United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) is seeking United States-incorporated non-federal partners (“Collaborators”) in industry and/or academia to consider for entry into Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) with the Federal Government as described in 15 USC 3710a, to produce collaborative studies illustrating potential future capabilities for USTRANSCOM. These studies will examine and demonstrate in realistic military mobility environments how industry’s current and emerging global cargo tracking and monitoring processes and systems, including but NOT limited to tracking devices, may be adopted by the Department of Defense (DOD) to overcome long-standing gaps in asset visibility and ITV performance. This is not a solicitation for a procurement contract, nor should this announcement be construed as implying any future solicitation by USTRANSCOM or any other Government agency in this area. Interested parties may respond with white papers by 5 September 2023 0000 (12:00 midnight, U.S. Central time) by unclassified e-mail to
[email protected] by submitting an UNCLASSIFIED written white paper in format described below. Hardcopy submittal is not allowed. Potential topics for collaboration follow, based on recognized gaps in the current tracking process. Details of the actual exploration, resource commitments, schedules, research deliverables (technical findings), and work to be assigned to the Parties in the agreement will be determined by discussions after initial whitepaper selection. USTRANSCOM is planning an Industry Day virtual presentation on this topic via Teams on 15 August 2023 at 1300-1430 U.S. Central Time/Daylight Savings Time. USTRANSCOM will describe its interests in and goals for cooperative research on ITV system performance improvements and understanding of high-performing ITV systems and processes. Government-provided information in this meeting is intended as a guide for respondents to clarify their focus on content during white paper development. No industry presentations will be included, but you may submit questions in advance to
[email protected] by 11 Aug 23 which USTRANSCOM will attempt to answer during Industry Day, time permitting, for all participants to receive. The question submitter will not be identified. Questions not addressed during the Industry Day session will not be answered by USTRANSCOM by separate correspondence. To obtain the Teams link, please submit by 11 Aug 23 an e-mail request to
[email protected] Summary of deadlines and events (U.S. Central Daylight Savings Time) - 11 Aug 23, 0000: Request to obtain Teams link to Industry Day - 11 Aug 23, 0000: Submittal of questions to USTRANSCOM - 15 Aug 23, 1300-1430: Virtual Industry Day/Government answers as feasible - 5 Sep 23, 0000: White paper submittal - 2 Oct 23: Government notification of white paper selection/non-selection USTRANSCOM is considering tracking performance and shortfalls in the full origin-to-destination and return supply chain, not limited to the tagging technology alone, in recognition that achieving high levels of ITV requires a systemic consideration of root causes of current gaps as well as process and technology shortfalls. Field trials under CRADAs may take place to coincide with DOD unit movements from CONUS to OCONUS, or reverse, to provide information on real-world performance of tagging technologies and processes. Submitters should confirm their willingness and ability to provide subject matter experts to participate in these field trials in U.S. and overseas locations. Your proposal to enter into a CRADA should include a brief description of the following challenges which you will address and the expected research outcomes for each. It should also describe what Government data, access to facilities, or subject matter expertise should be added to the collaboration with your company to make the research productive toward findings on how the Government may overcome ITV performance challenges. A. Tracking Performance in Realistic DOD Use. - How your tracking devices and processes can overcome limitations in traditional fixed infrastructures, when shipments do not pass near installed readers, not only in the United States, but also in foreign destinations, and locations lacking infrastructure for active reading. - Capabilities to operate reliably in areas where radio frequency transmissions are hindered by proximity to metal structures or other objects which disrupt signal propagation or limit transmission range. B. Data Resolution. Capacity of your tracking devices and processes to capture and transmit detailed information (e.g., down to Level 4 and Level 6, the “eaches” level) when requested by the user. C. System efficiency and endurance. Ability of your tracking devices, protocols and systems to operate smartly to preserve battery life and extend performance between maintenance, while providing adequate frequency of status updates when in motion. D. Adaptability of signalling. Ability of your tracking devices to generate data-rich signals in modern formats and protocols like mesh networking, Bluetooth Low Energy, satellite communications, cellular systems, etc.; and capabilities for encryption or low probability of signal intercept. E. Scope of tracking capability. Ability of your tracking devices and processes to capture location, temperature, shock, container door opening, or other cargo/container status measures. F. Data formatting and adaptability to legacy Government tracking systems. Capability to generate data in formats required by Government legacy ITV systems while being adaptable to new formats and information exchange methods (e.g., application program interfaces, etc.). G. Training for users and maintainers. Training requirements and methods for DOD use of your tracking systems: availability of training in manuals or computer-based/on-line training. H. Incentivizing tracker use and maintenance. Your experience in enforcing application and use of tagging technologies, and methods of incentivizing users to properly install and maintain them. I. Hardware installation and use. - Methods of affixing tags to shipments (ISO containers, 463L pallets, other items) which will withstand typical wear and tear during global use, preserving tags in operational status throughout the supply chain. - Supporting infrastructures, if any, which must be installed to use your system J. Predictive analysis. Capabilities to generate order fulfillment/force closure predictions from cargo tracking using your tags, tracking systems, analytic processes and user dashboards. K. Data validation. How your tracking system devices and processes validate data, protecting it from gaps and inaccuracies. This information should include methods of assuring that tagging systems are properly associated with the cargo to be tracked (e.g, not installed on a container used on a prior shipment or improperly identified with the wrong container). L. Affordability. The costs of your devices and processes in use over their lifecycle as a measure of determining economic feasibility. M. Use strategies. Comparison of system/tag ownership costs vs. contracted services. N. Success stories. Examples where your tracking devices, processes and systems have been especially successful for industry or Government use in global supply chains. O. Other topics as determined by discussion. Collaborative work under CRADAs may be paper studies, or field trials/tests or demonstrations as necessary to develop the concepts to demonstrate value to USTRANSCOM. USTRANSCOM may provide (as determined by discussions): Government information system data intake/integration requirements Access to Government subject matter experts Performance, cost and security goals Access to Government facilities for live demonstration and development Small businesses are encouraged to respond to this announcement. Potential Collaborators may team with other qualified non-Federal parties. Specific study outputs, use of field trials and tests, and any development and demonstration goals will be determined during discussions with Collaborators prior to CRADA signatures, and refined as necessary during the life of the CRADAs. Multiple federal agencies may participate on behalf of or in partnership with USTRANSCOM, including but not limited to agencies of Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC, U.S. Army), Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), other Federal Laboratories, and other agencies of the U.S. Government, as USTRANSCOM deems appropriate. Supporting information, discussions, demonstrations, and other collaborative activities should remain at the UNCLASSIFIED level. If classified information exchange is proposed by the Collaborator, Collaborator personnel must be appropriately cleared at the outset of the CRADA, and the company must have an approved Facility Clearance, at no cost to the Government. CRADAs are defined in 15 USC 3710a(d), in part, as “any agreement between one or more federal laboratories and one or more non-federal parties under which the Government, through its laboratories, provides personnel, services, facilities, equipment, intellectual property or other resources with or without reimbursement (but not funds to non-Federal parties) and the non-Federal parties provide funds, personnel, services, facilities, equipment, intellectual property, or other resources toward the conduct of specified research or development efforts which are consistent with the missions of the laboratory; except that such term does not include a procurement contract…” More info on USTRANSCOM’s use of CRADAs is found at http://www.ustranscom.mil/dbw/orta.cfm . CRADAs resulting from this announcement are forecast to be in effect for approximately a 1-year period, although duration can be tailored to suit the parties’ needs before or even after work begins, by mutual agreement. CRADAs may be initiated on a phased schedule to accommodate Government workload capacity. USTRANSCOM and other designated Government agencies selected by USTRANSCOM will evaluate potential Collaborators’ white papers (submittal instructions follow). Based on response to the RFI’s requested response elements and Government interest and capacity to enter into such agreements, USTRANSCOM will choose one, multiple, or zero white papers as basis for additional discussion, and so notify the respondents. Initial selection of white papers and subsequent discussions do not guarantee selection of any Collaborator by USTRANSCOM to actually enter into a CRADA. After initial white paper selection, the Government will conduct discussions separately with each selected Collaborator, seeking to reach mutual agreement on objectives, duration, intellectual property, and resources to be applied by the parties in the proposed CRADA-based experiments. The Government may choose to visit pertinent facilities for a tour of Collaborator capabilities prior to final selections. No funding is available from the Government to cover white paper preparation or submittal costs, or to cover discussions, facility visits or any other Collaborator costs of preparation for or participation in a CRADA. The USTRANSCOM model CRADA is available at the USTRANSCOM Technology Transfer webpage http://www.ustranscom.mil/dbw/orta.cfm under “Links” so potential Collaborators may understand its terms in advance. The Collaborator (s) and USTRANSCOM will draft and seek to finalize specific CRADA objectives and language collaboratively via discussions/mutual agreement after Government white paper selection. Please use the following format: - Microsoft Word or .pdf format of not more than 10 pages in length, on standard 8½ by 11-inch page, with 1-inch margins at top, bottom, left and right, in Times New Roman font of not less than 12-point size, with not more than 6 lines per inch. - Pages numbered sequentially in the bottom footer including company name and identification of proprietary information as appropriate on each page. - Clearly marked/identified proprietary information, photos, or diagrams. Proprietary information or trade secrets do not have to be disclosed in this response, if the general technique can be otherwise described. - Include the following elements (within the 10-page limit): -- Title (no separate title page needed). -- Company name and U.S. state of incorporation, and incorporation of any parent entity. Companies with foreign ownership or parentage must identify the nation of incorporation of the non-U.S. entity. -- Brief description of approach to collaboration on your selection of topics A. through O. above; additional topics recommended for collaborative study; brief description of what information or resources your company is willing to provide to USTRANSCOM for each topic. -- Resources to be supplied by the Collaborator during the CRADA (examples: equipment and prototypes; access to facilities, personnel expertise, information systems, proprietary techniques, hardware, software, materials, etc.). -- Resources requested from USTRANSCOM (examples: personnel skillsets, data, access to selected environments, access to facilities including test/demo facilities, etc.; no DoD-provided funding is permitted). -- Identify all proprietary information with appropriate markings or citations. -- Include points of contact (name, point of contact, address, e-mail, and phone) for notification of selection/non-selection and follow-on discussions/visits (if chosen). USTRANSCOM and other Government entities participating in white paper review and actual collaborative work under CRADAs may include in-house support contractors. Non-disclosure agreements will be signed as required by the Parties to incorporate these participants. The USTRANSCOM Office of Research and Technology Applications (ORTA) technical advisor (coordinator of USTRANSCOM Technology Transfer activities including CRADAs and mediator of this Industry Day) is a member of LMI Consulting. White papers not selected for further discussion will be archived by the Government and appropriately protected. Primary Point of Contact: Mr. Mark Surina, LMI Consulting, USTRANSCOM Office of Research and Technology Applications, USTRANSCOM TCJ5-SC (ORTA), 508 Scott Drive, Scott AFB IL 62225-5357, e-mail:
[email protected] .