Challenge Details
Tracking Number

Not Provided

Organization

The Precision Strike Weapons Program Office (PMA 201)

Start Date

Oct 28, 2022

End Date

Dec 1, 2022
Current Status

Closed

Registration

Open

No Attachments

To find out more information about this Challenge, please signin or register for an account.
More Challenges

No additonal Challenges were found.

testimonial
Flight-testing and Prototyping for the Advanced Aerial Refueling Store (AARS) system
Challenge Summary
Description
The US Department of Defense is looking for a contractor to provide a solution to reduce risk and develop capabilities for Aerial Refueling store development, the MQ-25 Stingray and other Unmanned Aircraft-related programs, cyber-security testing and validation, proto­ type development and test, instrumentation, and autonomy demonstrations. As the Department of Defense looks to reduce its reliance on manned aircraft, it is essential to reduce risk and ensure the success of these programs.
Additional Information
Submission Deadline:
12/01/2022 at 09:00 AM EST
OPEN CALL FOR INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
                    The Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) is initiating an open call for innovative solutions to solve Department of Defense (DoD) problems. Innovative means any technology, process, business practice, or any application of an existing technology, process, or business practice that enhances mission effectiveness for the Government. The objective of this Call is to attract and identify best-of-breed solutions to solve the problem sets identified.


This Open Call to Industry is considered to have high potential for pilot project awards that may be accomplished via Other Transaction Authority (OTA) for Prototype Projects pursuant to 10 USC 4022b (formerly 2371b). As such, assessment activities conducted in furtherance a potential pilot project award agreement are considered competitive in the same manner as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) or Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO), and solutions will be assessed independently of one another primarily for technical merit. The procedures outlined in this Open Call are considered to satisfy the reasonable effort to obtain competition in accordance with 10 USC 4022b.

 
WHAT TO EXPECT
                                                         
  • Multiple problem sets we’re looking for innovative solutions 
  • New problems expected to be added to tradewindai.com every quarter 
  • Assessment of submitted solutions on a quarterly basis.  
  • Submit your solutions at any time while problems are published 
  • Pay attention to assessment deadlines, if any, identified
 
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED
                Flight Test, Prototyping, Fabrication, Wind Tunnel Testing, Inflight Simulation and Autonomy Development 

The US Department of Defense is looking for a contractor to provide a solution to reduce risk and develop capabilities for Aerial Refueling store development, the MQ-25 Stingray and other Unmanned Aircraft-related programs, cyber-security testing and validation, proto­ type development and test, instrumentation, and autonomy demonstrations. As the Department of Defense looks to reduce its reliance on manned aircraft, it is essential to reduce risk and ensure the success of these programs. The contractor will consider all aspects of these programs, including but not limited to cyber-security, testing and validation, prototype development, instrumentation, and autonomy demonstrations.


Desired Solution 

Operational Capabilities 

  • The ability to fly and test the ARS on a surrogate aircraft
  • The ability to use the ARS to refuel a receiver aircraft in a Navy style Probe and Drogue system 
  • The ability to use software to drive an autonomous receiver aircraft 
  • The ability to provide a surrogate tanker aircraft that can carry and operate an ARS 
  • The ability to have test equipment racks, navigation and communication systems, and antenna on the surrogate aircraft 
  • The ability to have multiple operator stations on the surrogate aircraft 
  • Surrogate receiver (Lear Jet or similar) with the ability to conduct flight testing equipped with ability to carry an inert refueling probe, replaceable nose cone configured with multiple camera/sensor systems,  
    • Can support test equipment racks, navigation and communication systems and antenna, an operator station, and can be configured with system (Variable Stability System (VSS)) to conduct autonomous flight. 
  • (Gulfstream GIii or similar) to conduct flight-testing with the ability to carry and operate an ARS along with test equipment racks, navigation and communication systems and antenna, and multiple operator stations.
 
SUBMIT YOUR SOLUTIONS!
              This Open Call to Industry identifies a multiple-round, competitive assessment process to identify solutions that best solve DoD problems.  

 

Unfortunately, there aren’t 40 great ideas; there are likely 1 or 2. This process enables us to focus on the few ideas and solutions that have technical merit and take action with a pilot project award. As a result, not all solution providers will participate in all rounds or obtain a pilot project agreement with the Government.  

We also need flexibility as we learn new things during new assessment activities. The Government may skip or combine rounds as necessary to collect and assess information as it relates to proposed solutions. Further, the Government may go back to earlier rounds with clarifications and additional requests as necessary to identify successful solutions that will meet intended pilot project objectives. Finally, the Government may initiate steps toward a prototype project award at any round 


  • ROUND 1 – Discovery Paper

If you have solution that addresses any of the listed problems, we would love to hear about it. Submit a brief discovery paper for us to assess. CDAO and select subject matter experts may invite those that have the highest potential to solving the problem to Round 2. 

 


  • ROUND 2 – Digital Proving Ground (DPG)

The goal of the DPG is to allow our Industry partners to have the opportunity to pitch in a fast-paced environment with contracting professionals poised to execute rapid pilot project awards. If selected to participate at the DPG, you will receive instructions on whether to prepare for an informal one-on-one technical discussion, demonstration of a solution, “Shark Tank” pitch, or something similar to better understand your solution. Conversations may continue outside of the DPG if additional information is needed to understand detailed solution offerings, determine the feasibility of teaming between separate solution providers, and/or make a Round 3 determination. 

 

  • ROUND 3 – Project Award 

The Government reserves the right to make one, some, or no pilot project awards based on the Round 2 results. Successfully negotiated awards are intended to be Other Transaction Agreements under 10 USC 4022. An award under 10 USC 4022 may result in a subsequent award of a follow-on production agreement without additional competition based on successful prototype completion.

 
FEEDBACK DURING ASSESSMENT
                  If you are not chosen for a subsequent round(s), we will make our best efforts to notify you in writing as soon as practical. If you are invited to any round, subsequent round(s), or a return to earlier round(s), we will notify you via email with details and instructions on what information we are looking to assess. We are not able to provide instructions in advance due to the individual variance between problem sets and unique circumstances that may impact a pilot project. We care about transparency and providing timely feedback to help you improve your offerings, but sometimes our team is simply overtaxed. We are currently working to build in automated feedback mechanisms into the Tradewind Exchange, but in the meantime, we greatly appreciate your patience if we hit a resource limitation and cannot provide you the feedback you deserve in a timely manner.
 
NOTICES
      Sign In       Special Notice on Judges  

Non-Government, subject matter expert (SME) judges may be used any assessment activity. Such assessors will be operating at the direction of the Government and through signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). The Government understands that information provided in response to this open call is presented in confidence and it agrees to protect such information from unauthorized disclosure to extent required by law. Your participation in any round of assessment under this Open Call indicates concurrence with the use of Non-Government SME judges. 


Living Document 

This Open Call supporting the Tradewind Prototype Challenges is a living document which is intended to evolve as our business processed are automated, we apply new business practices, or streamline any activity or workflow. All information presented within this document is subject to change. Specifically, the problems identified will be updated throughout the life of this Open Call. You check in regularly for updates at tradewindai.com. 

 
WHAT DO I SUBMIT IN ROUND 1?
          Submit a 2-page Discovery Paper by 0900 Eastern Time on December 1, 2022 answering the following questions and instructions. We will not dictate format, but ask you answer the questions in the order provided.
  • PROBLEM ALIGNMENT: How well does your solution map to our published problem(s)? Argue the solution you’re providing is a perfect fit to solve the published problem(s).
  • VALUE PROPOSITION: Why is your solution the best approach from a technical perspective? If you can convincingly refute alternatives to solving the problem, please briefly do so. If applicable, also consider arguing why the end user/warfighter would prefer your solution.
  • OPERATIONAL IMPACT: Looking only at the DoD personnel who will be impacted by your solution, argue that their jobs or lives will be significantly improved if your solution is adopted. What is the impact of your solution vs. today's solutions?
  • END USER DEMAND: Make your best pitch to the end user/warfighter directly. Why would an end user judge want to adopt your solution? To the extent that you can, make the case that end users -- once they experience your solution -- will ask for it themselves.
  • QUALITY OF PROSE: Prove you write clearly. Prove you argue convincingly.

If signed into the Tradewind Exchange, submit your response by selecting the Register Now button in the upper left Registration Pane


If you are not signed in or a member of the Tradewind Exchange access your or create a new account by selecting the Sign In or Register buttons in the upper right corner of this page

 
Point of Contact

Name

Gage Asper

Email

gage.p.asper.ctr@mail.mil

Title

Acquisition Analyst

Phone

Not Provided