Rapid Innovation at Sea: Achieving Maritime EMS Simulation Excellence in 24-36 Months

Application Portal: Challenge.Gov

Prize: $50,000 in prizes

Application Date: November 8, 2024

The Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic NavalX Palmetto Tech Bridge (PTB) in collaboration with the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division are seeking submissions for the following topic: Maritime EMS Constructive Simulator (MECS).

This prize challenge is under 10 USC § 4025 and is considered an independent effort. However, the results of this prize challenge may result in an additional follow-on acquisition opportunity.

The Navy seeks to define a technical approach that would achieve a Maritime EMS Constructive Simulator (MECS) prototype minimum viable product (MVP) within 24-36 months of design/prototype start. The DoD currently lacks suitable constrictive simulation capabilities necessary to train and experiment across the #electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) at smaller regional exercises and experimentation events.

Live, Virtual, Constructive (LVC) provides an opportunity to access and enhance training and experimentation at these events through the addition of constructive elements that can help more accurately represent a real world, multi-domain operation (MDO) scenario through a combination of live and constructively generated effects. Integration of LVC capabilities with regional ranges will improve service and joint readiness by increasing access to relevant training environments with the ability to emulate conditions and generate effects of a live system while being accessible to the trainee closer, or at, home station.

The focus of this prize challenge is the surface maritime domain. The desired solution will simulate maritime emitters (military and commercial) by generating EMS signatures in a constructive format to be incorporated into LVC events. The constructive emitters shall use a standard interface (e.g., DIS, TENA, HLA). The ability to use the constructive emitters in constructive only training scenarios and simulation environments is also of value.

The Navy seeks to leverage existing joint and/or service range networks, systems, infrastructure, interfaces, and simulation tools (e.g., NGTS, AFSIM, ITASE) to the maximum extent possible. The proposal shall identify and provide rationale for proposed standards and use of existing range networks/systems and will include a listing and description of any known gaps where current networks/systems or standards would not support follow-on technology integration. For the purpose of this challenge, it is envisioned that the MECS prototype will be compromised of systems and data and operate at the SECRET network level only. While not a required consideration of this challenge, the proposed architecture and approach shall not preclude future Multi-level security (MLS) and/or cross domain solution (CDS) integration.

Evaluation Criteria:

1. The proposal demonstrates an understanding of the operational requirements and training gaps.
2. The proposal demonstrates understanding of existing commercial and/or military emitters utilizing open-source knowledge. It is of additional value if the proposal demonstrates expertise integrating constructive commercial and/or military emitters in LVC environments.
3. The proposal utilizes an open systems architecture approach. It is of additional value if the proposal demonstrates how this architecture will interface with current LVC standards used across the DoN.
4. The proposal demonstrates novel and innovative techniques to display/visualize electromagnetic spectrum data to operators in experimentation and/or training LVC environments.
5. The proposal includes an executable plan to build a prototype within 24-36 months. Technical and programmatic risks are identified as part of the plan.

The Government Technical Team will be participating in a Technical Collaboration Event (TCE) during the Information Warfare Research Project (IWRP) Industry Day on 22 October 2024. The TCE will be an opportunity for solvers to talk with the Government Technical Team regarding the Challenge. Solvers interested in participating in the TCE should refrain from submitting their solutions until after the TCE. To register to attend the IWRP Industry Day, please visit: Home - IWRP Consortium Quarterly Industry Day (cvent.com). For more information on IWRP please visit: IWRP | Information Warfare Research Project Consortium – Developing Advanced Information Warfare Technologies (theiwrp.org).