Family of small Unmanned Ground Systems (FosUGS)

Submissions Closed 20 October 2023 11:59 PM ET

Purpose 
SOFWERX, in collaboration with SOF Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (SOF AT&L) Program Executive Office Tactical Information Systems (PEO-TIS), will host an Assessment Event (AE) to identify production model solutions for general-purpose multi-role/multi-mission robot systems.

Background
PEO-TIS is seeking information on a specific technology area to gain knowledge of, explore, and identify available capabilities for potential inclusion in the Family of small Unmanned Ground Systems (FosUGS) AE. Technology desired by USSOCOM is an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) general-purpose multi-role/multi-mission robot system in the weight range of 10-40 pounds that has some level of autonomous behaviors or capabilities which reduce operator workload and can operate in all-weather conditions within rural/urban environments. The system must have an integrated electro-optical/infra-red (EO/IR) full motion video (FMV) capability for day and night ISR operations and be payload agnostic to support additional payloads.

Objective
This assessment solicits white papers to describe the current capabilities of off-the-shelf robot systems in the 10-40 pound weight range. Systems will be reviewed by USSOCOM stakeholders and Subject Matter Expert’s (SME’s) to identify solutions for future participation in the FosUGS indoor presentation/outdoor demonstration that will occur at SOFWERX to provide a pathway to ultimately conduct tests on selected systems for specific cyber, safety, and performance requirements.

Why You Should Participate
USSOCOM seeks to enter into non-FAR or FAR-based agreements with Industry, Academic, and National Lab partners whose solutions are favorably evaluated by SOF AT&L PEO-TIS Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). As such, the follow-on Assessment Event (AE) is considered competitive and solutions will be evaluated independently of one another primarily for technical merit. This serves dually as notification of the intent to research the feasibility of an agreement under 10 U.S. Code, Section 4022 and/or Section 4022(f), and as notice of pre-solicitation activities IAW FAR 5.204.

Event Timeline
Phase 1 - 26 September 2023 to 20 October 2023 Submissions to the Demonstration Days Open: Interested respondents who could potentially provide solutions that meet the needs of USSOCOM are encouraged to submit their capability for USSOCOM review. To submit your technology for potential Phase 3 attendance, please review the presentation/demonstration criteria and follow the submission instructions near the bottom of this webpage.

Phase 1a - 05 October 2023 Q&A Telecon: Interested offerors may participate in a virtual Q&A session to better understand the Government Stakeholder's specific technology objectives. The telecon will take place on 05 October from 11:00 AM –12:00 PM ET. 

Completed Phase 2 - 23 October 2023 to 07 November 2023 Downselect: From the white paper submissions, USSOCOM will downselect those respondents/submissions they feel have the highest potential to satisfy their technology needs. Favorably evaluated submissions will receive an invitation to attend the Demonstrations Days on/around 08 November.

Completed Phase 3 - 04 December 2023 to 07 December 2023 Demonstration Days: During the event, selected participants will be allotted a four-hour, one-on-one session with the USSOCOM evaluation panel to pitch, demonstrate, and/or discuss their solutions. The solution will be presented by the participant indoors and then demonstrated outdoors using contractor provided equipment and operators at SOFWERX. The forum will include a Q&A portion and discussions may continue outside of the event. Solution brief presentation and demonstration guidelines will be outlined in the event invitation and solutions will be assessed according to the criteria in the link provided below. USSOCOM will downselect systems they feel have the highest potential to demonstrate favorable safe, suitable, and effective results within the technical evaluation. 

This event will be held in person at SOFWERX.  

Completed Phase 3a - 11 December 2023 SOCOM SME Follow-On Telecon: Some participants may need to attend a one-on-one virtual Q&A session with SOCOM SMEs to follow up on pending RFIs that develop from the Demonstration Days to better understand their system(s). Each session will be 30 minutes and will take place on/around 11 December from 1:00 PM–4:00 PM ET. Date/time subject to change based upon agency need.

Phase 4 - 11 December 2023 to 20 December 2023 Downselect: From the presentations/demonstrations, USSOCOM will downselect those solutions they feel have the highest potential to satisfy their technology needs. Favorably evaluated solutions will receive an invitation to proceed to the Technical Evaluation (TE) on/around 21 December.

Phase 5 - 15 January 2024 to 04 March 2024 Technical Evaluation (TE): For the Technical Evaluation, selected participants will be required to sign a Vendor Loan Agreement (VLA) for three (3) fully functional devices and associated items NLT 05 January. Participants must also provide necessary technical information to support USSOCOM’s safety review process NLT 11 January. Additionally, on dates to be announced, participants must train USSOCOM testers and SMEs on the use of their device(s) to support technical evaluation of their device(s). Training will be limited to four hours per device and must include proper use of the device and troubleshooting. Participants will be expected to train the USSOCOM evaluators and SMEs to the point where the evaluators and SMEs can confirm expected levels of performance. USSOCOM Evaluators will conduct a technical evaluation of the participants' devices to ensure they perform to the standards and levels as presented and may be asked to provide reach back support during technical evaluations. Proceeding to the next portion is based solely upon best agency need and requirements. If the SOCOM OT&E team favorably evaluates a solution, negotiations for Phase 8 may immediately begin.

Phase 6 - 04 March 2024 to 19 March 2024 Downselect: From the TE, USSOCOM will downselect those solutions they feel have the highest potential to satisfy their technology needs. Favorably evaluated solutions will receive an invitation to proceed to the Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) on/around 20 March.

Phase 7 - 15 April 2024 to 26 April 2024 Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E): USSOCOM evaluators and SMEs conduct the OT&E with the participation of SOF operational personnel. Selected participants will be expected to train the USSOCOM evaluators and SMEs to the point where the evaluators and SMEs can confirm expected levels of performance. Participants will be asked to conduct the four hours of in-person training for their devices during the first week but will not participate in the actual operator-driven events conducted jointly by USSOCOM and their test agency. Two (2) additional devices will be provided by the participant through a VLA (total of five (5) devices) for the OT&E. If the SOCOM OT&E team favorably evaluates a solution, negotiations for Phase 8 may immediately begin.

Phase 7a – NLT 03 May 2024 Device Return: All equipment returned by USSOCOM to the participants at the participants' expense.

Please Note: Timeline dates/times subject to change based upon agency need.

Phase 8 - Path Forward: Successfully negotiated awards may fall under any combination of these categories:

• Business to business research and development agreement as a sub-award through the SOFWERX Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) (15 U.S. Code Section 3715)
• OTA for research or prototype projects (10 U.S. Code Sections 4021, 4022)
  • An award under 10 U. S. Code, Section 4022 may result in the further award of a follow-on production agreement without additional competition based on successful prototype completion. The Government may make this follow-on production award based upon successful prototype criteria, which will be determined for each prototype project.
• Procurement for experimental purposes (10 U.S. Code Section 4023)
• Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (15 U.S. Code Section 3710a)
• Prizes for advanced technology achievements (10 U. S. Code Section 4025) and/or prize competitions (15 U.S. Code 3719)
• FAR-based procurement contract 

NOTE: Awardees may need to be compliant with NIST SP 800-171, Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in Non-Federal Systems and Organizations

How You Can Participate
Government, Industry, Academia, National Labs, and Non-Traditional Attendees

Submissions Closed 20 October