industry stakeholders to observe and participate in the USG C2 SDK Integration events. These events will serve as an opportunity for RAS system vendors to accelerate onboarding of their solutions to the UAS Marketplace.

TECHNICAL ATTRIBUTES

A detailed description of the required and desired technical attributes for the solutions is provided in the SOO, included as Attachment 1 to this Call. Offerors must refer to the SOO for a comprehensive understanding of the Government's technical objectives. In general, the Government is seeking innovative, commercially available controllers/HMIs of Group 1-3 UAS, LE, and UGVs that are production-ready and capable of performing missions such as Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA), electronic warfare, communications relay, or strike to integrate with the USG C2 architecture.

AWARD INFORMATION

Authority and Instrument Award

This Call is issued under the authority of Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) procedures detailed within the UAS Marketplace Commercial Solutions Opening W58RGZ-26-S-C001, found at: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/f71bdf94c86846379f21abc2d73a7b54/view. In accordance with 10 US Code 3458, use of a CSO is considered a competitive procedure.

Offer or Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the USG C2 SDK Integration event, offerors must meet all of the following requirements:

All proposed RAS must be fully compliant with Section 848 of the National Defense Authorization Act…