SPECIAL NOTICE
70 -- Multinational Experiment 4 Information Technology Tools
- Notice Date
- 1/27/2005
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 511210
— Software Publishers
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Navy, Naval Supply Systems Command, FISC NORFOLK DETACHMENT PHILADELPHIA, 700 Robbins Avenue, Building 2B, Philadelphia, PA, 19111-5083
- ZIP Code
- 19111-5083
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-J9-MNE4-RFI
- Response Due
- 3/2/2005
- Archive Date
- 3/17/2005
- Description
- This synopsis is to announce a U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) request for information (RFI) on software and hardware tools which offer potential to support the execution of Multinational Experiment 4 (MNE4). Combatant Commanders have repeatedly identified the need to conduct collaborative operational planning with coalition partners, and government and non-government agencies. USJFCOM has been directed to explore options and formulate recommendations for military transformation. USJFCOM Experimentation Directorate J9 is conducting concept development for the Effects Based Operations (EBO) capability by establishing an environment for multinational experimentation with EBO. The emerging EBO process requires certain technical tools to assist operational planners, operators, and assessors to conduct business in the collaborative environment and with multiple levels of security. To accomplish EBO, planners will be required to share a common knowledge base, collaborate during planning and execution, and share assessments of current operations. Software and hardware solutions to support MNE4, the current spiral within the overall multinational EBO concept development, will be required to support collaborative planning, commander/director visualization of the operation across spatial and temporal domains, effects-action-resource optimization, and modeling of the operational environment. These tools will be required to be available to all participants in MNE4 which include: Australia Canada Finland France Germany Sweden United Kingdom United States North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) MNE4 is not in and of itself an end user product. It is the concept of establishing an environment that facilitates the seamless flow of information between coalition partners within a common operational environment while reducing or eliminating obstacles that inhibit information flow. The USJFCOM is seeking technologies which will assist the EBO knowledge base development, planning, execution, and assessment process as described in the focus areas identified below. The tools and technologies will operate on an isolated network certified to operate and process classified information among the multinational participants. The required security guidelines, cryptographic devices, and architectures required for certification will be used. PROCESS FOCUS AREAS KNOWLEDGE BASE DEVELOPMENT The Knowledge Base Development (KBD) to enable EBO contains all the requisite knowledge and data to conduct the operation across the diplomatic, informational, military, and economic (DIME) capabilities. It enables situational awareness and understanding (SA/SU). It includes a collaboration capability, a system of systems analysis (SoSA), analysis by various Centers of Excellence (COE), the collaborative information environment (to include legacy CROP features), operational guidance from the nations, joint headquarters, relevant agencies, and their operational orders and directives. EFFECTS BASED PLANNING Effects Based Planning (EBP) to execute EBO begins with situation awareness/situational understanding (SA/SU) gained from the knowledge base. Using the Commander?s initial guidance, it examines the operational objectives, versus adversary and neutral organizations aims, to derive diplomatic, informational, military, and economic (DIME) effects to achieve the desired end state. From the desired effects to achieve the endstate, action-resource matching occurs in order to develop the operational plan and draft synchronization matrix. Adaptive planning is therefore enabled. The draft synchronization matrix is wargamed and adjusted during synchronization and plan refinement. An effects based assessment plan is developed and EBP concludes with the publishing of an Effects Tasking Order (ETO). EFFECTS BASED EXECUTION Effects-Based Execution (EBE) enables the coalition staff to execute and monitor the operation and integrate DIME actions. A command and control capability is able to draw information from effects based assessment and adapt current operations and resources in real-time. Information push-pull capabilities enable the coalition to adapt in near-real-time to meet all operational conditions. EFFECTS BASED ASSESSMENT Effects-Based Assessment (EBA) enables adaptive planning and execution by providing assessments of effectiveness of actions and resources. It facilitates the coalition?s use of measures of effectiveness (MOE) and measures of performance (MOP) of DIME actions to accomplish the operational objectives. Additionally, risk assessment, traditional measures of damage assessment, and an independent assessment of progress toward achieving the end state will inform the knowledge base (KBD) and update the system of systems analyses (SoSA). TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS General technical and format requirements: Must be open standard .JSP instead of .ASP J2EE/Java instead of C# or .net Standard SQL instead of MS SQL Web enabled with server side execution to avoid client software installs Single Sign On (SSO) specifically to support open LDAP user authentication Use by multiple operating systems and web browsers XML or more capable standard format for knowledge base documentation and data exchange General tool architectures to support the following requirements: The collaborative information environment (CIE) workspace The knowledge base (KB) display, editing, search, & publishing capability. Collaborative Information Environment (CIE) and Common Relevant Operational Picture (CROP) visualization aid and data storage to support planning and operations. The system of systems analysis (SoSA) which models political, military, economic, social, infrastructure, and information system relationships. Visualization of KB architecture, effect-action-resource relationships, MOE, MOP, temporal, and spatial operations and assessment displays A synchronization matrix planning tool to allow a broad visualization of the effects-based plan across the DIME. The tool will be the experiment centerpiece planning aid to assist development and execution of an effects-based campaign. It is desired to be a visual matrix display depicting the relationships and dependencies between desired effects, planned actions, and their associated resources as a function of time and space. The tool should also facilitate the planning and visualization of the Commander?s Approved Effects List (CAEL) and relevant mission orders, resources, and communications relationships. A pull-down menu of common DIME effects is desired to facilitate operational planner efficiencies and also allow manual entry of new effects for future use. Version control will be required in order to compare several versions of the synchronization matrix to enable optimum course of action (COA) selection. Tools which support the assessment process, execution, and complement capabilities for the synchronization tool described in the bullet above. The assessment tools may include pre-formatted MOE and MOP charts and graphs, use Bayesian statistics, decision trees, or other quantitative and qualitative methods. GIS (geospatial information systems) data storage and associated raster maps, vector layers, and information overlays from the KB for proper geospatial representation. Open GIS data is expected to be stored on all coalition servers to minimize network bandwidth requirements. Additional tool concepts which JFCOM and MNE4 are eager to explore: DIME action-reaction modeling and simulation and analysis tools Course of Action (COA) selection and decision aids Deployment and sustainment tracking, analysis, and modeling Visualization aids to include directories to sources of information, link-node analysis, Gantt/Pert charts and the ability to use these aids in the collaborative environment Search engines and web crawlers to facilitate research across the DIME Cross-domain search capabilities with multiple levels of security and/or configurable security firewalls Tools useful for humanitarian relief and emergency response Information push-pull tools and technologies for near real-time operational applications Information push-pull tools for pre-formatting messages and orders Tools and technologies that facilitate interoperability across government, state and local officials, and non-governmental agencies This request is for information only. The Government does not intend to award a contract on a basis of this RFI or otherwise pay for information solicited. No entitlement to payment or direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government may arise as a result of the submission of information by industry. Interested parties may submit the following information in support of their tool. Information submitted is to be unclassified. 1. One page candidate tool description addressing the tool?s capabilities to support process requirements identified in the above paragraphs and point of contact, email, and website to provide information and answer further questions, if necessary. 2. PowerPoint? presentation on general and specific tool capabilities and the following: Tool adherence to technical requirements described in the above paragraphs Interoperability with other software suites and data formats supported Data search methodology and technical process (DIGEST, Boolean, etc.) Ability to read/write to a common database assessable by all other tools System stability requirements Bandwidth requirements Ability to support version control Training requirements, sample displays and output information, and portlet interface Proprietary requirements and ability for use by MNE4 participants Requirements for access to government facilities, systems, documentation, or additional information for experiment integration Those interested in responding to this RFI should submit their responses to brad.borman@je.jfcom.mil. Responses should be submitted by no later than 02 March 2005. Questions concerning this RFI may also be directed to brad.borman@je.jfcom.mil.
- Record
- SN00741535-W 20050129/050127212249 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |