Presence of DIU and NSIN: Blue UAS recovery call

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) will hold an award competition to identify platforms, components and capabilities for the Blue UAS. The call will consider First Person View (FPV), Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 platforms, as well as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) components, capabilities and software.

Contributions of individual components, capabilities and software are welcome. Entries in the above categories governed by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2020 and 2023 and the US Security Drone Act of 2024 are eligible for consideration. You can find more information about the Blue UAS List, the Blue UAS Framework and related policies here.

Companies may submit multiple products in separate entries and are welcome to team with other companies as needed for specific proposals.

A team of subject matter experts will evaluate the applicants and select companies as finalists to participate in the showcase event, which will be held on 4-6 November 2024 at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), 29 Palms, CA.

Benefits of participation:

Once the winners are selected, a verification process will take place to ensure that all items covered by the NDAA of 2020, the NDAA of 2023, the US Security Drone Act of 2024, and all other relevant laws at the time of the event are Within the law. There will also be a cyber security analysis. Successful completion of these inspections will make the submitted material potentially eligible for inclusion on the UAS DIU Blue List or UAS DIU Framework Blue List.

Potential for downstream opportunities such as Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs), Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) and more.

Apply Now (Link to IdeaScale)

Eligibility:

Companies or entities, including foreign companies, that are not domiciled in a covered foreign country or subject to unlimited foreign ownership, control, or influence of a covered foreign country, as determined by the Secretary of Defense in accordance with the National Industrial Security Program (or any successor to such program).

Eligible companies include non-traditional defense contractors as defined in the DoD Other Transactions Guide 2023 and 10 US Code § 3014 – Non-Traditional Defense Contractor, small businesses as defined in the Small Business Act (15 USC 632), and traditional defense contractors.

Ability to demonstrate solution options by November 4, 2024.

Estimated Timeline:

August 5, 2024: Solicitation Release – IdeaScale, challenge.gov, NSIN website, DIU website

August 12, 2024: “Ask Me Anything” Session.

August 19, 2024: Applications close and selection begins

September 15, 2024: End of descending selection and announcement of finalists

4-6 November 2024: Showcase event at MCAGCC 29 Palms, CA

November 15, 2024: Winners announced

Problem Statement:

DoD end users face significant shortages in the availability of UAS platforms, components, and capabilities required for training and combat readiness. There is an urgent need to ensure the delivery of relevant and effective platforms, capabilities and components that align with the operational needs of the DoD. Recognizing that there are no permanent solutions in this space, we strive to provide core hardware capabilities that combine with software agility to deliver solutions at the speed required on the modern contested battlefield.

Since the inception of the IUD Blue UASthe rate of change in UAS capabilities has only accelerated in conjunction with the growing needs of DoD users. In order to better meet the needs of DoD users, the speed of delivery of updates to the Blue UAS must be accelerated. This event is the beginning of that effort.

End user: DoD

Judging criteria:

Apps and playgrounds will be judged based on seven main criteria and additional critical criteria identified by DoD users:

• Technical capabilities listed in the technical capabilities list below
• Team: The viability of the company.
• Commercialization: Viability in non-defense markets.
• Quality of Demonstration: Shows how the technology addresses one or more defined technical capability areas.
• Operational efficiency: The proposed solution is in accordance with the mentioned technical possibilities.
• Cost and Scalability: The cost of the proposed solution is feasible for adoption and scalable according to capabilities.
• End User Feedback: Feedback from operational end users from their performance observations and their hands on capability testing.

List of technical abilities:

Architecture

• Standardization
• Open architecture
• Interoperability
• Payload options and availability
• Ground Control Station (GCS) and software options

Cyber ​​Security and Compliance

• NDAA compliance (information protection/encryption, supply chain, tamper protection, etc.)
• Green UAS or Blue UAS status
• Ability to provide a complete third-party cyber assessment platform

Characteristics of the platform

• Flight performance
• Immunity to Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) / used radio(s).
• Clean up
• Cargo capacity
• Modularity
• Resilience of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or alternative navigation
• Payload (payload and sensors that the platform can host / platforms that can host payloads / the ability of the software to work with multiple platforms)
• Weather resistance (IP rating)
• Setup/Deployment

Trade and market analysis

• DoD specific capability requirements
• Current production rate
• Costs
• Ability to provide at least 3 fully functional examples of your submission for the event and 2 trained operators
• Company viability
• Lifetime sales to date

Operator feedback

• Ease of flight
• Learning curve
• Flight performance
• Ability

For current Blue List members

• Sales data from Blue platforms to DoD customers

For all posts

• Lifetime sale of your submission

The event will be flown both day and night and all entries will be tested, flown and operated to the maximum extent possible by a designated DoD end user team. As with any test event, there is the possibility of damage or destruction. Companies understand that the Department of Defense and participants are not responsible for accidents and will be required to sign a waiver of participation.

To maximize participation in this event, DIU will obtain a blanket policy waiver for all participating entries.

Pitch Deck Submission Requirements:

Teams will submit a presentation package describing their solution that addresses the above features. Pitch decks should meet the following format requirements:

• Size 16:9 (1920 × 1080 pixels)
• Horizontal presentation
• PDF file
• Maximum of 7 images

If companies are selected to participate in the event, they must provide a training package in advance to allow at least three DoD operators to complete the recommended training prior to the event. Companies will provide at least two qualified operators to demonstrate capability and flight characteristics at the event if required.

Basic information:

Information on DIU and the DIU Blue UAS List and Blue UAS Framework can be found here https://www.diu.mil/blue-uas.

An example of a cybersecurity assessment that can be performed on winning entries can be found here: https://dronewolf.darkwolf.io/intro

O Defense Innovation Unit

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) strengthens national security by accelerating DoD adoption of commercial technologies and strengthening our allies and national security innovation bases. DIU works with organizations across the DoD to rapidly prototype and operate dual-use capabilities that solve operational challenges at speed and scale. With offices in Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin, Chicago and Washington, DC, DIU is the department’s gateway to leading technology companies across the country.

O National Security Innovation Network (NSIN)

The National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) is a program office within the US Department of Defense, nested within the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). We are set up to work with a wide range of innovators, including universities, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and start-ups. We create opportunities for collaboration across communities and connect those that traditionally do not work in national security. Together, we help innovate national security and develop technologies that directly support the individuals responsible for protecting our country.

Intellectual Property Considerations:

Applicants retain ownership of existing intellectual property (IP) submitted in this call and agree that their submissions are their original work. Applicants are assumed to have sufficient rights to submit submissions. For any contest entry, you grant NSIN and DIU a limited license to use this IP for testing and evaluation for efforts specifically related to the challenge. NSIN and DIU will negotiate with individual competitors if further use, integration or development is contemplated.

Other Authority for Transactions:

This public notice of the NSIN Challenge is an open call for small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors seeking innovative, commercial technologies designed to create new DoD solutions or potential new capabilities to meet requirements, fill capability gaps, or provide potential technology advancements, commercial technology-driven technologies. or strategic investments, but also concept demonstrations, pilot projects and agile development activities improving commercial technologies, existing government-owned capabilities or concepts for broad defense applications. As such, the Government reserves the right to award a contract or other transaction agreement for any purpose, including prototype or research, under this public notice. The Federal Government is not responsible for any money spent by the applicant prior to award and is not required to make such Other Transactions.

Fulfillment of competition requirements:

This NSIN Challenge Notice is believed to have the potential for additional efforts to be achieved through FAR-based contracting tools, Other Transaction Office (OTA) for Prototype Projects 10 USC 4022 and Research 10 USC 4021, Progress Awards in advanced technologies 10 USC 4025 and/or prize competitions 15 USC 3719. Public notice of open solicitation made on IdeaScale the website is deemed to satisfy reasonable efforts to solicit competition in accordance with 10 USC 4025(b), 15 USC 3719 (e), and 10 USC 4022 (b)(2). Accordingly, FAR-based actions will follow the notification procedures of FAR 5.201(b)