[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 73 (Tuesday, April 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22527-22529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08851]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Army Science Board Request for Information on Technology and Core 
Competencies

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

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ACTION: Request for information regarding support to Army Core 
Competencies.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 
U.S.C., Appendix, as amended), the Sunshine in the Government Act of 
1976 (U.S.C. 552b, as amended) and 41Code of the Federal Regulations 
(CFR 102-3.140 through 160, the Department of the Army requests 
information on science and technology (S&T) research, operational 
concepts, and mission support innovations to support Army core 
competencies. No funds are available for any proposal or information 
submission and submitting information does not bind the Army for any 
future contracts/grants resulting from this request for information.
    The Army Science Board is requesting information from organizations 
external to the Army that will help the board complete its analysis and 
ensure that all viable sources of information are explored. Based on 
information submitted in response to this request the Army Science 
Board may invite selected organizations to provide additional 
information on technologies of interest.
    To supplement the information developed in previous studies and 
otherwise available to the Board, organizations are invited to submit 
information on technologies to support core competencies that they 
believe should be considered. Of particular interest are those 
technologies that support Army core competencies and can be developed 
externally, either with support from the Army or from other sources.
    Specific information requested is: Identification of technology and 
core competency it supports; Description of the technology, including 
current maturity and current performers; description of how the 
technology supports the core competency; and description of why this 
technology pursuit/capability is best performed by the industrial base 
or other organization external to the Army, rather than performed 
internal to the Army.

ADDRESSES: Written submissions are to be submitted to the: Army Science 
Board, ATTN: Designated Federal Officer, 2530 Crystal Drive, Suite 
7098, Arlington, VA 22202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information please contact COL 
David Trybula at david.c.trybula.mil@mail.mil">david.c.trybula.mil@mail.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background. The Terms of Reference (TOR) provided by the Office of 
the Secretary of the Army directs the Army Science Board (ASB) to 
undertake a 2013 Summer Study on ``Army Science and Technology (S&T) 
Essential Core Competencies.''
    In accordance with the TOR, this study will analyze the current 
RDECOM portfolio and S&T projects and objectives; compare them to other 
U.S. Government laboratories, industrial laboratories, and academic 
institutions; and provide findings and recommendations, with supporting 
analytical underpinning. The study has identified the following product 
areas in which to seek core competencies: Armor/Anti-Armor; Armaments; 
Ground Vehicles; Aviation; Missiles; Space; C4ISR; Night Vision; 
Chemical/Biological Warfare; and Soldier Systems.
    The study will focus on technologies developed by the RDECOM 
suborganizations: Army Research Laboratory (including Army Research 
Office); Armament Research, Development & Engineering Center (ARDEC); 
Aviation & Missile Research, Development & Engineering Center (AMRDEC); 
Communications-Electronics Research, Development & Engineering Center 
(CERDEC); Edgewood Chemical Biological Command (ECBC); Natick Soldier 
Research, Development & Engineering Center (NSRDEC); and Tank 
Automotive Research, Development & Engineering Center (TARDEC). (See 
www.army.mil/info/organization/unitsandcommands/commandstructure/redecom/for additional information.)
    The ASB is tasked to identify which of these technologies must be 
developed in-house/on-site, which can be developed externally but must 
be supported by Army funds, and which will be developed by others 
without significant Army commitment of resources. Organizations to be 
considered that are external to the Army include other DoD 
organizations, other government organizations, international partners, 
commercial industry, FFRDCs, and universities.
    Submission Instructions and Format: To respond to this request for 
information, interested parties should submit all information detailed 
below. Packages must be submitted by Friday, May 3, 2013 by 4 p.m. 
Eastern Standard Time. Submissions should briefly summarize the 
technologies within a maximum of four pages (as broken down in 
paragraphs c, d and e below), excluding quad chart, figures, references 
and the cover page. No proprietary information should be included in 
responses. Submissions require both a CD and a hard copy of the 
response. The size of the CD submission will be limited to 20 MB. The 
hard copy format specifications include 12 point font, single-spaced, 
single-sided, 8.5 by 11 inches paper, with 1-inch margins.
    a. Quad Chart (1 page) The template for this is available upon 
request.
    b. Cover Page (1 page only):
Title
Organization

    Respondent's technical and administrative points of contact (names, 
addresses, phones and fax numbers, and email addresses)
    c. Abstract (1 page only): Summarize technology solutions and how 
they support Army core competencies. Respondents are encouraged to be 
as succinct as possible while providing sufficient detail to adequately 
convey the technology solutions.
    d. Technology Description (2 pages maximum): Provide an enhanced 
view of the technology solution you are proposing, focusing on the 
advantages of the technology and its applicability to the future Army 
core competencies. The description of each solution should include the 
current state of development and the predicted performance levels the 
technology should reasonably achieve. Also provide a summary of current 
performers. Describe whether this technology must be developed in-house 
by the Army, developed externally with Army support, or monitored by 
the Army as others develop the technology.
    e. Applicability to Future Army core competency (1 page only): 
Identify and expound upon how the technology supports an Army core 
competency, concentrating on the added capability this solution 
provides that currently does not exist.
    Please be as succinct as possible while providing sufficient detail 
to adequately convey the technical capabilities these solutions have to 
support the Army core competencies.
    All Proposers should review the NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL SECURITY 
PROGRAM OPERATING MANUAL, (NISPOM), dated February 28, 2006, as it 
provides baseline standards for the protection of classified 
information and prescribes the requirements concerning Contractor 
Developed Information under paragraph 4-105. Defense Security Service 
(DSS) Site for the NISPOM is: http://www.dss.mil/isp/fac_clear/download_nispom.html.
    Unclassified white papers/CDs must be mailed to the POC listed (see 
ADDRESSES and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Proposers who intend to 
include classified information or data in their white paper submission 
or who are unsure about the appropriate classification of their white 
papers

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should contact the POC for guidance and direction in advance of 
preparation at phone number.
    A listing of respondents and whether or not their submission was 
utilized will be made available for public inspection upon request. 
Open deliberation by the full committee is anticipated on or about July 
18, 2013 in Colorado Springs, CO. This meeting will be preceded by 
standard Federal Register notification.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-08851 Filed 4-15-13; 8:45 am]
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