Electromagnetic (EM) Masking and Project

Electromagnetic (EM) Masking and Projection

1. Overview

The U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory ("MCWL") in Quantico, VA, has contracted InSitech, Inc., to help the Lab discover a broader spectrum of innovative and non-traditional technology providers than its current mechanisms and resources typically provide. InSitech is under contract with MCWL to perform this outreach, review the responses, rate the responses, and brief them on the responses.

Response to this technology Topic is at the discretion of the Respondent. There is no guarantee of selection or funding, and neither this Topic nor its responses obligate the U.S. Government or InSitech in any way.

About this Opportunity

This outreach effort is for market research; the objective is to determine whether promising technologies and technology development partners exist
Responses to this outreach may be evaluated by InSitech and the U.S. Government
Based on the U.S. Government's evaluation (and through possible follow-on discussions with selected respondents), the U.S. Government may decide to fund programs around promising technology areas (if any) via a U.S. Government issued solicitation
Respondents to this outreach may be specifically invited by the U.S. Government to respond to U.S. Government issued solicitations on these topics with proposals
Respondents to this outreach may also be specifically presented with other opportunities to partner with the U.S. Government through mechanisms such as Collaborative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA's)
U.S. and non-U.S. companies and academic institutions are invited to respond to this RFI

2. Statement of Need

The rapid advancement of commercial off the shelf technologies has provided U.S. adversaries affordable and effective intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities that can be used to detect and observe personnel and vehicles in nearly all weather and light conditions. In order to maximize stealth and surprise, it is necessary for the Marine Corps to identify ways to counter these technologies so it can retain its advantage on the battlefield.

Thus the Marine Corps is seeking solutions that will enable Marines to mask their electromagnetic (EM) signatures/emanations from enemy detection on the battlefield, as well as to project false EM signatures/emanations at desired locations in order to deceive enemy detection technology. Such EM masking and projection technologies that function in the visible range of the EM spectrum are of greatest interest, with those that operate in the full infrared range of the EM spectrum being of secondary priority.

The desired EM masking and projection technologies should also meet the following requirements:

Able to mask (camouflage) and/or replicate the EM signatures associated with the physical presence of personnel, vehicles, or equipment; A simple example might be erection of a camouflage netting at some distance away with simulated tank infrared signature/mass underneath, deployable by unmanned systems or troops
Able to function at the individual personnel and single vehicle level, and be scalable for same to large numbers of personnel and vehicles
Able to be transported or deployed by personnel, ground vehicles or Class I or Class II unmanned aerial systems (UAS)
For technologies/systems requiring power, be able to operate for no less than 24 hours before needing recharge

Some illustrative examples of the desired EM masking and projection technologies include: new types of nets or blankets that can be thrown over vehicles or personnel to cloak them from visible and IR detection; new materials that can be incorporated into existing Marine Corps netting and blankets to afford the same cloaking capability; EM beams that can project the false presence of personnel, equipment or vehicles (such as tanks) at a desired location; and, decoy devices that can be deployed from V-22 aircraft, Class I or Class II UAS to project similar false presences. These examples should in no way be considered restrictive or exhaustive. Highly creative and innovative proposed solutions are encouraged.

3. Instructions for Respondents

In order to have your company's technology considered under this process, you will need to submit a white paper that includes information about your company, its capabilities, and the proposed solution to the stated technology need. The white paper requirements are provided below. WHITE PAPERS ARE DUE BY 12:00 MIDNIGHT ON JANUARY 5, 2016. Incomplete white papers and white papers received after that time may not be accepted. InSitech, Inc., and the Government will NOT accept or respond to questions from respondents under this RFI process. Should the Government decide to issue a U.S. Government issued solicitation on this topic in the future, standard Government Q&A practices will be employed at that time. Please e-mail your white paper to MCWLOpportunities@insitech.org.

By submitting your white paper you acknowledge that you are not providing privileged information (confidential, trade secrets, unpublished patents, etc.) or sensitive information of any kind whatsoever. Please note that, due to the market survey nature of this outreach, as well as to the role InSitech plays as an intermediary between the US Government and private sector companies, InSitech does not sign nondisclosure or confidentiality agreements in connection with white paper submittals. However, in select cases where a response appears particularly promising and the provision of confidential information would aid further evaluation, InSitech will sign a reasonable non-disclosure agreement if there is mutual interest in doing so.

4. White Paper Requirements

Interested parties should submit white papers not to exceed ten (10) pages, with one inch margins, and no smaller than 12 pt Times New Roman or Courier New font in Microsoft Word or pdf format. The white paper should not exceed 6 MB in size. The white paper should be a stand-alone, self-explanatory document free of Specialist language, or references to third-party works, unless these latter are summarized in the Paper itself. The white paper must include the following elements: (1) Company name, physical address and website address, (2) Name, title, telephone number, and e-mail address of company's main point(s) of contact, (3) A statement of the respondent's understanding of the Government's requirements, (4) A description of the respondent's core capabilities and technology, (5) A description of the proposed technology solution, (6) A feasibility assessment of the solution and how it meets the Government requirements, (7) A high-level discussion of the costs involved (ranges/order of magnitude acceptable at this stage), (8) A high-level risk assessment that articulates the respondent's understanding of associated risks, (9) An estimate of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) of major subsystems, components, and the system as a whole, (10) A description of any projects that the respondents company is or has been involved in that are similar in concept to what is described in this topic. This should include any relevant lessons learned, (11) A summary of any independent testing/evaluation results and fielded applications, and (12) Any additional materials that are deemed appropriate by the respondent. In addition to the 10-page limit, respondents may append to the white paper, at their own discretion, the bios of the key management and technical personnel relevant to the proposed technology solution. Submittals of bios is optional.

5. Evaluation of Responses

Major evaluation factors shall include (1) Overall technical merit of the proposed technology solution, (2) Degree in which the technology solution performance/functionality addresses the Government needs, (3) Estimated maturity level for military application, and (4) Overall business profile of the respondent. InSitech, Inc., may contact respondents to address any omissions and/or clarifications to their respective RFI white papers as part of the evaluation process.