Rapid Capabilities Assessment (RCA 12) Event

RAPID CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT 12 (RCA 12)

CONCEPTS FOR JOINT AND PARTNER COMMUNICATIONS IN A CONTESTED AND AUSTERE ENVIRONMENT 2035

CONCEPT OVERVIEW

United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) S&T Futures, in cooperation with Norway’s Defense Research Establishment (FFI), seeks to investigate concepts for novel SOF-peculiar Joint and Partner Force Communications in the Force Development window.  In support of those efforts, this Rapid Capability Assessment (RCA) will be conducted 27-31 MAR 2023 in Alexandria, VA. and will require full-time participation (~0830-1630 EST each day). 

An earlier event, Innovation Foundry 12 (IF12), “Joint and Partner Force Communication is an Austere and Contested Environment”, sought to develop concepts to support futuristic scenarios requiring Joint and Partner Force communications across a range of austere environments, a range of phases of military operations and with various levels of Joint and Partner teamwork. The goal was to ideate potential concepts to solve mission scenarios in a future (2035) great power competition scenario. 

RCA12 supports and provides information in the next step in the USSOCOM S&T Futures process. During this event, selected concepts will be developed further into capabilities. A group of experts from industry, academia, and defense will develop potential capability solutions that include market research of possible technology partners, a subsystem-level architectural breakdown, and a technology development roadmap. The teams will also generate initial Work Breakdown Structures and potential contract language that may support follow-on capability definition. 

EVENT OBJECTIVES 

• Develop an industry/academia recommended framework for Joint and Partner Force Communications in Austere and Contested Environments of the Future that establishes communications dominance across Joint and Partner Forces and enables SOF-peculiar concepts and capabilities. 
• Design a Technology Insertion Roadmap to assist USSOCOM in synchronizing efforts between TIRs, spend plans, and other acquisition and investment strategies. 
• Provide reports and recommendations that identify and prioritize near term investments for development and courses of action for potential implementation. 

AREAS OF FOCUS 

There are four major areas of focus for RCA12: 

• Joint Interoperability Standards for Partner Force Operations, Command and Control, Computing and Communications. 
• Low-Probability Intercept Communications 
• Backup Communications  
• Edge Comms and Computing Gamechangers 
• Contested Partner Force Logistics 

PARTICIPANT TASKS 

RCA12 participants will be tasked with developing detailed capability assessments of the above areas of focus, including but not limited to: 

• Market research of potential technology partners (foreign and domestic) 
• A subsystem-level architectural breakdown 
• A technology development roadmap 
• Initial Work Breakdown Structures, and 
• Potential contract language to define the capabilities 

RCA12 groups may be asked to counter adversary actions using innovative technologies and processes that are appropriate for the 2035 timeframe and that are specific to their areas of focus. 

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION 

We need experts to shape the framework that will potentially define Joint and Partner Force Communications of the Future. 

If you have skills and interest in any of the areas of focus from any perspective, whether as a technology developer, strategist, end-user, or operator, and would be willing to help USSOCOM develop a framework for next-generation Joint and Partner Force Communications, we invite you to apply using the form below. 

https://libertyalliance.com/events-rca12.html

All applications must be received by 1800, 03 MARCH 2023. 

Participants may be selected to provide a diverse, challenging dynamic at RCA12 with numerous different perspectives. Those selected to participate will receive an invitation to the RCA12 event on or about 07 MAR 2023. 

Selected attendees may be compensated upon event completion. Required elements for completion are full participation in project-based capability development tasks. Government employees and Government support contractors may be present but are not eligible to receive compensation for any participation. 

Reports and recommendations may be incorporated into requirements of follow-on development and prototype OTAs from this selection.