DOD Issues First Requests for Prototype Proposal Through the National Spectrum Consortium’s Spectrum Forward OTA

WASHINGTON,, April 15, 2021 / PRNewswire / – The US Department of Defense (DOD) has made two requests for a prototype proposal (RPP) in support of electromagnetic spectrum research related to the capabilities of 400+ members of the National Spectrum Consortium.

The Risk Aware Spectrum Access (RISA) RPP calls on the industry to develop and demonstrate a set of prototype planning, management and operational tools for spectrum access. These tools will provide an opportunity to identify, assess and mitigate systemic risk for a mission related to the current or projected availability of spectrum to assist both in planning and during operations. The tools will have the potential to be used in legacy systems, as well as infrastructure-based (eg DoD tests and training) and non-infrastructure (eg Tactical Edge) spectrum access systems.

As a complementary part of the automated spectrum ecosystem, Multiband Control Channel Architecture (MICCA) effort will allow dynamic access to spectrum for high-strength exercises and other spectrum-intensive scenarios. MICCA will use Machine-to-Machine (M2M) protocols and interfaces to enable command, control and communication in near real time. The ultimate goal of MICCA is to enable flexible access to spectrum and flexibility of spectrum operations by developing a standardized method for disseminating spectrum parameters, data products and related control messages. This will allow “closed – loop spectrum operations in near real time.

These RPPs are the first issued within the National Spectral Consortium‘s 5 years old, $ 2.5 billion ceiling Another transaction agreement that was signed in December 2020. Additional RPPs are expected to be issued through the NSC in the coming days and weeks.

“In the last few weeks, the Department of Defense has launched the first RPPs for spectrum access through Spectrum Forward OTA, ” said the executive director of the National Spectral Consortium Maren Leed. “The new OTA builds on NSC’s past success in technologies that improve military-trade sharing and expands the application of these technologies to a wider range of military operations. This new vector for NSC takes full advantage of the rich experience of our members and shows the power gained from technical development with truly dual use. We are excited to expand our efforts in this way and continue to demonstrate the NSC’s ability to develop innovative modern technologies that support our national and economic security interests. ”

“Spectrum access is the lifeblood of modern communications and is especially important in the face of global technological competition, ” said Strategic Director of the National Spectral Consortium, Vice Admiral Joseph Dyer, USN (ret). “We therefore strongly encourage our members to collaborate and respond to these important RPPs to support innovation and ensure that it our nation‘The armed forces can remain flexible and use the spectrum in an efficient, effective way. “

Request for proposals for prototypes
In particular, DOD issued two RPPs to support the following government requirements:

NSC-21-RPP-02 – Risk Aware Spectrum Access (RISA)
NSC-21-RPP-03 – Multiband Control Channel Architecture (MICCA)

These RPPs are part of projects in the portfolio of the Spectrum Research and Development Program (SAR & DP) that are sought in Tranche 2. This includes 1) Informed Risk Spectrum Access (RISA); 2) Operational Spectrum Understanding, Analysis and Response (OSCAR); 3) Multi-band instrument control channel architecture (MICCA); and 4) Cooperative Test Spectrum Access (CSAT).

Contractors for these projects are expected to work with other project teams in the SAR & DP Tranche 2 portfolio to align schedules and harmonize the development of interfaces and protocols with additional systems between projects. Details of the projects can be found at beta.sam.gov.

NSC members in good standing may submit proposals in response to the RPP. Proposals related to the RISA RPP were submitted on May 6, 2021 11:59 AM ET. Suggestions related to MICCA RPP are offered May 20, 2021 in 11:59 AM ET.

Spectrum forward OTA
Last December, DOD awarded the Spectral Other Transactions (OTA) agreement to the National Spectrum Consortium (NSC) to accelerate the development, deployment and deployment of next-generation technologies to provide our military fighters with a decisive battlefield advantage. OTA has a term of five years and a ceiling value of $ 2.5 billion. The goal of Spectrum Forward OTA is to facilitate the partnership between US technology and the industrial base and the US government to develop dual-use technologies in a range of advanced technologies that rely on electromagnetic spectrum from machine learning to autonomous navigation to next generation radio networks. access.

In addition, last year DOD released four 5G RPPs via NSC, focusing on smart warehouses, AR / VR training and dynamic spectrum sharing. DOD announced in October that these projects were awarded as part of $ 600 million from Tranche One funding.

NSC membership has extensive experience in the following areas related to the electromagnetic spectrum: Ubiquitous connectivity; Cognitive spectrum access and sharing; Cyber ​​protection; Cooperative space optics systems without radio frequencies; Autonomous systems (land / air / sea); Internet of Things (narrow range / critical / massive); Electronic warfare; Intelligence, Surveillance and Intelligence (ISR); Software defined radio stations / networks / architecture; Radar systems; Digital signal processing; Microelectronics; Software reconfiguration; Nanotechnology; Machine learning / Artificial intelligence; Autonomy / robotics; Biotechnology; Big data analysis; Edge and Cloud Computing; Augmented / virtual / mixed reality; Location detection; 3D printing / Production of additives; and 5th generation (5G) information and communication technologies, products and services, including the use of zero trust.

For the National Spectrum Consortium
The NSC is made up of more than 400 U.S. companies and academic institutions, and their technologists, engineers, scientists, manufacturers and program managers work with their counterparts in government to address the nation’s most difficult spectrum issues. technologies, including 5G and 5G-based technologies, providing DoD and other customers with spectrum superiority. The NSC’s mission is to promote collaboration between government, industry, and academia to identify, develop, and demonstrate the enabling technologies needed to expand military and commercial access to and use of the 5G electromagnetic spectrum and beyond. For more information visit www.nationalspectrumconsortium.org.

Contact: Scott Gerber, [email protected], 408-202-4255

SOURCE National Spectrum Consortium