Autonomous Navigation for Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) Assessment Event (AE)

Purpose
SOFWERX, in collaboration with SOF Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (SOF AT&L) Program Executive Office Special Reconnaissance (PEO-SR), will host an Assessment Event (AE) to identify solutions for Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) to navigate to points of interest without relying upon Global Positioning Systems (GPS) or continuous operator control.

Objective
SOF Operators will use currently available sUAS to navigate to a point of interest, with minimal operator interaction. The system should identify a landing zone and autonomously land to maintain observation of the point of interest. The system should then navigate to an alternative location or return to initial launch point for recovery.

Why You Should Participate
USSOCOM seeks to enter into non-FAR or FAR-based agreements with Industry, Academic, and National Lab partners whose solutions are favorably evaluated by USSOCOM PEO-SR Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). As such, the follow-on Assessment Event (AE) is considered competitive and solutions will be evaluated independently of one another primarily for technical merit. This serves dually as notification of the intent to research the feasibility of an agreement under 10 U.S. Code, Section 4022 and/or Section 4022(f), and as notice of pre-solicitation activities IAW FAR 5.204.

Event Timeline
Phase 1 24 August 2022 to 05 October 2022 Submissions to the Assessment Event (AE) Open: Interested respondents who could potentially provide solutions that meet the needs of USSOCOM are encouraged to submit their capability for USSOCOM review. To submit your technology for potential Phase 3 attendance, please review the assessment criteria and follow the submission instructions that will be near the bottom of this webpage on or around 31 August.

Phase 1a 19 September 2022 Q&A Telecon: Interested offerors may participate in a virtual Q&A session to better understand the PM's specific technology objectives. The telecon will take place on 19 September from 2:00 3:00 PM ET. Click Here to RSVP (NLT 18 September)

Phase 2 06 October 2022 to 19 October 2022 Downselect: USSOCOM will downselect those respondents/submissions they feel have the highest potential to satisfy their technology needs. Favorably evaluated submissions will receive an invitation to attend the AE on or around 20 October.

Phase 3 15 November 2022 to 17 November 2022 Assessment Event (AE): During the AE, selected participants will be allotted a one-on-one session with the USSOCOM evaluation panel to pitch, demonstrate, and/or discuss their solutions. The forum will include a Q&A portion and discussions may continue outside of the event. Solution brief presentation guidelines will be outlined in the event invitation and solutions will be assessed according to the criteria in the link provided below on or around 31 August. If the USSOCOM evaluation panel favorably evaluates a solution brief, negotiations for Phase 4 may immediately begin.

This event will be hosted virtually with the option for technology demonstrations to be held at a range within 60 miles of SOFWERX.

Phase 4 Path Forward: Successfully negotiated awards may fall under any combination of these categories:

• Business to business research and development agreement as a sub-award through the SOFWERX Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) (15 U.S. Code Section 3715)
• OTA for research or prototype projects (10 U.S. Code Sections 4021, 4022)
  • An award under 10 U. S. Code, Section 4022 may result in the further award of a follow-on production agreement without additional competition based on successful prototype completion. The Government may make this follow-on production award even if all successful prototype criteria are not fully met during the prototype project.
• Procurement for experimental purposes (10 U.S. Code Section 4023)
• Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (15 U.S. Code Section 3710a)
• Prizes for advanced technology achievements (10 U. S. Code Section 4025) and/or prize competitions (15 U.S. Code 3719)
• FAR-based procurement contract

NOTE: Awardees may need to be compliant with NIST SP 800-171, Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in Non-Federal Systems and Organizations

How You Can Participate
Industry, Academia, National Labs, and Non-Traditional Attendees

1. RSVP to Attend the 19 September Q&A Telecon:https://sofwerx.wufoo.com/forms/xc94yxi0i966bb/ (NLT 18 September)
2. Review Assessment Criteria: https://events.sofwerx.org/wp-content/uploads/SUAS-Autonomous-Navigation_Final.pdf
3. Download the White Paper Template: https://events.sofwerx.org/wp-content/uploads/sUAS-Autonomous-Navigation-White-Paper-Template.docx
4. Complete the Submission Form: https://sofwerx.submittable.com/submit/46ba9880-dbc9-4018-8c7e-b10177ea784d/autonomous-navigation-for-small-unmanned-aerial-systems-suas-assessment-event (NLT 05 October)

Questions?
For event-related questions, please contact Gabby Robles, gabrielle.robles@sofwerx.org