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CAMP - Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform
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Project Description
CAMP – Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform
This project is dedicated to the late Richard “Mike” Camp, former acting Director of Warfighting Assessments and Readiness (N9 WAR), U.S. Pacific Fleet. A highly accomplished former career submarine officer, Mike was an expert in his field and a tireless proponent for the adoption of large uncrewed undersea vehicles (UUVs) into the Fleet. Mike is remembered as a master of naval warfare planning, a beloved teammate, and a prolific Notre Dame fan. He will be forever missed.
Problem Statement
To maximize operational effectiveness in contested environments, the United States military requires enhanced capabilities for deploying large payloads across extended ranges. Current UUV capabilities present limitations in range and payload capacity, hindering the effective deployment of critical resources in certain operational scenarios.
The DoD seeks commercially available, demonstration-ready uncrewed systems that address these limitations, offering a scalable and cost-effective solution for long-range, high-capacity payload deployment.
Desired mission sets include, but are not limited to:
● Emplacement of various sized payloads
● Bathymetric surveys and mapping
● Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
● Communications across the air/water interface (acoustic and Radio Frequency)
● Ability to operate in a GPS denied environment
Desired Solution Attributes
A candidate platform should have some or all of the following characteristics:
● Exceptional range, capable of transits greater than 1000nm.
● Capable of performing deeper than 200m underwater.
● Modular payload capacity with ability to drop various payloads to the seafloor. Payload sizes include but are not limited to:
○ 5ft long, 19 inches in diameter
○ 21ft in length and 21 inches in diameter
● Autonomous operation including navigation, guidance, and obstacle/collision avoidance (including during emergence and at surface), as well as remote operation.
● Capability for RF communications, and capability or demonstrate a pathway for undersea communications.
● Modularity, including the ability to switch from different payloads and mission sets.
● Hardware and software architecture with open interfaces, with a demonstrable pathway to integrate with various third party payloads;
● Demonstrable pathway to integrate with third party control systems, including but not limited to government furnished common control system (CCS).
● Demonstrable pathway for UMAA compliance.
● Demonstrable pathway to prevent, mitigate, and recover from the effects of tampering or cyber events to achieve an Authorization To Operate in alignment with applicable Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) recommendations for minimum standards for unmanned national security systems (NSS).
● Be transportable, deployable, and recoverable with commonly available commercial freight and transportation equipment, or demonstrate a development pathway to achieve this.
● Minimize surface expression and duration.
● Include modeling and simulation to inform specific vehicle behaviors and mission operations, or ability to integrate with 3rd party modeling and simulation solutions.
The government may provide various payloads as government furnished equipment (GFE). The government may also provide a suite of GFE and government furnished information (GFI) which vendors are not required to use, but can leverage for their solutions.
The government understands that companies will likely not be able to meet all of the specifications in this solicitation, but encourage companies with demonstrable capability applicable to one or more of these specifications to apply.
If selected to Phase 2 of the CSO, the Government intends to observe vendors’ solutions demonstrated in-water live and in-person. Government representatives may travel to Phase 2 vendor locations at vendor discretion. Phase 2 is expected to begin approximately 4 weeks after the closing date of this Area of Interest solicitation. Specific dates and instructions will be provided to vendors selected for Phase 2 of the CSO.
Teaming/Partnerships
Vendors may submit partial solutions, however the Government strongly encourages teaming for responses to this Area of Interest if vendors are unable to propose complete solutions. As part of the selection process, the Government may seek to team companies with complementary solutions. Traditional defense contractors are reminded that under 10 U.S.C. § 4022, that if you do not qualify as a non-traditional company that the government will seek either a one-third cost share in the prototyping effort or that the proposal must demonstrate that significant work is being performed with a non-traditional partner.
Awarding Instrument
This solicitation will be awarded in accordance with the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process detailed within HQ0845-20-S-C001 (DIU CSO), posted to SAM.gov on 13 Jan 2020, updated 02 Oct 2023. This document can be found at: https://sam.gov/opp/e74c907a9220429d9ea995a4e9a2ede6/view
Awarding Process
DIU
FAQs
Question 1: We assume that the government would provide any payload required - but that the vehicle's design will have to account for and provide payload delivery mechanisms for the two payloads mentioned in the solicitation. Is that correct?
Answer 1: Yes, companies may propose novel systems for payload delivery. Or the solution has the modularity allowing the government or 3rd party to provide a payload delivery mechanism. We do not expect vendors to know what the government provided payloads are, or design solutions for them in their Phase 1 submissions. If selected, the government will provide vendors specs/ICDs needed for any future designs/development.
Question 2: Transits "greater than 1000nm", is that total transit distance (ie 500nm there, 500nm return). Please confirm.
Answer 2: Correct. Total transit distance >1000nm.
Question 3: Is there a desired max operating depth? That can have significant design, build and cost implications.
Answer 3: No. We desire the solution to operate deep enough to avoid detection/interdiction. 200m is the minimum. There is no max desired operating depth.
Question 4: Can we apply to just the Multi-Mission/Modular payload aspect of this solicitation?
Answer 4: Yes. We will review every submission sent.
Question 5: What is the expected duration/timeline for Phases 2 and 3?
Answer 5: Phase 2 (6 weeks), estimated on or about the end of May, all of June. Vendors invited to Phase 2 will be expected to demo & pitch the government over the course of one day at some point during this period.
Phase 3 is approximately 6-8 weeks or sooner depending on award negotiations.
Question 6: What are the expected wet weights of the payloads listed in the attributes?
Answer 6: Smaller payload is 400lbs to 500lbs weight in water.
Larger payload is 700lbs to 900lbs weight in water.
More detailed payload information may be made available to vendors at later stages.
Question 7: Do the payloads need to be contained in a dry stow pressurized vessel?
Answer 7: No.
Question 8: Does the vehicle need to hover, or move at any threshold speed for payload deployment?
Answer 8: No.
Question 9: Are there any other maneuverability requirements associated with payload deployment including, but not limited to speed, stability, or degrees of freedom.
Answer 9: No.
Question 10: Does the vehicle need an advanced perception system that would accommodate requirements such as object recognition.
Answer 10: No.
Question 11: Can we submit a solution brief with Controlled Classified Information (CUI)?
Answer 11: All solution briefs shall be unclassified. See the link for "View CSO Procedure" at the top right of this page: CSO Section 3.1, page 4. Submissions marked CUI with appropriate markings and dissemination controls may be accepted for evaluation.
Question 12: Is DIU able to receive information/data marked "Official: Sensitive Content"?
Answer 12: All solution briefs shall be unclassified. See the link for "View CSO Procedure" at the top right of this page: CSO Section 3.1, page 4. If the information submitted to DIU included content designated as "Official: Sensitive Content", it is the data owner's responsibility to identify such content, determine the appropriate level of safeguarding required, and ensure full compliance with all applicable law, regulations, and protection requirements.
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Potential Follow-On Production Contract for Prototype Other Transaction Agreements
Companies are advised that any Prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreement awarded in response to this solicitation may result in the direct award of a follow-on production contract or agreement without the use of further competitive procedures. Follow-on production activities will result from successful prototype completion.
The follow-on production contract or agreement will be available for use by one or more organizations within the Department of Defense. As a result, the magnitude of the follow-on production contract or agreement could be significantly larger than that of the Prototype OT agreement. All Prototype OT agreements will include the following statement relative to the potential for follow-on production: “In accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4022(f), and upon a determination that the prototype project for this transaction has successfully been completed, this competitively awarded Prototype OT agreement may result in the award of a follow-on production contract or transaction without the use of competitive procedures.”
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Submission Form
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We Work With You
If we think there’s a good match between your solution and our DoD partners, we’ll invite you to provide us with a full proposal — this is the beginning of negotiating all the terms and conditions of a proposed prototype contract.
After a successful prototype, the relationship can continue and even grow, as your company and any interested DoD entity can easily enter into follow-on contracts.
Our Process
We solicit commercial solutions that address current needs of our DoD partners.
You send us a short brief about your solution.
We’ll get back to you within 30 days if we’re interested in learning more through a pitch. If we're not interested, we'll strive to let you know ASAP.