1. This is an announcement of intent for a proposed demonstration of Robotic, Artificial Intelligence, and Autonomy technologies at Fort Benning Georgia, in September, 2020. Participation in this effort is strictly voluntary with no obligation incurred by the United States Government (USG). The USG will in no way be bound to this information if any solicitation is issued. However, this presents an important opportunity for Industry to participate in US Army small tactical unit Robotics and Artificial Intelligence efforts which will culminate in a demonstration of integrated technologies to US Army Senior Leaders in September 2020. Participation is strictly voluntary and the U.S. Government will not reimburse contractors directly for any cost incurred for its participation in this event. The US Government does intend to fund selected contractors, through the Defense Mobility Enterprise (DME), to mature technologies for integration into the demonstration. There is no requirement for any information to be submitted directly to the Government based on this FBO announcement. 2. Purpose -Robotics Requirements, Maneuver Capabilities Development Integration Directorate, Futures and Concepts Center, U.S. Army Futures Command, in concert with the Maneuver Center of Excellence, herein after referred to as the United States Government (USG), is alerting industry to two opportunities: a. Propose, mature, and prototype robotic technologies that will show a path towards an Army capability that will provide a robotically equipped dismounted Infantry Platoon that is 10 times more effective than the current dismounted Infantry Platoon. Infantry Platoons will integrate - through Manned-UnManned Teaming (MUMT) - robotic ground, air, water, and virtual systems that increase the Infantry Platoon's lethality, mobility, protection, situational awareness, endurance, persistence, and depth. b. Propose, mature, and prototype Artificial Intelligence tools that show a path to enabling Platoon leaders and Soldiers to observe, orient, decide, and act 10 times faster than their current capability. Artificial Intelligence tools will take disparate streams of information from organic robotic and Soldier worn sensors with higher echelon mission command, intelligence, and sensors; weave them into a coherent picture using Artificial Intelligence; and then provide that picture in an intuitive way. This notice does not constitute an Invitation to Bid or Request for Proposal, is not to be construed as a solicitation, and no award shall be made on the basis of this notice. There is no formal solicitation available at this time, nor will a solicitation be issued against this notice. This is not a request for information and does not obligate the Government to issue a solicitation. 3. Background USG intends to communicate to industry through the Defense Mobility Enterprise (DME), whose industry and academia arm is the National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC). NAMC will request technical information and resource requirements from industry. These submissions will be reviewed by the USG and a technology integrator, Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), and the information requested will inform an internal Table Top Exercise (TTX), at Fort Benning, in July 2019, to assess the benefit versus cost of the candidate technologies. Following a down select of technologies assessed in the TTX, the Maneuver Battle Lab will hold a Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) in October 2019. The results of the SIMEX will be used to determine whether Robotic and AI technologies are mature enough for a demonstration. If they are, the USG will, through DME/NAMC, fund industry to mature technologies into prototypes for integration into the demonstration in September 2020. Interim demonstrations may be conducted at the discretion of the USG and GTRI. 4. Proprietary Information There is no requirement to submit any information to the USG based on this announcement. However, if comments or concerns are voluntarily submitted, the USG acknowledges its obligations under the Federal Acquisition Regulation 3.104-4 to protect proprietary information provided to the Government (18 U.S.C. §1905). Pursuant to this statute, the USG is willing to accept any trade secrets or proprietary restrictions placed upon qualifying data voluntarily submitted and to protect such information from unauthorized disclosure, subject to the following: • Qualifying data must be clearly marked PROPRIETARY and be accompanied by an explanatory text so that the Government is clearly notified as to exactly what data so qualifies. • Mark only data that is truly proprietary. • Proprietary data transmitted electronically must have the PROPRIETARY legend on both the cover of the transmittal e-mail as well as at the beginning of the file. Proprietary information contained within the correspondence shall use the legends: "PROPRIETARY PORTION BEGINS" and "PROPRIETARY PORTION ENDS." Disclaimer. The USG is not obligated to protect unmarked data. Nor is the Government obligated to protect data in possession of third parties or data which is afterwards placed in the public domain by the contractor or by third parties through no fault of the USG Support Contractors: The Government sometimes uses support contractors in reviewing responses. Consequently, voluntary responses that contain proprietary information may receive only limited or no consideration since the Respondent's marking of data as "PROPRIETARY" will preclude disclosure of same outside the Government and therefore will preclude disclosure to these support contractors assisting the evaluation effort. The USG will use its best efforts to review those voluntary responses that contain proprietary information without using support contractors consistent with the resources available. 5. Submission Schedule There is not a formal submission schedule. There is not a requirement for a formal submission of information to the USG. If a company desires to provide informal submissions, comments, or concerns in reference to this announcement please contact: Johnny baker Email Address:
[email protected] Or Andrew Vincent Email Address:
[email protected] 6. Instructions for Responding to this Announcement There is not any requirement for a formal submission of information to the USG. A. Classified Response: N/A B. UNCLASS Response: If a company is allowed to submit informal comments or concerns, please send to Johnny Baker (
[email protected]), and Andrew Vincent (
[email protected]). 7. Questions N/A